Skilled Trades Blog

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As students graduate and prepare to enter the workforce, many new graduates find themselves in the situation that the career they were interested in at the beginning of their education doesn't align with where their interest lie now. Or, in other cases, they may find that the degree or diploma that they completed isn't enough to get them an ideal career.

With the increased trades shortage in Canada, it isn't surprising that when faced with these challenges, graduates' interests are shifting toward the skilled trades, a specialized industry that holds the promise of a rewarding career upon the completion of necessary training and certification.

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Winter is just around the corner! And if you are thinking about a career change, or are a highschool grad that took some time off and are now ready to pursue an education in the skilled trades, this is the perfect time to get your gas fitter's license in Ontario.

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When you are in a hurry to get certified and start your gas technician career as quickly as possible, it might be tempting to rush through the Gas Technician 3 certification and enter the workforce with just that license. But why stop there when you can better your career with a just a few extra weeks of training and complete your Gas Technician 2 training as well?

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We are well into fall here in Ontario, and with the end of the summer comes the end of swimming pool season. And while for many, that simply means finding new ways to spend your time (no more floating on hot summer days!), for others it means work grinds to a halt. We're talking about those who spend the spring and summer months working in the swimming pool industry, opening, maintaining, repairing and closing pools.

While this is a very enjoyable career, once the cold weather hits, your options are to find temporary employment, work very limited hours or 6 months of unemployment. What better way to spend those 6 months than getting trained for a new career in the skilled trades?

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With high school graduation right around the corner, many grade twelve students have started making plans for September. But, there are some graduates out there that may be thinking that taking a year off to work while they decide on a career is their best option. After all, who wants to commit to years of education only to find out the career wait for you at the end isn't what you thought it would be?

As the demand for skilled workers rises, so has enrollment in many college trades courses — as has the tuition. But if you find the right trade school, you can save thousands of dollars and years of time. You won't have to enroll in a 2-4 year course that costs $5000+ a year (coming in at $10,000 to $20,000 total). In fact, you can complete a course at a fraction of the cost and be ready to work in just 17 weeks.

The key is to choose the right school to get certified.

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If you are thinking of pursuing skilled trades jobs in Ontario, it's important you understand everything that is required to become licensed in that particular trade. Each province in Canada has its own licensing requirements for specific skilled trades and its own governing authorities that oversee and enforce these requirements. In Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority is governing body when it comes to skilled trades licensing.

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When you are considering going back to school part-time to get your gas technician license (or any other skilled trade certification, for that matter), you are probably already juggling many other responsibilities — a family, a job, a home. You're busy, and becoming a part-time student will just add to your already full schedule. It will take some planning and creativity when it comes to time management, but here are some ways to schedule it all in.

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If you've already think a skilled trades job might be for you, it's important to know where to begin. There is no point in pursuing a career that you have thought about without actually understand what the job or the training entails. You wouldn't want to invest the time and money into training only to find out this isn't the career choice you thought it would be. And so, we are launching a short series — a step-by-step guide, if you will —about how to kickstart a career in the trades. 

Whether you are a soon-to-be high school graduate trying to figure out what to do with your life or someone who just wants to pursue something new, let this be your guide to starting your new career in the skilled trades.

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Working in the skilled trades requires more than most people give them credit for — it's about more than just being good with your hands. It's about understanding ever-changing technology, remembering important safety measures, knowing the math behind what you are doing and delivering excellent customer service.

As a skilled trades worker, it is imperative that you have excellent customer service practices. After all, the quality of your service speaks volumes about you and is essential in acquiring return business and getting referred to new business.

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For the last 15 years, it has been all about working in the business world. People were going to university and studying to achieve that corner office job. Now, youth still think that's where the good jobs are, even though there are fewer opportunities. The job market is definitely in recovery mode after our economy's nosedive but university graduates are not seeing the same success as they used to. It's time young people started looking at other options for steady well-paying jobs.

Skilled trades jobs are the alternative young people should be considering. They are on par with those office jobs that used to be so desirable — we've already talked about the myths that need busting. The simple reality is that skilled trades need to be better promoted as viable options to young people so that they can make informed decisions about the post-secondary education they pursue and the jobs that will be waiting for them.

Benefit Three: There is job security in the skilled trades

We know that when you are looking for a job, good pay doesn't hurt — but even more important than a good wage is knowing that you will be able to keep that well paying job. No one wants to work in a job that isn't secure. And in this economy, a completely secure career opportunity is hard to find. But some jobs are safer than others — enter skilled trades career opportunities.