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Profile -- by Nick Gaudet
In today's world of huge factories and massive assembly plants, few people ever get the chance to see a project from start to finish and in effect end up feeling like just another cog in the machine. Gavin Smith, a Cabinetmaker in Calgary says that one of the most satisfying parts about his career is that, "You get to see something through to completion, which gives you real sense of pride in the work that you do".
Gavin got his start in the woodworking industry when he was in high school through the Work Experience program. Essentially, he attended school on a half time basis and gained valuable hands-on experience by working the other half. During the summers when most of his friends were hitting up the local supermarkets and grocery stores for a job, Gavin was gaining experience and knowledge which could be applied to his apprenticeship and help propel him forward in a career as a Cabinetmaker. "It worked out great, I got to serve my apprenticeship and then after high school I was hired on full time". For the past 10 years Gavin has been perfecting his craft and learning the ins and outs of his trade.
To get a start in the Cabinetmaker trade, you need to have completed high school. Gavin strongly recommends upgrading your math skills as a lot of the work you do involves the use of numbers. "Definitely, math is one of the more important subjects, not only are you taking down measurements and cutting materials to the required length, but you also need to figure out proper angles and translate detailed drawings". Another route that people can take is the pre-employment woodworking course at SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology), which Gavin says is one of the most respected trades schools in North America. However, Gavin recommends that it's better to start by dropping off resumes and trying to get hired on with a company and then go from there. According to Gavin, once you're signed on with a company they will actually help pay for courses or schooling that relates to your trade, "It used to be that a company would pay 100% of the cost, now the amount reimbursed is based on how well you do in the course. If you get 50%, than the company will cover 50% of the cost, get 80%, than the company covers 80%. It just encourages you to work a lot harder".
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"There's a tremendous sense of accomplishment when you can look at a specific product and know that you're the one responsible for creating it"
Gavin Smith, Cabinetmaker
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For Gavin, the perks of being a Cabinetmaker far outweigh any costs that might be associated with it. One of the most rewarding aspects about his career is getting to see the finished product. As Gavin puts it, "there's a tremendous sense of accomplishment when you can look at a specific product and know that you're the one responsible for creating it". Furthermore, being a Cabinetmaker has given Gavin an opportunity to travel all over Canada, visiting a variety of places including Alaska, Vancouver and Edmonton. Another bonus of the work is getting to interact with the customers and seeing how happy they are with the work you've done. For Gavin it's this aspect of customer satisfaction that helps to make all of the hard work worthwhile.
There can often be a great deal of pressure involved in trying to achieve a high level of customer satisfaction. For Gavin, this is the main drawback to being a Cabinetmaker,
"pressure not only to get the job done in a certain amount of time, but also for a certain price. People will want stuff done for a specific price, but still want the highest level of quality". Another drawback to cabinetmaking is the amount of hard work involved. It can be a demanding job that takes its toll on the body if you don't take necessary steps to ensure that you remain healthy and fit. One tip that Gavin gave was to always wear your personal protective equipment (PPE) and try to stay in good shape. "Take my Grandpa for example. Over the years his hearing has gone because when he was in the industry, safety wasn't such a concern. They didn't have to wear proper ear protection".
A typical day sees Gavin getting to work at about 7:00 AM, writing down what he needs to get done for the day and then going through the list step by step. He usually begins by measuring and cutting all of the materials that he will need for the job. After that he moves on to machining the materials which involves edging the wood and etching in any required detail. Depending on the amount of detailing, this can prove to be one of the more time consuming steps. After Gavin finishes machining the materials, he then assembles them into the final product. Next, he begins sanding it down to ensure that there are no rough spots and to give it a clean look. When he's finally completed all of these steps, it is sent off to finishing where it receives a final inspection
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"it's very easy to get into the industry with the amount of building going on in the city right now."
Gavin Smith, Cabinetmaker
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and a protective coating before it is given to the customer. "Depending on the size of the job this process could take anywhere form a day to a week." Gavin explains, "Plus, in certain shops you get to do everything, whereas in others you only complete one stage." According to Gavin, the two types of shops are custom and production. In custom shops, you do everything. In a production shop, what you do depends on the type of training you have". Gavin works five days a week, with two fifteen minute breaks and a half-hour for lunch everyday. The length of the workday can vary between eight and ten hours. Currently, Gavin works three eight-hour days and two ten-hour days. Depending on how busy it is, some employees may ask if they can come in for a half-day on Saturdays.
One of the most interesting things about Gavin's job is that he gets to travel around Canada and working in some of the nicest houses imaginable. "One time I had an oportunity to work in this person's "rest house" just outside Calgary. This gentleman lives in London and flies to Las Vegas and stops in Calgary for a day or two to break the trip. Besides being one of the nicest homes I've been in, it also had a ton of Circus stuff, including a Merry-go-round and an olympic sized swimming pool. It was pretty cool"
According to Gavin, communication skills are essential to being a successful Cabinetmaker. Also important are comprehension and listening skills. These skills come in handy when you working with others to determine what the final look of a project will be. Other characteristics that are important include appearance and attitude, "you need to maintain a professional appearance and have an easy going attitude, but you still have to be willing to stick up for yourself especially if you think a certain design will or will not work".
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"people are always going to want to re-vamp or touch up what has been done in the past."
Gavin Smith, Cabinetmaker
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When asked about salary and what one can expect to be paid as a Cabinetmaker, Gavin says that it depends on how many years of your apprenticeship you have completed and your level of seniority with the company. Someone starting out in the industry can expect to be paid $10.00/hr, with increases each year of your apprenticeship. As certified journeyman, you can make anywhere from $20.00/hr to $25.00/hr. Gavin says that , "it's very easy to get into the industry with the amount of building going on in the city right now." Gavin points out that Vancouver is booming too, with the upcoming olympics and he's heard that Australia has a strong market for Cabinetmakers as well. In order to work in a different province, you need to pass the inter-provincial exam, which will give you your Red Seal certification. As for the future, Gavin always sees woodworking as being in demand, "people are always going to want to re-vamp or touch up what has been done in the past."
For individuals trying to break into the industry, Gavin says that you should try to find someone with a connection and talk with them as much as possible. "As well, you should go in person to the shops and drop off your resume. Ask to speak with either the foreman or the production manager, and always follow up, you really have to push the company to hire you."
As a last piece of advise, Gavin says that someone looking to break into the industry should keep an open mind if the company says that they can only hire you on as a sweeper. "I've gone from sweeping floors to job planning and job organization, there are definitely a ton of opportunities to climb the ladder and move into higher level positions".
Resources
Alberta Occupational Profiles (OCCInfo) - Cabinetmaker
Job Futures - Cabinetmaker
Trade Secrets - Cabinetmaker Apprenticeship
NAIT - Cabinetmaker
NAIT - Millwork and Carpentry Program
NAIT - Advanced Woodworking and Furniture Design
SAIT - Cabinet Making Pre-employment
SAIT - Cabinetmaker Apprenticeship Program
SAIT - Woodworking Certificate
Southern Alberta Woodworkers Society (SAWS)
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