Herzing Skilled Trades

In the skilled trades, where the work is often physically demanding and the industry constantly evolves, career longevity can be a challenge. However, with the right strategies and mindset, tradespeople can enjoy long, successful careers that are both fulfilling and financially rewarding.

Understanding how to maintain your health, stay current with industry trends, and balance work with your personal life is essential to ensuring your skills and passion stand the test of time.

In this post, we provide key tips and insights on how to achieve career longevity in the skilled trades, helping you build a solid foundation for a lifetime of success.

In Canada, women currently make up a very small percentage of the construction workforce, but a lot is changing within the industry in an effort to bump that number higher.

BuildForce Canada estimates that by 2032, the Canadian construction industry will require nearly 300,000 workers to keep up with demand. Many government agencies, construction organizations, and trade schools are doing everything they can to make sure that more women are included in this expansion.

A well-crafted skilled trades resume is a critical tool for your job search. It needs to showcase your skills in a way that captures an employer’s attention and convinces them to call you for an interview.

Most hiring managers spend just a few seconds deciding whether they should take that step. So how can you maximize your chances of getting noticed?

Updated January 2024

Many people have a vague notion that skilled trades equals construction workers, but the reality is this field is much broader. The sector includes those who do everything from building houses and maintaining machinery to cutting hair and preparing food.

So what are skilled trades? They’re jobs that involve hands-on work and require specialized skills, usually gained through a trade school program, an apprenticeship, or both.

And there are plenty of such jobs available. According to a report from the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, Canada will need more than 120,000 new tradespeople between 2022 and 2026.

In this post, we describe some common careers in the skilled trades, explain which ones have the strongest demand, and provide everything you need to know about how to get started in one of these exciting career paths.

You’re probably aware that the route to many careers in the skilled trades involves an apprenticeship. An experienced tradesperson agrees to hire and mentor you, and you undergo a mix of in-school lessons and paid on-the-job training.

However, it can be tough to find someone willing to take you on if you have no background in the trade.

That’s where a pre-apprenticeship comes in. This is a college-level program that helps you develop a foundation of skills in a trade. It’s designed to give you the theory and hands-on training you need to attract an employer’s attention and get hired as an apprentice.

Thinking about a career in the trades? Keep reading to learn about the value of pre-apprenticeship training and how it can help set you up for success.

If you recently graduated from Herzing College Skilled Trades, chances are you know Christine Azevedo.

Christine is the Associate Director of Career Services at Herzing in the trades division. She works tirelessly with students to find them jobs after trades training.

Don't know how to put together a professional resume and cover letter? Christine can help you with that.

Not sure where/how to look for jobs in your field? Christine will show you the ropes—and even send out your resume to companies who hire Herzing skilled trades grads.

She'll coach you on how to approach potential employers and how to present yourself during interviews.

Christine is one of Herzing's go-to career specialists. So, when we decided to write a post on getting hired after trades school, she was the obvious person to talk to.

Here are Christine's top tips for landing your first job or apprenticeship.

Updated January 2023

If you’re considering studying a trade or completing an apprenticeship, you may be thinking ahead to getting the Red Seal endorsement.

Once you become a certified journeyperson, you can pursue Red Seal certification by taking the interprovincial exam. Successful candidates earn a Red Seal endorsement on their certificates of qualification and apprenticeship, proving their skill level in a particular trade.

But what is the value of this endorsement? How can it help your career? And is it worth the extra effort?

Let’s dive into the details.

Updated October 2022

Students enrolling in pre-apprenticeship training should expect site safety to be a major feature of both theory and hands-on coursework.

Construction professionals in Ontario are compelled to meet specific safety training and certification requirements. Quality trades colleges introduce and reinforce those standards from day one of training, ensuring pre-apprentices are equipped with the fundamentals employers look for—the safety knowledge needed to protect themselves, colleagues, and the public while working.

Wondering what kinds of safety practices you will learn in pre-apprenticeship training?

Start by understanding some of the most common job site injuries, and why safety education is key for preventing accidents.