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  • Jobs in the Outdoor Adventure Industry

    Jobs in the Outdoor Adventure Industry

    A brief window into the thrill based and skill based world of adventure sport.

    The vast array of dangerous jobs out there has started to receive more exposure, especially with reality TV recognizing our love to experience these jobs from the comforts of our couch. From coal mining to deep sea fishing, television seems to cover it all. However, a less exposed but speedily growing industry falling into the “dangerous jobs” category is outdoor adventure. Whether it is rock climbing instructors, heli-ski guiding, white water kayak or raft guiding, Canada’s adventure sport scene is booming. An interview with Trevor Cardozo, who has rafted for Canadian Rockies Rafting in the Canmore/Banff area of Alberta, provides some insight on what it takes to work in a job so vastly different from the typical nine-to-five/sit at your desk kind of job that many of us will likely end up in.

    What made you decide to enter the outdoor adventure industry?

    I had done a ten day canoe trip in Quebec when I was in high school, and that was kind of my crash course into the outdoor adventure world. I got accepted into university for a computer related program, but decided to rethink what I wanted to do, and to instead attend Algonquin College’s Outdoor Adventure diploma program, because of my experience on that canoe trip. The Algonquin program became my springboard into a career of climbing, paddling and eventually water raft guiding. Many people enter the industry because of the adrenaline rush, but for me it was more the ability to not be stuck in an office and be in the outdoors all the time.

    How do you deal with the “danger” aspect of the job?

    Always be on your toes, thinking about risk management and minimization. Know the difference between perceived risk and inherent risk, especially in rafting, as people often have a misconceived idea of it, often assuming it may be safer than it actually is.

    What are the some of the skills needed to succeed as a raft guide?

    You have to be really personable, loud and assertive. It is your job to make sure people have a great trip, so you almost need to be an entertainer. Between rapids there can often be quite a bit of time spent on flat water, and you want make sure your customers are not bored.

    What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into the outdoor adventure industry?

    Do it! There are basically two routes to go through. The first being broad outdoor adventure and education training, through companies like NOLS and Outward Bound, or college programs like the one at Algonquin (at the Pembroke ON campus) or Thompson Rivers University (in Kamloops BC). The second way to get into the industry would be to go directly to the company you are interested in working for, with no experience and work your way up.. if you take that route, you need to pay your dues.. work hard, work a lot and maybe even work for free.. but it will be a great learning experience. Specifically with white water rafting, most companies offer a guide training program. Some companies charge for this or others will pay you for it, but not until the end of the season, to ensure guides do not skip out after training and work for another company. A great certification to get that most companies will require is Wilderness First Responder.

  • Five Biggest Trends in the Job Market

    Five Biggest Trends in the Job Market

    Aging Baby Boomers
    The largest demographic group in Canada is heading for retirement. Of course, this will mean something very different for many Baby Boomers than for older generations. Boomers have maintained their health and stayed in the job market longer than any other generation of citizens in our country’s history.

    As they grow older, Baby Boomers will require more frequent, specialized medical care. They will also want to maintain connections with careers and family for as long as possible. Therefore, expect to see continued growth in fields that cater to their wishes. Growing teams of social workers and nurses will help care for the needs of these Boomers.

    Better Medicine
    The high output of the pharmaceutical industry, combined with constant innovation in the rest of the medical field, helps us live longer, more productive lives. New treatments for previously fatal diseases require new approaches for rehabilitation. Likewise, many adults expect to work far beyond the traditional retirement age. Therefore, patients demand a new generation of physical therapists and other specialists to help prolong their quality of life.
    Child Care
    As today’s parents demand higher quality from their child care providers, the marketplace has responded with a variety of programs to help meet parents’ needs. The explosive growth of pre-kindergarten educational programs call for highly trained educators who command more competitive salaries than their predecessors. Therefore, especially in major cities, the cost of caring for young children has skyrocketed. As a result, early childhood education has become a more lucrative and more stable profession than ever before. Though it has traditionally been a low-paying job, child care specialists today can expect to earn far more money today than peers who entered the field even a few years ago.
    Rapid Technology Growth
    Despite fears that many companies look overseas for development of new technology, the rapid advancement of ideas and the need for constant upgrades assures technology professionals of consistent job security over the next ten years. Businesses of all kinds have found themselves locked into the equivalent of an arms race with their competitors. Companies must provide their teams with the best equipment and resources, or face defeat.

    Likewise, continual innovation assures technology workers that new machines, cables, and other equipment will have to be installed every few years. Even Internet infrastructure, which was designed to provide nearly limitless connections, is being overhauled to accommodate a previously unimaginable number of new devices. Therefore, IT professionals who specialize in networking installation, and support will remain in demand as more businesses rely on new technology to help them compete.

    Distributed Work
    The giant factories and smokestacks of a hundred years ago are fading into the pages of history books. Many of today’s workers report for duty at smaller offices or manufacturing plants, connected by information networks and sophisticated shipping infrastructure.

    A growing number of employees, especially specialized consultants and leaders, divide their time among multiple locations at companies or client organizations. This trend has led to the use of “hot desking,” where workers report to a different workstation at the start of each shift, instead of keeping their own desk or cubicle. Many workers telecommute, allowing them to reinvest time spent commuting into more productive work or family time.

    As a side effect, more workers are relocating to larger homes, farther away from city centers. Whether they want to enjoy more peaceful surroundings or they simply want to reconnect with family or friends, these shifting workers create demand for home construction, renovation, and infrastructure development.

  • Choosing A Trade

    Choosing A Trade

    With more than 200 trades across Canada to choose from, finding the right one can seem challenging. Here are some tips to help you identify what would be a perfect career choice for you.

    Consider a wide range of trades

    Do you like working in the garden, or fixing your car? Do you enjoy home maintenance projects or styling hair? Get familiar with the many trade choices first, and think about what work you like to accomplish.

    The Government of Canada also offers a comprehensive, searchable catalogue of trades you may want to check out.

    Narrow your choices down to 5 or fewer trades

    Keep it manageable by narrowing down your choices. Get as familiar as you can with the work, to see if you’d like it.

    Observe a trade or participate in a youth apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship program

    Some school boards offer Observe a Trade days, which will give you the opportunity to see what’s involved in your favourite trades. For something more comprehensive, you can also participate in a pre-apprenticeship program, which gives you practical, on-the-job training with hours that are often transferable to your full apprenticeship. Check out our list of youth apprenticeship programs.

    Talk to people who work in the trade

    See if you can get in touch with a journeyperson who works in the trade you’ve targeted, to see what advice they can give you. This is a great way to learn some tips from those who have already been there.

  • Trick of the Trade

    Trick of the Trade

    With so much attention brought to the business and management industries during Canadaʼs rekindling economic climate, many core fields of work are being overlooked by the students; one of these being the trades.

    The skilled trades are a growing field of work that is in constant need of well-trained workers.

    What exactly is a skilled trade? It can be defined as an expertness of a specific skill, usually attained through years of training and commonly related to construction and repair. The skills that are considered “trades skills” range broadly from carpenter, electrician, automotive technician, plumber, pipe fitter, welder and much more.

    There is a common misconception that the trades are considered “blue collar” jobs done through informal training. In reality there are a plentitude of academic institutions that provide education and preparation in the trades.

    Although it is common to get into the trades through practical training, it doesnʼt mean you will be making less money than someone who attended university. Tradespeople are some of the highest paid employees in Canada.  Not only is a customer paying for your knowledge about a trade, but they are also paying for expert performance.

    If you enjoy learning new lessons everyday and arenʼt afraid to be challenged, a career in the trades might suit you. Trades jobs are considered demanding and will put your mind and body to the test daily. If you enjoy a hands-on work environment, and are interested in how things work, this field may be what you want to look at.

    There is an increasing shortage in the skilled trades. According to careersintrades.ca, 67% of young adults choose university over a college education in the trades because it was encouraged more by friends and family. There were also instances in which a lack of information about the trades swayed students away from the sector.

    So, what exactly are the steps to take to become a tradespeople? The most efficient and reputable manner to becoming certified in the trades is an apprenticeship. This way, you are getting one-on-one experience with a master in the trade who can help you further your knowledge and skills. Many college programs that deal with the trades have their own apprenticeship training programs. So go and check out your local college to see what they offer, or look on Jobs People Do to see what colleges offer certain apprenticeships.

    The best thing to do in your early years of education is to look at high schools that provide introductory training of a trades skill you are interested in. Julian Finbow Westlane graduate, claims that:

    “Taking the refrigeration course at such a young age was extremely beneficial for the jobs I am interested in.”

    Julian is looking to develop his trade skills in refrigeration, and is planning on either taking a apprenticeship or going to college.

    Become involved and research trade skills you think will peak your interest. It may be beneficial to shaping your career path! So put on that thinking cap (or hardhat for this situation) and immerse yourself in the trades.

  • Women in Trades

    Women in Trades

    In the past, asking a girl what she wanted to do when she grew up probably would have resulted in a blank stare. Most girls got married and raised families. Even if they worked, they had only a few choices for the kinds of work they could do, and they were discouraged from getting into other types of work. If they chose another kind of work, they would probably face all kinds of barriers and problems. Many things have changed over the years and women now find it much easier to get into professions like law and medicine. They can work as editors, scientists, and computer analysts. Women are also entering traditionally male-dominated trades and are becoming electricians, plumbers, construction workers, and more.

    The history of women in the trades really began during the Second World War (1939-1945), when many of the men from North America and Europe were away fighting in the war. Their jobs as welders, ship-builders and painters still needed to be done, and women took over and learned to work in job fields that included electricians, insulators, and pipe-fitters. When men returned after the war, many women went back to their regular work while men took over the trades again. However, women had discovered that they could do much more than their traditional work. Slowly, they began to get back into the trades that they had left at the end of the war.

    Getting women back into the trades after so long has not been easy. Teachers and parents have had to encourage girls to consider the trades instead of getting into more traditional fields like teaching or nursing. Training schools have had to make their programs appealing to women so that they would consider trades as possible careers. Even the government has become involved by funding support programs for women entering the trades or lending students the money they need to pay their tuition fees. Other groups have had to help, as well.

    One way that organizations can help is by guiding women into the right training program. Canada has over two hundred different trades, and making a decision about which trade is best can be difficult. The next stage is finding a good training program. Training is important for anyone who wants to be a skilled tradesperson rather than a labourer. Even if no job is available for people after they graduate, their skills are always valuable.

    Most training programs in the trades involve a combination of classroom work and practical training, often ending with a work-placement segment. This is when students get to work at an actual job but still learn at the same time. A typical program might include about seven or eight months of instruction, followed by four or five months of work on the job to gain experience. Sometimes, a full-time job can be the result of the work placement.

    Women are entering the trades in greater numbers than they have in years. If you’re a girl, maybe you should consider being one of these trendsetters!

  • Five Surprising Careers

    Five Surprising Careers

    The following are five careers that you probably did not know existed – or, at the very least, you didn’t realize they were real options for you.. When choosing a career, the first thing that people usually do is to start with “conventional” ideas – doctor, lawyer, that sort of thing. But the objective isn’t to choose the most popular career; instead, you’re looking for something that you would enjoy doing. It’s your life, and sometimes it pays to think outside the box.

    1. Underwater Construction Worker / Salvager
    Have you ever wondered how companies fix their structures once they’ve been put underwater? Here’s your answer. These professionals work on projects building and repairing structures like bridges, docks, pipelines, cables – the list is endless. The training involves completing a program, like Seneca College’s 34-week “Underwater Skills” at King Campus – and, of course, becoming a certified diver. If this sounds like something that might interest you, take a look at http://www.senecac.on.ca/uws and www.mcmarine.ca.

    2. Public Health Inspector
    Have you ever considered what a Public Health Inspector actually does? Health and public safety professionals solve problems, communicate with people, and keep the public safe from food-borne illnesses. Their tasks may involve conducting on-site inspections of food processing plants (or even day care centres, schools, etc.), responding to written complaints on behalf of a company, or conducting workshops educating people about proper food handling. For more information, take a look at http://www.uoguelph.ca/oac/academics/food.

    3. Aviation Technician
    “Aviation technician” is a title given to someone who performs aircraft repair and maintenance. Technicians learn to inspect aircraft, diagnose problems, repair the components of an aircraft, and perform tests to ensure that planes operate according to industry standards. If you have always loved both planes and mechanics, you might look into one of the following programs: http://goo.gl/HmVko. You can read more about this career option this month on our Trades page!

    4. Video Game Artist
    As the video game industry expands, so does the amount of digital artwork to be done. Video game artists design and create the visual elements in games, from environments to moveable objects to characters. Aspiring artists learn skills like 3D modeling, life drawing, texturing, and game engine production. Programs are offered at Seneca College http://www.senecac.on.ca/fulltime/GAA.html as well as Centennial College http://goo.gl/GMeQB.

    5. Chef
    If you enjoy cooking and think you might like to become a professional chef, you can take courses which will take you from baker to culinary creator. Every restaurant, every hotel, every catering company and spa has a chef; if this is your passion, there is certainly great potential for employment. Take a look at George Brown’s 1-year program in Culinary Skills: http://www.georgebrown.ca/H112-2012-2013.

  • What is “Red Seal”? Why is it Important?

    What is “Red Seal”? Why is it Important?

    What is the Red Seal Program?
    The Red Seal Program is Canada’s standard of excellence for skilled trades. Obtaining a Red Seal endorsement acknowledges a journeyperson’s competence and quality workmanship, and facilitates recognition of his/her trade certification across Canada. Upon successful completion of a Red Seal examination, the endorsement is affixed to the provincial or territorial trade certificate. To date, there are fifty-five occupations included in the Red Seal Program.

    What are the benefits of the Red Seal?
    The Red Seal provides confidence to both employers and consumers that a tradesperson is skilled and knowledgeable. It is widely recognized and respected by the trades industry across Canada. A Red Seal endorsement is an employment advantage that opens the door to job opportunities, higher wages, sustaining employment, and career advancement.

    How to obtain a Red Seal?
    To obtain a Red Seal endorsement, a candidate must pass the Red Seal examination administered by a provincial/territorial apprenticeship authority. Red Seal examinations are trade-specific and cover the skills and knowledge required in the trade. The examinations are used to determine whether apprentices and tradespersons meet the Canadian standard. To qualify to write a Red Seal examination, a tradesperson must have completed one of the following:
    1. Graduated from a recognized provincial or territorial apprenticeship training program;
    2. Obtained a journeyperson level Certificate of Qualification from a province or territory;
    3. Provided confirmation of the requisite time and experience working in a Red Seal trade.

    What other benefits come from enrolling in a “Red Seal” Trade Apprenticeship?
    You have probably heard the radio commercials from the Government of Canada recently about the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant program. Right now there is a very high demand for tradespeople of all varieties. This is why the Government of Canada created the Incentive Program to attract people to learn a trade.

    That’s right – you can get paid twice to learn a trade, instead of running up high tuition bills while you learn! To learn more about the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant Program, please visit www.red-seal.ca or the HRSDC website.

  • Social Media: An Employer’s Reference

    Social Media: An Employer’s Reference

    Pretend, for a moment, that you have never actually met yourself. You are an owner of a prosperous dog-sitting company that has a reputation for serving customers with the highest level of professionalism. You market your company with the promise that every dog will be cared for by responsible, respectful employees who will give the dogs the very best of care. Because of that promise, you attract many loyal customers and you try to take extra care when you hire new employees so you find someone you can trust who will be reliable and mature enough to do the job. When you receive a number of applications from students who want to work for your company, you immediately go online to try to learn more about the potential candidates. When you Google your name, what kind of information do you find?

    The term “social media” refers to the ways in which people create, share and exchange information and ideas online and through networks. It’s a form of social interaction that more and more employers are tapping into to get a sense of who the people are that are applying to work for them.

    Now return to your present perspective and think about what you have shared online. Is your name attached to the photos of you dancing on the table at last weekend’s huge spring break party? Is your face recognizable in the video your friend posted of students who are underage and under the influence? Such images might cause an employer to immediately throw out your application. That’s why it’s important to construct your online presence with care and make use of the privacy tools that many social networking sites provide.

    Here is a list of five of the most popular social media websites used by many students and a brief explanation of what they offer:

    Facebook: Allows users to create a personal profile, add other users as friends and exchange private and public messages. Facebook currently has over one billion active users.

    Twitter: A micro-blogging site that enables users to send and read “tweets,” which are little text-like messages that cannot exceed 140 characters. Twitter has over 500 million registered users and generates more than 340 million tweets a day.

    LinkedIn: A social, yet professional networking site for people in professional occupations. LinkedIn has over 200 million registered users.

    Pinterest: A pinboard-style photo sharing website that allows users to create and manage image collections according to a theme of their choosing. Pinterest has about 12 million users and is growing fast.

    Instagram: An online photo-sharing and social networking service that allows users to take pictures and instantly apply digital filters to them. They can then share the finished product with the 90 million other monthly users.

    These are just a handful of hundreds of other sites that share information in similar ways and provide your potential employers with a chance to judge you based on what they see online. It’s time to refine your online presence and ensure you are presenting the best possible picture of yourself to the world.

  • Getting a Head Start on Your Future Career

    Getting a Head Start on Your Future Career

    The concept of career planning can send some students into nervous fits, rocking in the corner, curled into the fetal position. It isn’t pretty. For others, it means spending countless happy hours on the Internet, excitedly researching every job they’ve ever been interested in. Regardless of which category you fall under, it’s always a good idea to weigh your options early. Getting a head start will not only help you build experience, but it’ll help you make a solid decision when it comes to planning your career.

    1. Make a list of potential career options. Base them on things that you’re already good at and enjoy. Do you like to write? You could consider journalism or creative writing. Are you good at math? You could investigate engineering or maybe finance. Do you love sports? Think about coaching or even teaching physical education. Don’t limit yourself to one “type” of job; keep the ideas flowing and options open.

    2. Investigate your options. Google is your friend; a wealth of information is literally at your fingertips. Research job descriptions to get a general idea of what your career options involve. Do they still appeal to you? Take a look at job postings. Do the lists of responsibilities make you excited or do they make you cringe?

    3. Work on your skills. If writing is your objective, work on it. If math is your goal, work on it. If sports are your aim – you guessed it – work on it. Now is the time to hone your skills so that later you’ll be that much farther ahead in the race for professional positions.

    4. Test the waters. If you still aren’t sure what you’d like to do, try a few different things. Start volunteering or even working part-time. If you volunteer for just one hour each week, you can try several different things without eating up too much of your time. This will help you to decide which options to eliminate and which you should explore further.

    5. Try new things. Don’t limit yourself to one particular career option, especially if you aren’t sure what you’d like to do. Get involved in a few different areas – for example, you could volunteer at an animal shelter, an environmental non-profit organization and a municipal government office at the same time. The best part about volunteering is that you aren’t signed up for life; you’re free to explore and find out what working feels like.

    Don’t feel pressured to pick a career right away; instead, think of high school as an opportunity to explore your options. Without the obligations of a full-time job, you have time to try different “jobs” in a relaxed and fun way.

  • Media Release: Opening Doors for Aboriginal Students

    Media Release: Opening Doors for Aboriginal Students

    Canada’s universities recently launched a new online tool to provide Aboriginal students with better access to information on programs and services on campuses across Canada. The comprehensive, searchable database of resources designed to meet the needs of Aboriginal students was developed by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

    Prospective students and their families can use the tool to find information on the 286 different academic programs designed for Aboriginal students and other helpful resources available at Canadian universities, such as financial assistance, housing, cultural activities, counselling, availability of Elders, gathering spaces and mentoring.

    Aboriginal youth are one of the fastest growing segments of the Canadian population. There are more than 560,000 Aboriginals under the age of 25 across Canada, yet the university completion rate for the Aboriginal population overall is eight percent — a third of the national average.

    “The education gap in this country is large and growing. This needs to change,” said AUCC President Paul Davidson. “Canada’s universities recognize this and have significantly boosted the culturally relevant curricula, support programs and financial aid available to Aboriginal students. With this database, it’s easier than ever to locate and access these services.”

    This new online resource is part of universities’ ongoing efforts to improve access to university for Aboriginal students and help them achieve success in higher education. Fifty-five institutions now have gathering spaces for Aboriginal students, and more than 60 organize social and cultural activities. In addition to supports on campus, many universities have successful outreach programs in Aboriginal communities, providing educational support and mentoring opportunities to students starting as early as the elementary level.

    “I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the AUCC for creating an online directory to assist students in finding and accessing the programs and services that are reflective of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit languages and cultures, as well as those resources that will assist them in the achievement of their university goals,” said Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in Canada.

    The web-based directory is an enhanced update of a print version that AUCC produced in 2006 and 2010. It will be regularly updated to reflect new and enhanced services for Aboriginal students at Canada’s universities. The database complements information in the Directory of Canadian Universities, published every year by AUCC.

    Aboriginal education is an ongoing priority for Canada’s universities. AUCC’s 2013 pre-budget submission to the federal government calls for increased postsecondary scholarships for Aboriginal students, with funding to be matched by the private sector. AUCC has also undertaken significant steps in recent years to help universities identify, develop and share ideas on best practices for services aimed at Aboriginal youth.

    The new directory of programs and services for Aboriginal students can be found here: www.aucc.ca/Aboriginal-directory.

    AUCC is the national voice of Canada’s universities, representing 95 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities.