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.
