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  • Job Shadowing to Decide on a Trades Career

    Job Shadowing to Decide on a Trades Career

    Before you even finish high school, you might already know that you want to go into a trades career, and which trade you are interested in.  On the other hand, you may still be unsure about which career path or specific trade will be a good fit for you.

    There are lots of resources online that will tell you about the different trades, what’s involved and what you need to know.  Doing your research is essential – but getting up close and personal is even better.

    Job shadowing offers students who are thinking about a career in the trades some valuable opportunities to learn about prospective jobs. You will get the chance to experience what it’s like to work in a trade before you commit yourself to a college program, trade school, or apprenticeship.

    There are some specific benefits you can get from job shadowing while you decide on your trades career.

    Learn From an Expert

    One of the main benefits to a job shadow is the fact that you get to learn from an expert in that trade.  They can share their experiences, how they got into the trade, and can tell you about the pros and cons to watch out for in this career path.

    Hearing this information directly from an experienced professional, and having the opportunity to ask questions, means you can gain a deeper understanding of the expectations and responsibilities that come with a career in that trade.

    See What’s Involved in the Day-to-Day

    It can be hard to know each and every task involved in a specific job, especially in the trades where there is often lots of variety depending on the jobsite or project you’re working on. Participating in some job shadowing can help you learn about the different daily tasks involved in a specific job or trade.

    You can also see a bit of what is involved in other roles and areas of the trade, because you will meet other tradespeople who work at different aspects of the job – and most people are more than willing to answer any questions you may have.

    Try Several Trades to Find the Perfect Fit

    Many trades are very different, which means job shadow opportunities can let you experience several different potential careers to find a trade that suits you best, before you make your final decision on what trade to pursue.

    Job shadowing is probably the best way to make sure you like and are interested in what the trade entails, before you commit your time and money to school or an apprenticeship, only to discover that you are bored or uninterested.

    Sources:

    https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/job-shadowing

    https://www.thebalance.com/job-shadowing-is-effective-on-the-job-training-1919285

    https://content.wisestep.com/top-advantages-disadvantages-job-shadowing

  • Signs a Career in the Trades May be for You

    Signs a Career in the Trades May be for You

    A career in the trades is a phenomenal opportunity to work in an engaging, hands-on environment. But how do you know this kind of career is right for you? If you’re thinking at all about going into a trade, there are certain core skills, assets, and traits common to many tradespersons that may encourage you to look deeper into this kind of opportunity. Here are four signs suggesting that a career in the trades may be right for you.

    You like figuring out how things work.
    Some people are fascinated by the intricacies of machinery or equipment, and have a knack for seeing how the pieces of complicated mechanical puzzles fit together. If you’ve ever taken apart a toy or electronic just to get a glimpse of how it works, you would probably enjoy trades that involve these types of activities, such as mechanics or construction. Due to the experiential nature of the field, a career in the trades will help you gain a more comprehensive understanding of systems and processes.

    You like to solve problems.
    Problem-solving lies at the core of many trades. Whether you are repairing something that needs fixing, implementing upgrades that will help something work better, or creating something new that will facilitate the functioning of a device or machine, careers in the trades will certainly allow you to develop the skills necessary to find a solution to even the most complex problems. The consultation and evaluation process involved in many trades will allow you to tackle problems in an innovative way, and there is excellent satisfaction in knowing that you contributed to the resolution when a problem is finally solved.

    You learn best hands-on.
    Most people have a preferred method that they know helps them most effectively learn new information and skills. If you learn best from direct experience and action, as opposed to readings or lectures, the trades might suit your needs. Most trades careers allow you to work with your hands, performing tasks such as assembly, building, or repairs, and broadening your learning in an experiential way. As such, these careers are often great for people who like to stay active and prefer concrete, experiential learning over more abstract theories and methods.

    You want to stay active on the job.
    Being cooped up in an office or sitting behind a desk all day doesn’t bode well for all employees, especially if you are used to working on your feet. Luckily, the physical activity associated with many trades allows you to dispense your energy in a more active and engaging way. Some careers in the trades can also involve travelling and fieldwork in different locations, which is great if you thrive when exposed to different work environments.

  • Career Profile: Heavy Equipment Operator

    Career Profile: Heavy Equipment Operator

    As a Heavy Equipment Operator, you’ll operate large, expensive equipment such as backhoes, loaders, graders, dozers and excavators to build and maintain roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures. You may also operate this equipment to excavate rock, ore or other materials from open-pit mines, strip mines, quarries or construction pits or to move, load, unload cargo or material. These are just a few out of the many opportunities that are available.

    Your typical day may start with performing pre-operational checks to make sure the equipment is working properly and safely. Duties may also include regularly maintaining the track or rubber tire undercarriage, buckets and attachments, refilling the equipment and lubricating the components and attachments to prepare it for service. You may complete log sheets and reports when testing or maintaining the equipment.

    Since safety is #1 in construction careers, you may have to wear Personal Protection Equipment or PPE and take special precautions to protect yourself and others from injury. You may even have to take safety training either through your company or from a construction safety training facility.

    To prepare for a Heavy Equipment Operator career, you’ll need a minimum of a grade 10 education, but with competition getting stiffer for jobs, you’ll be better off if you finish high school. Certification varies based on where you live. In Quebec, it’s mandatory that you get certified as a journeyman or apprentice to work on a construction site, but in some provinces certification is voluntary. Some provinces may not have certification; and if this is the case where you live, you may be able to study as an apprentice through your local labour organization.

    The typical work week is 40 hours per week (8 hours a day, Monday till Friday), but you may have to work overtime during the busy construction season. Heavy Equipment Operators make on average $24.00 per hour or $58,000 per year, but your salary depends on where you live, your experience and skills, and the employer.

    The employment outlook is fair with job prospects increasing slightly over the next few years. Employment opportunities open up when operators retire, get promoted to management positions or become contractors. Operators are typically hired at heavy equipment contractors, public works departments and pipeline, logging, cargo-handling, mining and construction companies.

    Before becoming a Heavy Equipment Operator, ask yourself …

    • Can you operate heavy, industrial machinery?
    • Can you work outside even when it’s icy, rainy, snowy, windy or very hot?
    • Do you have good reading, writing, analytical and problem-solving skills?
    • Are you an excellent communicator, able to listen and take direction from others? This is critical as you may have to use hand signals or radio communication to operate the equipment safely.
    • Can you bend, stretch, kneel, stand, mount and dismount equipment easily?
    • Do you have good eye-hand coordination?
    • Are you mechanically inclined, able to maintain or check equipment?
    If you can answer “yes” to these questions, a heavy equipment operator career may be for you.

    ____________
    Giselle Mazurat is a resume writer living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She also writes technical and business content for government and private companies.

    References:

    7421 Heavy Equipment Operators (Except Crane)
    http://www30.rhdcc.gc.ca/CNP/English/NOC/2006/Profile.aspx?val=0&val1=7421
    Careers In Construction Heavy Equipment Operator
    http://www.careersinconstruction.ca/en/career/heavy-equipment-operator
    Heavy Equipment Operators (Except Crane)
    http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/qc/job_futures/statistics/7421.shtml
    Pay Scale – Heavy Equipment Operator Salary (Canada)
    http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Heavy_Equipment_Operator/Hourly_Rate
    What Does a Heavy Equipment Operator Do?
    http://www.apprenticesearch.com/AboutTrades/GetTradeDetails?tradeId=78