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S A S K AT O O N S TA R P H O E N I X
Trades & Technical Professions Youth program helps trades students get a head start
by Pat R e d i g e R
In many trade projects, the key to success is having a solid foundation. The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) has adopted this philosophy when it comes to developing the next generation of skilled trades workers. Through the SATCC’s Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship (SYA) program, students have the opportunity to learn more about the over-40 designated skilled trades in the province and take part in hands-on learning to get an idea of what career they may want to pursue upon graduating. “It’s a fantastic program because it provides students with so many options,” said Paul Blankestijn, SATCC youth apprenticeship manager. “I graduated in 1985 and I don’t ever recall going to a career fair or having a guidance counsellor. You had to figure out what you wanted to do by yourself. “ He said that students can develop a career path by participating in the program and reviewing its various options. “The effort they spend in high school investing in this program is going to benefit
Through the Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship (SYA) program, high school students can get a valuable head start on a career in a skilled trade. S ATCC
them after high school when they’re starting on their careers.” The ideal time for students to begin the program is Grade 10, although it’s also offered to Grade 11 and 12 students. If a student is interested in taking part, he or she needs to get in touch with the SYA champion at their school, usually the guidance counsellor, shop teacher or principal. After submitting the registration form, the student will be entered in the database and
receive a SYA passport. The student will then receive 12 challenges to complete. One of the challenges is to research the different trades in the province to get a broad overview. Another challenge involves the student interviewing a journeyperson to learn about the job and what the daily challenges and successes are. “Interviewing a journeyperson is a cool one, because the journeyperson the student interviews could be a
potential employer,” Blankestijn said. “The student may really impress the person they interview and be asked to come and see them about an apprenticeship after graduating from high school.” He added that the 12 challenges help young people establish and make a plan. It encourages self-reflection on what they are going to do after high school, what specific trades are they interested in and what connections they have made with potential em-
ployers. Upon graduating from high school, the next step for many of these students will be to become an apprentice, which means they’ll spend approximately 85 per cent of the time working and learning on the job from a certified journeyperson and the remaining time learning theoretical and technical skills in a school setting. Students who participate in the SYA program get a head start on this process. Their apprentice registration fee ($200 as of January 1) is waived; they aren’t charged for Level 1 technical training (at institutions such as Sask Polytech) and they also receive 300 hours of trade time credit. In addition, there are SYA Industry Scholarships awarded to selected eligible high school graduates throughout the province who have completed the SYA Program and will be pursuing a career in the skilled trades. The scholarships are valued at $1,000 each. With these advantages, not to mention the funding students can receive through other federal and provincial scholarships, Blankestijn said young apprentices are given all the tools to succeed. “When you’re an appren-
tice, you get paid to go to school,” he said. Blankestijn, who’s in his tenth year with program, said the interest has increased greatly over the years. He said there’s still a heavy emphasis placed on promoting the program by giving presentations and information to schools, students and their parents. When he makes presentations, Blankestijn points out that this is a great time for students to be entering the industry. According to Buildforce Canada reports, with many of the province’s baby boomers retiring, the province will need 9,000 new tradespeople within the next ten years just to replace to replace the retirees – and more if a resource boom happens. While he also points out the financial benefits of pursuing a career in the trades, he stresses that it’s not just about the money. “If you enjoy what you’re doing and become good at what you’re doing throughout the process, you’re going to be successful,” Blankestijn said. “We’ve seen very clearly through our statistics that there are many young people that have gone through this program and are now certified journeypeople.”
Today’s employers are seeking advanced technical skills Executives who occupy corner offices tend to get much of the glory for a company’s success. But many professionals know the progress and sustainability of a business tends to lie within the daily services offered by its front line of employees. A number of these seasoned and dedicated workers fall within the category of administrative professionals. Administrative professionals have seen their roles evolve in the changing face of office employment. While some of the more conventional duties that have long been a part of admins’ jobs remain, many now find their roles expanding. Admins who want to stay a step ahead and improve their career opportunities can hone their skills and keep abreast of the changing trends. A survey sponsored by OfficeTeam and the International Association of Administrative Professionals zeroed in on what hiring managers said they consider are key motivators for hiring admins. The survey found that organizational skills, initiative and attention to detail are some of the
Industry experience: Knowledge regarding how a specific industry and/or business works can help admin professionals. ■ Customer service skills: A friendly but effective demeanor can benefit admins. ■ Filing/billing: An ability to file and/or create financial reports coupled with knowledge regarding how to process invoices can help admins. ■ Flexibility: Admins who can wear many hats are especially attractive candidates to many businesses, as admins may have to fill in for the duties of an office manger or bookkeeper. ■ Thirst for knowledge: A desire to continue one’s education, including involving oneself in various seminars or training sessions particular to the industry, can help admins. Credentials are sought-after and include certification in certain industry standard courses. BYOD trends also are rising among administrative professionals. This means workers are able to bring their own computers or other digital devices to work. ■
The role of support professionals continues to evolve. Those with advanced technical skills will improve their career opportunities. Ge T Ty I m AGe S
most important qualities for support professionals to possess. They also need to have advanced technical skills, as proficiency in Microsoft Office is just the tip of the iceberg. Some employers now require office professionals be skilled at cloud-based apps, social media, database management, and even website maintenance. Long
gone are the days when filing papers and keeping up on company correspondence filled the bulk of an admin’s day. The following are some skills administrative professionals may need to advance their careers. ■ Excellent written and verbal communication: Being bilingual is an added feather in one’s cap.
Admins may be tasked with establishing protocol for security and maintenance of such devices. Thanks to evolving roles for administrative professionals, outdated job titles are changing and salaries are increasing. According to Salary Guide, the average
starting salary across the administrative field increased by 3.4 percent in 2015 and continues to grow. Current administrative professionals can continue to grow their skill sets and keep current on the training or technologies that can help them advance their careers. (MNS)
General Contracting Design / Build Pr o j e c t M a n a g e m e n t Harry Dalsgaard Manager Cell: (306) 222-6344 Email: harry@d2construction.ca 1101 Ave. Q South Saskatoon, SK S7M 2Y5 Tel: (306) 384-5906 Fax: (306) 384-5907
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