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Tag: working with your hands

  • Career Profile: Elevator Installer

    Career Profile: Elevator Installer

    Every day, people in tall buildings go up or down in elevators. How often do they think about the people who make it possible to ride to their offices or apartments in comfort, instead of using the stairs? Without the work of elevator installers, skyscrapers and other tall buildings would never be useful for people.

    Elevators are easy for people to use but can be difficult to install. Workers in this field need to understand mathematics and science so that they can make calculations and know the basics of how machines work.

    For example, if elevator installers know the physics behind pulleys and other tools for raising heavy objects, they can have a better understanding of how elevators work. Knowing how much stress the materials can take before they crack is also useful for deciding when to replace parts on the elevator or to reinforce them for extra strength. Courses in metal and wood shop work can give people the background and experience that they need for this work.

    After getting a basic education in mathematics and the sciences, elevator installers normally complete their learning through apprenticeships. In a good apprenticeship, experienced elevator installers help the newcomers to learn their work on the job, by personally showing them the processes.

    Over a period of about four years, apprentices learn how to read blueprints and how to apply physics to their work. They also learn about electricity and the theory of electronics, and when they know the basics, they learn complicated processes such as installing wiring. Many people in this field do repairs as well as installation of elevators, and they have to know how to find and fix problems when elevators are not running well. This part of the job might involve some evening and weekend hours, since breakdowns can happen at any time.

    Besides installing elevators, some people in this trade work with other machines. Escalators, for example, are common in large stores and malls, and they work on many of the same principles as elevators. Some restaurants also have dumbwaiters, which are like small elevators for carrying dishes and food from one floor to another. Elevator installers sometimes work with both of these kinds of machines, which might require special knowledge and skills.

    Wages for elevator installers can vary, depending on where they live and what kinds of skills they have. In Canada, the average hourly rate is $37.00 per hour, but it can start much lower than that. However, with experience and skill, elevator installers can earn a good living.

    Generally, elevator installers should be good with their hands, work well on their own without supervision, and have enough strength and stamina to work with mechanisms that can sometimes be heavy and hard to use. Does that describe you? If so, you might want to consider learning to work as an elevator operator.

    Bibliography:

    Careers.org. “Occupation Profile for Elevator Installers and Repairers.” http://www.careers.org/occupations/47-4021.00/elevator-installers-and-repairers.

    Payscale.com. “Hourly Rate for Industry: Elevator Installation.” http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Industry=Elevator_Installation/Hourly_Rate

    Salary.com. “Elevator Installer/Repairer Job Description.” http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/Elevator-Installer-Repairer-Job-Description.aspx.

    Salary.com. “Elevator Installer/Repairer Salaries.” http://www1.salary.com/Elevator-Installer-Repairer-salary.html.

     

  • Career Profile: Drywall Finisher

    Career Profile: Drywall Finisher

    Before there was drywall, entire walls were finished with lathe and plaster; a labor and time intensive process. During WW2 when labor was hard to come by on the home front, they began manufacturing drywall. Drywall, or gypsum board , alleviated the need for using hand powered manual tools to create a smooth, fire resistant, acoustically sealed, and durable wall surface. So plasterers are out a job, right? Wrong. In today’s construction industry a plasterer usually refers to someone who does exterior coatings (stucco, etc.) but it could also refer to what is more commonly known as “tapers” or drywall finishers.

    Being a drywall finisher is like being a magician to other trades within interior construction. Although it technically falls under the trade of ISM (interior System Mechanic) there is no formal training provided in the curriculum. Most people learn the trade by studying under someone who has many years of experience on the job, or through an unofficial apprenticeship. Because of this ambiguous learning and certification process, drywall finishers that produce a quality finished product at a consistently fast pace, are greatly valued.

    The pros of working in this trade include: working inside and in a climate controlled environment (the materials you work with require it); not a tremendous amount of heavy exertion on your body, and because of the lack of quality people in your trade, you will always have work if you commit yourself. The cons are: potential repetitive motion strains, some days are dusty (especially when you are first learning), and it can be difficult to find resources to learn the trade.

    There are many things to consider when entering into any trade. My suggestion is for you to roll up your sleeves and try the ones that interest you until you find the one that feels the best. Unlike many career paths, when you learn this trade you will be trained on the job. That means you can skip the high tuition costs and put some cash into your pocket. In western Canada, a 1st year drywall finisher should bring home no less than $40,000 per year. After 4 years of working, the same person could potentially earn $90,000, and that by no means is a ceiling; many drywall finishers start their own small businesses and can make much more than that.

    Drywall finishing is a trade that requires a strong attention to detail and a determination for quality. It can be a messy job at times, but that’s part of the fun! If you’re interested in a career in drywall finishing, try reaching out to some local contractors and give it a go.