Hot Tip -- by Warren Werle

Heavy equipment operators - ya gotta love em. What most kids only dream of in their back yard sand boxes, these people get to do in real life. They get to play with life sized Tonka toys on a daily basis - and they get paid for it!

So what can help turn that dream into a reality? Hard work is probably the most important thing. Working your way up the ladder is the most common way to get there. You won't start on the biggest machines, but over time, if you show an aptitude for the work, and a desire to do it, chances are you'll get that opportunity soon enough. A track hoe and grader operator were interviewed for this issue, check out what they had to say on moving up in the world of heavy equipment operators.

While experience is key, there are courses that will help too. Course work in construction site safety, first aid, WHMIS, H2S Alive, confined spaces entry and trenching will definitely help. A class 1 or 3 license won't hurt either - nor will some general mechanical aptitude. Operators are called upon to perform basic mechanical checks and repairs on the machine they drive.

Hard work, taking initiative and literally digging your way out of the trenches will go a long way in helping you if heavy equipment operating is something you hope to pursue.

(Warren Werle is a career counsellor at the Calgary Youth Employment Centre.)