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Jump Start -- by Susanne Albrecht
Here's the monthly look at some provincial training, education,
job hunting and networking opportunities:
No experience? Don't sweat it.
"It's my job to help inexperienced youth get work experience in the
construction industry," says Kirsty Knudson, youth employment
co-ordinator of the Calgary Construction Association (CCA).
The CCA offers three-week work experiences to unemployed youth
between the ages of 16-24 for 44 occupations. These occupations
include the wall industry occupations of bricklayer, glazier,
insulator, lather-interior systems mechanic, painter and carpenter.
"The work experience can be unpaid, but it's a way for youth to get a
foot in the door," Knudson says, adding that she has received calls
from employers recently for glaziers and insulators.
Anyone who is willing to work hard and enjoys hands-on tasks is
invited to call the CCA at (403) 262-4898. The CCA's Web site is www.cca.cc.
RAP
Inexperienced youth who wish to gain experience in the wall, or
general construction, industry may also become involved in Alberta's
Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). RAP allows high
school students to earn credit while undergoing apprenticeship
training. RAP apprentices are paid at least minimum wage. More
information about this program may be found at www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca.
Yearly scholarships of $1,000 are also available to the top 50
participants in the province.
Education/Training
The education/training you complete will depend on which wall
industry position you are interested in. However, all of the
following positions involve both classroom and work experience. They
also require a minimum of a Grade 9 education and finding an employer
who is willing to train an apprentice.
- Bricklayer
Term of apprenticeship: Three years
Work experience: 4800 hours
Classroom training: Six months
School(s): Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
- Glazier
Education/Training varies, depending on which branch of the glazier trade is chosen:
Auto Glass Technician
Term of apprenticeship: Two years
Work experience: 3240 hours
Classroom training: Three months
School(s): SAIT
Glazier
Term of apprenticeship: Four years
Work experience: 6480 hours
Classroom training: Six months
School(s): SAIT
- Insulator
Term of apprenticeship: Four years
Work experience: 5650 hours
Classroom training: Five months
School(s): Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)
- Lather-Interior Systems Mechanic
Term of apprenticeship: Three years
Work experience: 4740 hours
Classroom training: 22 weeks
School(s): NAIT
- Painter
Some painters learn on-the-job, without becoming an apprentice
Term of apprenticeship: Three years
Work experience: 3900 hours
Classroom training: Six months
School(s): SAIT
- Carpenter
Term of apprenticeship: Four years
Work experience: 5440 hours
Classroom training: Six months
School(s):
Businesses/Associations
Unions
Job Boards
There are few specific job boards for work in the wall industry.
Bricklayer, glazier, insulator, lather-interior systems mechanic,
painter and carpenter positions are usually found through newspapers,
networking, unions or approaching businesses and employers directly.
However, the following job boards may advertise these positions:
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