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Tag: tradesperson

  • Are the Trades a Viable Career Path?

    Are the Trades a Viable Career Path?

    To put it simply, yes. The trades are some of the largest growing industries in Canada and they face a deficit of skilled workers to fill up high paying positions. While they aren’t for everyone, if you’re good with your hands and eager to learn then the trades can take you far – and fast.

    While there are currently more law students and university graduates than their industries can handle, the trades are essential to society and are always expanding. This means that they are a great employment opportunity; going into the trades is almost guaranteed to land you a job once you’ve learned the basic skills of your chosen trade.

    For example, electricity and plumbing are seen as essential parts of society, which means they always need upkeep and installation, both commercial and residential. This provides near endless opportunities for jobs and careers that are both well paying and secure. Another benefit of deciding to go into the trades as a career path is the steady work and good salaries, as well as powerful unions and worker’s rights advocates.

    What are some examples of viable trades?

    The trades cover a wide spectrum of skilled, mainly hands-on, labour. A few examples of some good trades to get into include; an electrician, a pipe welder, a cabinetmaker, machinist, welder, and brick layer. These are only a few of the many Red Seal trade skills available to learn. For a more comprehensive list, check out Canada’s official Red Seal Trades website at: https://on.tradesinfo.ca/search?at=4665814

    What steps should I follow if I want a career in the trades?

    There are several ways to become a skilled tradesperson, however, every Red Seal trade will require you to take a standardized government test. An aspiring tradesperson must log a certain amount of hours of work in their chosen field before being they are qualified enough to become a journeyman, which is a fully certified tradesperson. One of the main ways to learn a trade is to apprentice under a master tradesperson, working for them and learning as you go. After enough time as an apprentice, and if you are skilled enough, you can move on to become a journeyman, or even a master yourself. An average apprenticeship lasts about five years. There are also large numbers of trade schools across the country and many colleges offer programs in the trades, such as welding and cabinetmaking. Look into the various methods of learning your chosen trade before deciding on an apprenticeship or school program, and take the time to figure out which style of learning best suits you.

    What are the salaries like for tradespeople?

    Since they are in such high demand and need to be very skilled to do their jobs, tradespeople are generally paid very well for what they do. The typical starting pay for an apprentice is between $18 and $30 dollars per hour, depending on how many years they have been apprenticing for.

    As you can see the trades are a widely varied, well paying career path, and are strongly recommended for those that enjoy working with their hands. As a bonus the government offers $1000 tax free a year to each skilled apprentice in trade school.

  • Why Red Seal Trades Might Work For You

    Why Red Seal Trades Might Work For You

    You may have heard the advice, “learn a trade – it’s an important skill to have.” That’s good advice: there will always be a need for carpenters, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, and welders. But what exactly is a Red Seal trade? What financial assistance is there for a person interested in becoming a tradesperson? How do you find out which trade is right for you? Read on to find out.

    In short, a Red Seal trade is one where you may work as a tradesperson in any province without having to take extra qualifications. The training and certifications of Red Seal trades are not individualized to each province; rather, they are standardized on a national level. Although each province is responsible for educating and training apprentices, or those who are at an entry level in their industry of choice, the Red Seal Program promotes the coordination of standards across the country. But in order to qualify as a journeyperson with a Red Seal, apprentices need a mix of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Although they earn money while training on the job, acquiring necessary tools and classroom instruction is expensive.

    The government recognizes the necessity to fund tradespeople. There is a provision called the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, which is a $1000-$2000 per year taxable cash grant for apprentices once they have successfully completed their first or second year or level of their program in one of the Red Seal trades. Another is the Apprenticeship Completion Grant, which is available to an apprentice who completes their training and acquires their journeyperson certification in a Red Seal trade. But tools are expensive, too. The government provides the Tradesperson’s Tools Deduction of up to $500 yearly to assist in the purchase of new tools necessary for the trade in question. That leaves one final question: which trade to choose?

    In Ontario, there are forty seven trades of the Program’s available 55 that you may choose from. These range from Automotive Service Technician to Baker to Hairstylist to Welder. The official website, www.red-seal.ca, contains a detailed job description of each. For instance, its page on carpentry tells us that “Carpenters construct, renovate and repair residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial … structures made of wood, steel, concrete and other materials.” We read about the risks involved, knowledge that a carpenter ought to have, and other skills that are useful. It tells us the career path a carpenter may be interested in taking. Further down the page, there is a chart that tells us that there is a provincial certification in all thirteen provinces and territories. Beyond that is additional information with links to relevant documents. You can also find this information on any of the other Red Seal trade pages. Read them over and decide which one may fit you best. Do you have an affinity for working in the kitchen? Bakers and Chefs can become Red Seal certified. Like tinkering with engines and other machines? A wide variety of trades will let you do just that: Automotive Service Technicians and Heavy Duty Equipment Technicians are among those who may acquire their Red Seal.

    The opportunities are numerous, and you can work anywhere in the country. Why not look into qualifying for a Red Seal trade?

  • Train to Be a Wind or Solar Technician

    Train to Be a Wind or Solar Technician

    One of the fastest-growing segments of today’s job market are “green careers,” such as wind and solar technicians. These careers are perfect transitions for those with previous construction experience who are seeking a career with potentially unlimited job growth. As more businesses and homeowners become more concerned about protecting natural resources and using alternative energy sources, these careers will be in high demand.
    People who are interested in becoming solar technicians can begin by researching online green energy courses. One of the best available resources is Solar Energy International, or SEI. This online training resource lets those who have previous construction experience or have completed an apprenticeship program gain access to training resources prior to beginning their studies.

    Solar Installation Careers
    There are many areas of interest that solar technicians can choose to specialize in such as:
    – Photovoltaic installation (PV)
    – Solar thermal installation
    – Sustainable building

    Photovoltaic installation, also known as PV, involves the placement and repair of solar panels. Solar thermal installation involves installing solar water heating equipment, mostly for homeowners. Sustainable building involves designing and implementing long-term solar energy systems for residential and commercial properties.

    Selecting a Training Program
    The key to beginning a career in solar energy is selecting a training program that is properly certified and offers a combination of coursework and hands-on training. When searching for online green energy courses, it’s a good idea to select programs that work with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. Technicians who become certified usually have more work opportunities available to them, so it’s important to make sure the training program selected meets the desired certification standards. Most introductory training programs last six weeks, with one of those weeks designated for hands-on training at a solar energy facility.

    What Skills Do I Learn?
    Once a person is registered for a solar technician training program, it’s time to start learning the specific skills needed for the job. Since most technicians have previous construction experience, they are already skilled in blueprint reading, basic math and safety procedures associated with construction. Most solar technicians begin by taking classes in Solar Electric Fundamentals and Grid-Direct Design, introducing them to the basics of solar energy installation and repair. These courses provide information on renewable energy resources and how to measure solar electrical efficiency and load analysis. After learning the basics, students move on to learning basic PV system applications, system components and site and safety analysis.

    Hands-on Training
    Many community colleges are leaders in solar energy training, offering combinations of online and hands-on training. Students should sign up quickly for classes, because they can fill up fast. Solar energy programs are popular with military veterans who have been discharged and are seeking civilian jobs.

  • A Career as an Electrician

    A Career as an Electrician

    A career as an electrician provides a fair amount of job security whether you are self-employed or hired within a company. Electricians are required across the board, from domestic to commercial settings. Due to the dangerous nature of the work involved, electricians must be highly qualified and trained. If a career as an electrician appeals to you, read on to find out what steps you will need to take to become qualified as an electrician.

    Education
    In order to become an electrician you first need to get qualified, which requires you to enroll in an apprentice program. In order to apply for an apprenticeship program you will most likely be expected to possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Apprenticeship programs will provide classroom instruction as well as on-the-job training. Expect the apprenticeship to last a duration of 4 years, with approximately 144 hours of classroom based instruction and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training. Classroom instruction will consist of learning about electrical theory, mathematics, electrical code requirements, blueprint reading, and safety practices. Some specialized training may be received, such as working with elevators and fire alarm systems. As for on-the-job training, expect to be work under the supervision of an experienced electrician who will set your tasks and guide you until you can master the tasks given on your own.

    Graduating
    Once you have graduated there are a variety of routes you can go down. Many electricians choose to work for construction firms, service companies or utility companies. Most graduates will be involved in some kind of maintenance work, where they will be expected to primarily maintain and upgrade existing electrical systems. If you enter into the construction field, you will be part of a team responsible for installing new wiring systems within new buildings. Alternatively you can go down the self-employed route, but that would require a lot of self-promoting and an understanding of registering your self-employed status for tax purposes. You would also need to pass a licensing exam in order to obtain a trading license. Check with your local authority about what is required to set yourself up, if you are interested in becoming a self-employed electrician.

    Earning potential
    Electricians are expected to command very good base wages. However, much of this depends on the company you work for and the perks they offer. If you are self-employed you will set your own hourly rate or job rate, but keep in mind that you will need to factor in promotional costs, transport costs and parts costs.

    Advancement
    Once experienced, electricians can advance to positions such as a supervisory roles. Within the construction field they can become employed as construction superintendents or project managers.

    If this sounds like a career that would suit you, check online via your local job center or career center in order to inquire about local apprenticeship programs. Find out what apprenticeship opportunities there are with local electrical contractors and local electricians. In order to become qualified you will need to study in the apprentice role for 4 years, so make sure you this is the right career choice for you before becoming committing.