Skills Ready

  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT SKILLS READY
    • BURSARIES & SCHOLARSHIPS
    • SKILLS READY TEAM
    • CONTACT
    • THE CONSTRUCTION FOUNDATION
  • OUR COMMUNITY
    • EDUCATORS
    • EMPLOYERS
    • YOUTH
  • RESOURCES
  • PROJECTS PORTAL
  • WHAT’S NEW
Donate to the
Skills Ready Fund
  • Home
  • News & Events
  • NEWS
  • THE BENEFITS OF A CAREER IN TRADES: A 40-YEAR REFLECTION
January 26, 2021

THE BENEFITS OF A CAREER IN TRADES: A 40-YEAR REFLECTION

THE BENEFITS OF A CAREER IN TRADES: A 40-YEAR REFLECTION

by CFBC PR / Tuesday, 29 October 2019 / Published in NEWS

BENEFITS OF TAKING A SHOP CLASS
If it wasn’t for taking a few shop classes in high school, I may not have pursued the trades as a career. It opened my eyes to a career option outside of attending a college, university or working in the local industrial plant. I enjoyed building things with my hands and not sitting in the typical classroom setting.

Exploring different options for a career path is essential if you are hoping to find something that you are interested in. Experience the joy of working with your hands and creating something by taking a shop class. A career in the trades is an excellent option for those who like to design and create things and would like to make a living doing those things.

INEXPENSIVE AND RELATIVELY SHORT TRAINING
Apprenticeships generally last four years and are comprised of eighty percent paid on-the-job training and twenty percent in-class instruction.  During your in-class training you will generally be paid a wage subsidy or qualify for Employment Insurance. Many trade professionals begin their apprenticeship training program while still in secondary school and complete their four-years with little or no debt.

Once an apprenticeship is complete, skills continue to develop through experience, leading to additional opportunities as time progresses. If desired, the decision to open a personal business is a common occurrence within the trades industry.

In a world where job security is scarce, learning a skilled trade can provide an avenue to fall back on. Whether you decide to stay with the trade or do something else, you will always have the skills you acquired. You can apply skills learned in the trades to everyday life and be more aware of how things work in the world around you. A skilled trade enables you to make a name for yourself and leave a legacy if you work hard at it. The sky is the limit!

JOB SATISFACTION
I believe that the key to job satisfaction is to find something you enjoy doing and something that makes you happy. Learning a skill and being passionate about the work that you do is an important part of a happy life. In the trades industry, you’ll help people solve problems by constructing solutions from raw materials, keep people safe and tackle unique challenges everyday. When all is said and done, you’ll be able to pass on your knowledge to the next generation. Leave your legacy.

WORKPLACE SAFETY
Proper training and work procedures ensures that any risk factor in the workplace is minimalized. In the past, safety and work had separate identities. In the present day it has one, “Work Safely”.

BENEFITS OF HAVING A TRADE
As a visual, hands-on learner, trades were a natural fit for me. I was lucky to find something I enjoyed doing at a young age. Exploring different aspects of the trade and developing my skills further created more interest and a passion for what I was doing.  I enjoyed hard work, long days, and doing something that was challenging and invigorating. Having hands-on experience and my journeyman’s ticket opened multiple doors of opportunity.

Starting in the trades when I was eighteen gave me an incredible financial advantage at a young age. I was ticketed by the time I was twenty-two with no debt, thanks to the earn while you learn structure and also being subsidized while attending school as an apprentice. At a young age I was making good money and the opportunities were endless. I chose to open my own construction company and the journey began.

Having my Red Seal Journeyman qualifications allowed me travel and work across Canada and the USA. I stepped away from the trade on a number of occasions throughout my career. I received my teaching qualifications and even more opportunities became available. No matter what I was doing, I could step back into trades without having to start at the bottom.

  • Tweet

About CFBC PR

What you can read next

THE STUDENT PERSPECTIVE – ANGELO BLACKWELL
CAREER EXPLORATION – GETTING ONSITE
AN EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVE – MARK BERNHARDT

Recent Posts

  • INDUSTRY INTERVIEWS: ELECTRICIAN DUSTIN HANCE

    Maintenance Electrician Dustin Hance sat down w...
  • INDUSTRY INTERVIEWS: PROJECT MANAGER CHUCK CULLEN

    Team Construction Management’s Chuck Cullen has...
  • SKILLS READY KICKS OFF FALL SEASON WITH FLURRY OF YOUTH WORKSHOPS

    Skills Ready has kicked off the Fall Seaso...
  • INDUSTRY INTERVIEWS: CARPENTER JULIE PATTERSON

    Julie Patterson is the owner-operator of Julie ...
  • CAREER PROFILE: SHEET METAL WORKER SHEILA

    Sheila is a ticketed Sheet Metal worker at Viad...

Archives

  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • April 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • March 2017

Categories

  • Educator
  • Employer
  • NEWS
  • Youth

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
  • GET SOCIAL
Skills Ready

HEAD OFFICE
T 250 220 5861
getready@skillsready.ca

© 2016 All rights reserved by CONSTRUCTION FOUNDATION OF BC. Sitemap.

TOP