What to expect from a career in the trades

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What to expect from a career in the trades

Posted by Rob on March 4, 2013

A few weeks back I wrote about why you should consider a career in the trades. We even put together a video on the topic. I would like to use this blog post to restate many of the benefits of pursuing a career in the trades, but also to clear up some very common misconceptions about working in the trades and what you can expect, as well as help you prepare for an interview.

And the icing on the cake is that we actually talked to managers in various trades and asked them what they personally thought the hiring climate is like.

Here’s what they told us about the employment forecast:

Shirley, a manager in New Brunswick, said about job opportunities that one major issue the power industry is experiencing labour shortages. She added, “We expect this to continue, with vacancies expected all around the country.”

And check out what they told us about misconceptions about working in the trades:

Shirley said that while people may think that the trades are not meaningful work, “Those individuals that work in the trades are directly connected to all of us. They keep the economy moving. You can see what you have accomplished.”
Art said that a trade license is just as good as a degree. “It used to be, if you struggled in school, it was “take a trade,” but this is not the case anymore.”

Considering getting into the trades? Here’s what you can expect in an interview:

Shirley likes asking candidates about their expectations. “I want to know what they expect from their boss or supervisor for the first few months on the job. This kind of questioning allows me to get a feel for the type of individual for the purposes of fit. Are they a team player, do they expect to follow an orientation plan or do they think they can just start working without this type of training.”
Shirley also said one of her favourite questions is: “You need to accomplish a task where you need the help of someone else. The individual you have asked to help you says “no.” What do you do?”

Top Skills Employers in the trades look for

Computer skills and numeracy skills
At least a Grade 12 education and/or a few years of experience in the field
Inquisitive thinking, a problem solver approach and an ability to think analytically
Honesty and a good business ethic
A driver’s license

Thinking about the trades? Let me know what interests you about them.

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