Skilled Trades

Considering Pre-Apprentice Maintenance Electrician Training? Here’s a Day in the Life of an Electrical Technician

November 15, 2017

Heading out on any new career path, it’s normal to have a level of curiosity about where that path will lead. You might wonder about what your responsibilities will be like, or what kinds of environments you can expect to work in, or have other important questions as you look forward to your coming future.

If you find yourself in this situation while considering a construction and maintenance electrician pre-apprenticeship program, take a look at this quick guide to a day in the life of an electrical technician. It should give you some decent answers to many of the common questions regarding this career path, and get you excited for your future.

Pros With Pre-Apprentice Maintenance Electrician Training Use Diagnostic Tools to Find Problems

As much as modern electronic technology offers many benefits, it also has this habit of breaking down in a way where the problem isn’t obvious. This means electrical technicians often spend a part of their day using diagnostic tools to try and locate where the problem lies in a faulty machine or electrical setup, so that it can later be fixed.

A couple of examples of the tools commonly used in this work include voltage testers, which verify whether voltage is present in wires, outlets, switches, or other electrical components, and circuit breaker finders, which identify which breaker controls an outlet. Several variants on these tools also exist, with each having slightly different capabilities and applications. You will get to learn about many of these different instruments, and how to correctly use them, when you begin your pre-apprentice maintenance electrician training.

Using diagnostic equipment to identify problems is an important part of working as an electrical technician

Electrical Technicians May do Repair or Maintenance Work on Electrical Systems

Once a problem has been identified within an electrical system, electrical technicians are frequently the ones called upon to fix it. The scope of this work can be quite wide, with many interesting challenges for qualified professionals to tackle. After your pre-apprenticeship program, your electrician career in construction could involve everything from fixing or replacing light fixtures, to redoing faulty wiring, maintaining or repairing motors in equipment, and many other interesting tasks.

Needless to say, there’s a lot of skill that goes into performing these tasks well, not the least of which is knowing how to complete the work safely. Attending a pre-apprenticeship program like the one at North American Trade Schools will give you the opportunity to learn repair and maintenance techniques hands-on. This can help ensure that by the time you enter the workforce, you know exactly how to keep yourself and others safe when working with electrical equipment and components. It’s a foundational skill that offers benefits to last a lifetime.

Learning how to do electrical repair work safely is crucial to success in the field

You May Have to Perform Inspections as a Maintenance Electrician

One of the most important parts of many electrical technicians’ days is performing inspections of electrical equipment and systems to ensure they are working as they are meant to. Any deficiencies that are noticed in the process of these inspections are typically noted down, and likely lead to diagnostic and repair work later on.

Inspections of this nature are critical. They might mean the difference between catching a problem early on and being confronted with an unexpected breakdown and scrambling to get it fixed. In Ontario, electrical inspections are mandatory for renovations, new construction, and in many industrial and business settings, meaning there is no shortage of this type of work out there.

Does working as an electrical technician sound appealing to you?

Contact North American Trade Schools for more information about how to become a construction electrician by enrolling in a pre-apprenticeship program!

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Cabinetmaking

Interesting Career Opportunities for Grads of Cabinet Making Courses

November 07, 2017

If you have a knack for hands-on work and want a career in which you can complete interesting, high quality projects for a wide variety of clients, then a cabinetmaking program could be exactly what you are looking for.

Skilled cabinetmakers are often in demand in many different settings, meaning there is a whole host of career options available for those who learn the trade. Keep reading to learn more about the many doors that will open to you when you graduate from cabinetmaking courses.

Take the Entrepreneurial Route After Cabinetmaking Courses

One popular career route taken by many individuals with cabinetmaker training is to start their own small business offering cabinetmaking services. This option may be especially appealing if you enjoy the freedom of being your own boss, would like to establish and work from a home shop, or if you already have a strong network in your community from which you could draw potential clients.

Hands-on cabinetmaker training can help you launch your own successful business

As a self-employed cabinet maker, you could work for a wide range of client types. Luxury home contractors, architects, interior designers, and even individual homeowners may contract your services, and running your own business will give you the chance to serve as wide or as specialized a range of clientele as you would like.

Produce Beautiful Custom Woodwork With Your Cabinetmaking Skills

If you have a more creative side that you want to be able to express in your career, the intricate, detailed pieces produced by custom woodworkers might just be the perfect application of the skills you learn in cabinetmaking courses.

Using a range of different woodworking machinery, these professionals construct striking and detailed custom cabinets and other types of wood furniture. Like regular cabinetmakers, custom woodworkers can find different types of employment, whether they want to work for a larger company or set up their own shop. As a custom woodworker, you will have the power to not only provide your clients with great furniture, but unique pieces that will really stand out and help you build a positive reputation.

Custom woodworkers provide their clients with unique, detailed products

Use Your Cabinetmaking Training to Get Into Renovations and Remodeling

One particularly interesting path for an individual with cabinetmaking training is to use their skills to pursue renovation and remodeling work. Many cabinetmakers, cabinet installers, and custom woodworkers will do work as part of renovation jobs, and focusing specifically on this niche is a great way for you to improve your chances of connecting with potential clients.

For example, homeowners who want to improve their property, whether to sell it for a better price or to increase their own quality of life, will often pursue kitchen renovations. You can use your expertise in kitchen installation and cabinetmaking to help them renew their homes with impeccable fixtures and beautiful custom woodwork.  This type of work will give you plenty of opportunities to let your cabinetmaking abilities shine and to gain satisfied clients.

Do you want to see what you can do with skills in cabinetmaking?

Contact NATS to learn more about our cabinetmaking school.

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Skilled Trades

2017’s Top Handy Apps for Students in Construction School

October 31, 2017

The use of professional apps in increasing efficiency and overcoming workplace headaches is now common in many businesses, and this is increasingly the case in the construction and maintenance sector.

As these apps become more and more integrated into the modern work site, they will become increasingly relevant to aspiring construction and maintenance electricians as they progress towards full-time work. With the explosion of new apps showing no signs of slowing down any time soon, how do we sort the good from the bad when it comes to finding the handiest (not to mention most reliable) apps?

Keep reading for a list of some of the most useful apps that students in construction school can download, try out, and potentially add to their cell phone or tablet toolkit.

DeWalt Mobile Pro – A Great All-Rounder for a Career in Construction

Every construction and maintenance worker needs a dependable and versatile calculation tool

It’s hard to find a role in construction and maintenance that doesn’t require some number crunching or on-the-fly math. It’s just part of the job. The DeWalt Mobile Pro is a solid choice for students looking for a flexible construction calculation app.

The app comes pre-loaded with functions that are commonly used in the sector, and includes useful trade-specific features, including some specifically for electricians. It also allows you to review previous calculations and share them via email. For students, having a single app for all your calculating needs like DeWalt Mobile Pro means less errors in your work and more time saved during your studies and beyond.

PlanGrid – Get a Taste of Project Planning in Construction School

It’s never too early to get familiar with project planning applications. PlanGrid is a popular construction planning app which is designed as a centralized way for everyone on a team to access key building information, including plans, schematics, and the latest updates.

The app backs up all data securely and has several useful functions, including the ability to share images from any device. Once you have graduated from construction school, this is exactly the kind of paper-saving tool you will encounter on large-scale jobs, so getting familiar with it sooner rather than later is recommended.

You can see a demo of the app here:

TimeSheet Mobile – Mastering Your Time Management

More and more sites are using more advanced ways to track time. Many independent contractors are also getting smart about tracking the time spent on certain jobs. TimeSheet Mobile’s newly updated app allows for easy punch-in and punch-out, geo-specific time accounting, and a built-in reminders system.

This kind of application can be customized to your requirements, and is a good example of how time-keeping in the sector is evolving in 2017. Getting familiar with it now will help you manage your time more efficiently.

Canadian Red Cross First Aid App – The Vital Role of Health and Safety

You will be required to undertake occupational health and safety training as a professional with a career in construction. There should be medical procedures in place at any site you are working at, but having an additional and trusted resources bank on-hand is always a good idea.

The official Canadian Red Cross Fist Aid app provides you with a full offline resource of emergency procedures, and is fully integrated with 911 in the case of an onsite incident. In an urgent scenario, it also provides simple, step-by-step medical instructions. This is arguably a highly important app to have in all situations, not just professional ones.

Canadian Electrical Code Interactive Standard – Essential for Construction College Students

For those students who are pursuing a career as an electrical and maintenance electrician through construction school, the Canadian electrical code will be a constant source of reference. All work carried out by an electrician in Canada must adhere to the stipulations of the code, which outlines strict rules as well as rationale regarding installation and maintenance.

This bulky code is now available as an interactive app from CSA Group complete with an essential search function, and scales to any mobile device. Trainee electricians will need to purchase a version of the code at some point, so opting for the better accessibility of the app version certainly justifies the price tag.

Ready to grasp the opportunities that construction college can offer you?

Contact North American Trades Schools for more information about our programs!

Keywords: career in construction, construction school, construction college

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Construction Maintenance Electrician

Energy Saving Tips for When You Become a Maintenance Electrician

October 26, 2017

Working as an electrician, it’s useful to be in the know about the basics of energy efficiency. Clients will often turn to you as an expert in all things electrical and electronic, and hope that you can offer them tips to reduce their energy bills.

Being able to provide this service is a great way to make yourself that much more useful, and could really brighten a curious customer’s day. It will also help you single yourself out as a professional they can really trust, and could lead to repeat business in the future.

Wondering what kinds of useful advice might be interesting to clients? Here are a few important ideas that can help cut energy costs.

When You Become a Maintenance Electrician, Advise Clients to Avoid Aggressive Heating & Cooling

Heating and cooling can help make a space nicer to live or work in, but it also requires a great deal of energy. The 2012 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey found that heating and cooling combined for 718 trillion of a total of 4,241 trillion BTU of energy consumed by surveyed buildings. Unlike a relatively fixed energy drain, like refrigeration (which clocked in at 670 billion BTU), there is a bit more freedom to reduce the costs associated with heating and cooling.

Simply advising clients not to go overboard with heating and cooling can do a great deal to cut down on costs. Often, an office building or other commercial space will have very aggressive cooling or heating ongoing throughout the summer and winter. Temperatures might hover in the range of 18-19 degrees in summer, or surpass 20 in winter. A degree or two less cooling would keep the spaces in a comfortable range, but would require much less energy, and could therefore result in a bill that is several percentage points lower.

Adjusting the heating or cooling of a building is an easy way to save money

Tell Customers That Updating Lighting to LED Could Save Them a Bundle

Professionals with a maintenance electrician diploma likely know that the current standard for efficient and cost-effective lighting comes in the form of LED lights. The most notable benefits of LEDs are their low energy cost relative to the amount of light they produce – a 10 watt LED is about equivalent to a 60 watt incandescent bulb – and lifespan. An LED can last for around 30,000 hours of use, compared to 10,000 for fluorescent lights, and just 1,000 for incandescent bulbs. Though slightly more costly to buy than the other options, longer lifespan and cheaper operational costs make LEDs the clear choice for individuals and businesses hoping to save energy and money over time.

LED lights are the best choice for both energy efficiency and product longevity

Unsurprisingly, many businesses have taken note of the benefits of LEDs, and are now investing in updating their lighting to take advantage. Enrolling in training programs like the one offered at North American Trade Schools will give you the electrical skills and knowledge you need to help them make the transition.

Beware Vampire Power! Advise Clients on the Value of Eco-Friendly Modes

It’s no secret that plugged-in appliances and devices draw tiny amounts of power even when they are not in use. This phenomenon, referred to as “vampire power” is quite small on the level of an individual device. However, multiply by all the devices typically found in a home or office — numerous computers, copiers, monitors, etc. — and the cumulative effect can quickly result in a fair amount of energy use.

Advising customers to select devices and appliances that offer eco-friendly modes, and to set the devices to use those modes when not in use, is a good way to help them reduce their energy costs when you become a maintenance electrician. To get a sense of some of the best ways to take advantage of these kinds of features, consider reaching out to your instructors while completing your training. With their years of experience working with electrical devices of all kinds, they may have a few useful perspectives that could help you in identifying other ways to operate devices with less wasted energy.

Want to put yourself on the fast track to an electrician career in construction or maintenance?

Contact North American Trade Schools to learn about our program!

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HVAC

How to Connect With Clients After Finishing Your HVAC Diploma

October 24, 2017

HVAC professionals, along with others who work in people’s homes, understand that some clients feel a level of stress and worry when engaging their services. Horror stories about home “improvement” gone wrong abound, and the emotional stakes are high when you need to live with the work that has been done.

Connecting with clients is an important route to establishing trust, building good relationships, and possibly getting regular business from members of your community. Through a few key strategies, it’s possible for you to make great connections and develop a top-class reputation.

Curious about how you can do so? Here are a few useful strategies to help you connect with clients after finishing HVAC training.

Acquire the Resources You Need to Connect With All Kinds of Clients

Professionals working in HVAC services occupy an interesting territory, in that people of all ages and walks of life could conceivably be customers — everybody likes good heating and cooling in their home. This means that in your future career, your clients might be young and tech-savvy, or they might be a bit older and less comfortable with computers and the internet. Most likely, your client roster will be a mix of both.

In order to connect with all age demographics, it’s important to acquire a few of the most common tools for communication. If you are self-employed, creating a website for yourself and your business is important, and something you should make an effort to do early on. Business cards are also critical. They can help you connect with older demographics, and are also useful for pointing younger potential clients toward your web presence.

Resources such as these are not particularly expensive to acquire, so there’s no reason not to do so after completing your HVAC technician courses. They are an investment in yourself that can quickly pay off.

Business cards are an effective tool, so be sure to get some when you start your HVAC career

When You Become an HVAC Technician, Be a Friendly & Open Communicator

One of the simplest tips for client relations is also one of the most critical: be friendly. Clients will be more receptive to you, and more likely to recommend you to friends or relatives, if they find you polite and pleasant to be around. Be quick with a smile, make sure your manners are exceptionally polished, and you will please most of the people you meet.

It is also important to be open and honest with clients. In the course of doing HVAC work, you may find that clients have questions that are difficult to answer, or that an accident – perhaps coolant is leaking – must be brought to their attention. Being direct and honest can help you establish yourself as the kind of person clients will want to deal with.

Pursuing your HVAC diploma at a school like North American Trade Schools will allow you to learn from experienced professionals who know a thing or two about client relations. Pick their brains for some insight from their years of industry work and you could get some valuable tips about the best ways to maintain open communication around difficult subjects — a valuable skill to bring to your career.

A Good HVAC Technician Responds to Compliments & Complaints Alike

It isn’t the best idea to focus on good comments and ignore the bad when working as an HVAC professional. If a client isn’t totally satisfied with their heating or air conditioning, it’s likely that they will let people know it, potentially denying you more connections and opportunities in the future. Reach out to people who are complaining, offer a quick apology, and attempt to correct the problem. This can often be enough to turn a complaint into a compliment about your exceptional customer service.

As a rule, it’s also a good idea to consider complaints and see if they point to something that you can change to improve your service going forward. Sometimes, a complaint might even result from a misunderstanding, and a quick conversation can set everything right.

Handling complaints well can help set upset customers at ease

Of course, it’s important to handle compliments properly, too. When clients offer you praise, be sure to thank them for their business, and state your interest in working with them again if ever the opportunity arises. You might consider taking this a step further and send them a written note thanking them for their business, and tell them to contact you if they have any questions or comments. This can go a long way to making clients feel extra special, and likely to recommend your services in future.

Do you want to become an HVAC technician who is well-liked and talented?

Contact North American Trade Schools to learn about our training program.

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Skilled Trades

Savvy Safety Tips to Keep in Mind at Electrician School

October 17, 2017

When working with electricity, safety is essential. Not following proper safety practices can increase the risk of suffering burns, shock, electrocution, or a fall. While you’ll learn industry safety protocols during your electrician program, it’s good to have a general idea of these precautions before you start your training. You can also share these tips with your clients once you begin your career as an electrician!

If you’re considering enrolling in electrician school, read on to discover five things that will help keep you, your classmates, and your customers safe during your electrician training and beyond.

Disconnect Power Sources Before You Begin Working

If you’ve ever changed a light bulb before, you know that you’re supposed to turn off the light before you swap out the old light bulb for a new one. The same rules apply when it comes to all of the electrical devices you’ll encounter during electrician school.

Before performing any electrical work, make sure to disconnect the power source. This will ensure that there’s no electrical current present that could harm you if you were to come into contact with it.

Make Sure to Wear the Proper Safety Gear During Electrician School

Despite all the safety precautions you take, accidents can still happen, which is why wearing the proper electrical safety gear is essential. The human body is a conductor for electricity, so it’s essential that you wear nonconductive gloves and boots that will help stop an electrical current from making its way from an electric source into your body.

In addition, you should also wear protective clothing with long sleeves and eye protection, as electrical discharges are quite hot and can cause burns to exposed skin, while also posing a risk to your eyes.

Make sure to wear all the proper safety equipment when performing electrical work

Avoid Wearing Any Metal Jewellery When Working with Electricity

When working with electricity, you should never wear anything that’s made of a conductive material, such as metal jewelry like bracelets, necklaces, watches, or rings. In addition, you should always avoid keeping conductive items, like a metal key chain or wallet with a metal cash clip, in your pocket. It’s safer to keep these items at home or swap them out for non-conductive material instead.

Professionals with Electrician Certification Always Avoid Water and Moisture

It’s no secret that water and electricity don’t mix. During your electrician certificationprogram, you should always be aware of any moisture or water in your work space. Never work when there are puddles of liquid on the floor, and make sure your hands and clothing are completely dry before working with electrical currents. In addition, be aware when working in hot environments, as your body’s perspiration could pose a safety risk as well.

Treat All Electrical Devices as if They are Energized

When it comes to electrical hazards, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Even if you think an electrical device that you’re working with has been turned off and is no longer conducting electricity, you should treat it like it could be energized. This means using the proper steps and procedures and wearing the proper safety equipment.

Treat electrical devices as if they are energized to be on the safe side

Did you know if you become an electrician you’ll be in demand by employers?

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Welding

Looking for a New Career Path? Why Now is The Time to Become a Welder

October 03, 2017

Whether you’re transitioning from a completely different field or starting your very first career out of high school, becoming a welder will open up a world of opportunities.

Not only does a career in the trades allow you to do something you enjoy working with your hands, it also provides opportunities for advancement, an excellent salary, and flexibility to choose the direction of your career.

If you’re interested in becoming a welder, read on to learn why it has never been a better time to begin working towards your career goals.

Demand for Welders Across Canada is Growing

As the previous generation of welders retire and Canada’s economy sees improvement, skilled and experienced trade workers, including welders, are increasingly in demand. The industry needs excited, hard-working and talented young professionals to fill job openings and contribute to many of Canada’s growing sectors.

In fact, the Government of Canada predicts 30,800 new welding-related careers to become available by 2024, and only 30,300 job seekers to enter the market. This means that there will be more welding positions available than workers, which is great news for anyone looking to begin their career.

Top Welding Technician Colleges Are Accepting New Students All the Time

In order to begin your career as a welder, you’ll need to take welding courses, which will teach you about proper safety precautions, welding techniques, and more. In addition, by completing a training program, you‘ll earn an employer-recognized CWB Certificate, so you can join the ranks of other welders in the Canadian Welding Bureau.

The good news is that trades schools like NATS offer continuous rolling start dates, which means you can get started working towards your future career as soon as possible.

NATS offers rolling start dates, so students can begin training for your career right away

Graduates of Welding Courses Can Look Forward to a Stable, Lucrative Career

Welding careers can offer lucrative salaries, especially as you move up the ranks, as well as plenty of opportunities for growth and development. If you have big goals for your career, it’s best to get moving right away. Enrolling in a welding program will allow you to get the training you need quickly and efficiently, so you can break into the industry and start gaining the experience to work towards advancing in your career.

Welders Can Work in a Variety of Interesting Industries

Another fantastic reason to become a welder is the wealth of opportunities available to you upon graduation. Not only can you continue to hone your skills to specialize in different areas of welding, you can also work in many different dynamic industries.

In Canada, oil and gas is just one common sector you could work in. However, you could also work in transportation, the auto industry, manufacturing, or construction, to name just a few of the diverse industries that need trained welding professionals.

Welders can work in a variety of interesting industries and workplace environments

Ready to take the next step towards enrolling at a welding technician college?

Contact North American Trades Schools for more information about our programs!

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HVAC

Keeping Cool: Handy Interview Tips to Help You Score Your First Job After HVAC School

September 26, 2017

Completing your HVAC technician training is an exciting achievement that should be celebrated! However, when the dust has settled, you will be faced with the next challenge of your up-and-coming career: landing your first job.

With a solid training program under your belt, you have the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as an HVAC technician. These interview tips will put you in an excellent position to demonstrate this fact to potential employers and get your career started!

Dress Professionally When Attending Interviews After HVAC School

As we all know, first impressions can count for a lot. One of the best ways that you can make a sharp first impression at a job interview is by dressing professionally. Generally speaking, business attire is a safe bet. Although most HVAC technicians wear casual clothes to work, being slightly overdressed is better than being underdressed, and showing that you put time and effort into your appearance will demonstrate to the interviewer that you take the job opportunity seriously.

Professional attire can help you make a positive first impression at your job interview

Prepare in Advance for Common Interview Questions

While there is no cheat sheet for a job interview and the ability to think on the spot is important, there are a few very common questions that you should prepare good answers to before being interviewed. These questions may cover topics like:

  • Your professional background – previous work positions held, as well as the skills you acquired and your duties and responsibilities
  • What you learned during your HVAC training
  • What your career ambitions are and why you want to work for the company
  • Your strengths and weaknesses, both in general and in relation to HVAC work

Having answers ready for these questions will help you make sure you don’t forget key pieces of information, and will show the interviewer that you are thoughtful and well-prepared.

Emphasize the Experience You Have Gained During Your HVAC Training

When you are just beginning your career, you may not have a lot of work experience to draw on in your interview. That is okay! Questions related to on-the-job scenarios or HVAC skills can easily be answered with the knowledge you will gain during your time at college.

The hands-on training you receive during HVAC school will allow you to discuss common job responsibilities like installing new air conditioning systems, performing scheduled preventative maintenance, and fixing specific heating and ventilation problems confidently during your interview, and show that you have the practical knowhow it takes to succeed on the job.

Highlighting the skills you learned at HVAC school can help you land a job

Have Questions for Your Interviewer to Demonstrate Your Interest

Finally, it is important to research the company or employer who is interviewing you before the big event. Not only will this allow you to be confident that the position would be a good fit for you and to anticipate what some of the interviewer’s questions might be, but it will also give you the chance to ask them good questions, too.

Having prepared questions to ask your interviewer about topics like the company culture, a typical workday, or the management structure is a great way to demonstrate that you have done your research, and that you are thinking seriously about the job and how to do it well.

Thinking about the best way to land your first HVAC job?

Contact NATS to learn more about the career services we offer on our HVAC technician courses.

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Skilled Trades

How Top Colleges Smooth the Transition from High School to Maintenance Electrician Training

September 19, 2017

For new high school graduates, deciding to go to college for career training can be both exciting and stressful. Setting off on your own to work toward your career goals can give you a real sense of independence, but you may also be concerned about succeeding in your education.

Fortunately, the best career colleges offer many resources and support systems to help ease the transition from high school into career training programs for students. North American Trade Schools (NATS) is no exception – keep reading to learn more about how we can make your progression to career college life smooth sailing!

Financial Aid Makes Maintenance Electrician Training Accessible

Postsecondary education is well worth the investment, as it gives you the qualifications you need to embark on a more lucrative career path. However, getting your finances in order can be daunting, especially if you are not familiar with the options available to you.

Fortunately, career colleges like NATS support a wide range of financing options, including OSAP, out of province loans, student lines of credit, Employment Ontario benefits, and monthly payment plans. Not sure which of these you need? Not to worry! The NATS admissions team is dedicated to helping students understand what they are eligible for, and to choose the resources that best align with their current needs and long-term goals.

A Close-Knit Career College Community Helps You Learn More Effectively

NATS’ community makes it easy to develop the professional skills you need to join the workforce
NATS’ community makes it easy to develop the professional skills you need to join the workforce

Leaving high school doesn’t have to mean leaving behind a regular social network. When you begin your maintenance electrician training at NATS, for instance, you will receive high quality support in a tight-knit community that makes the transition from high school a natural one.

NATS’ community makes it easy to develop the professional skills you need to join the workforce

The college has a range of extracurricular activities to help you build a new social and professional network that will ensure you are comfortable and engaged throughout your career training. This is further amplified by small class sizes, which ensure that students receive the close individual attention they need from instructors, while also making it easier for them to get to know their classmates.

A Top College Can Guide You Toward a Successful Maintenance Electrician Career

Finally, even if you have little experience on the job market or are unsure of how to market your new qualifications to potential employers, top schools like NATS have you covered.

All students undergo comprehensive training to help them start an electrician career in construction, including mock interviews and job search workshops. Guided by the career services team, this training helps students gain the polish they need to succeed in the work environment after they graduate, regardless of their experience.

The NATS team has years of experience preparing students for successful job interviews
The NATS team has years of experience preparing students for successful job interviews

Your time at college can also help you kick-start your professional network. Employers seeking qualified electricians contact NATS on a regular basis seeking grads to fill positions, and the school is in an excellent position to point you toward potential opportunities. Ultimately, pursuing career training after high school is an excellent way for you to not only gain the hard technical skills you will need in your day-to-day work, but also the soft skills and connections that will help you land a job in the first place.

Ready to become a construction electrician?

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Solar Energy Technician

Solar Technician Training is Your Ticket to a Variety of Eco-friendly Careers

September 12, 2017

As leaders in Canada’s solar energy industry work towards making solar power a mainstream and widely used energy source by 2020, there’s growing opportunities for individuals who are looking for an eco-friendly trade to begin a career in the sector. In fact, Job Bank Canada forecasts strong growth in solar power related careers within the next few years, specifically in the province of Ontario.

Do you want to become a part of shaping a healthier future for our planet and Canada’s environment? If so, enrolling in a solar energy program may be right for you! Keep reading to find out more about the exciting and potentially lucrative career opportunities available in this field.

Become a Solar Assembler after Solar Technician Training

The role of a Solar Assembler is exciting and diverse. Using the skills and knowledge gained during solar technician training, Solar Assemblers help install and assemble systems like solar roof panels on commercial or residential buildings.

Solar Assemblers have a wide range of responsibilities, from determining the proper configurations and layouts for solar panels, to mounting structures and modules, to installing the actual solar panels and ensuring they are completed to standard. Bringing together the best of both worlds, a career as a Solar Assembler is perfect for individuals who want to spend their days both strategizing and working with their hands.

Solar assemblers may spend time planning and installing solar panels

Begin a Career as a Solar Energy Maintenance Technician

Depending on their specific role, Solar Energy Maintenance Technicians can have a wide variety of duties and responsibilities. A large portion of the job is performing maintenance, which could involve inspecting existing systems in both commercial and residential environments as well as solar farms, ensuring that components such as concentrators, batteries, fans and pumps are in working order and safe. Technicians may also perform electrical duties, hooking up solar systems to the region’s electrical grid.

In addition, graduates of solar energy technician college working as maintenance technicians may find themselves playing an important role in the planning stage of solar energy projects, which involves assessing job sites for potentially hazardous working environments, creating installation plans for solar panels, and designing reference maps of where solar panels will be placed.

Graduates of Solar Energy Technician training may work at solar farms

Solar Energy Technician College Can Give You the Tools to Become a Solar PV Sales Professional

While you may not immediately think of launching a career in sales after graduating from a solar energy program, it’s a great career opportunity for individuals who are good with people, outgoing, and like to be compensated in accordance to their hard work. Solar PV Salespeople sell solar systems to a variety of clients, and may even go to events and give presentations on the advantages of solar power, or attend tradeshows and sell solar systems from a booth.

As technology progresses, the role of Solar PV Sales professionals will change and grow, and as more companies and homeowners realize the benefits of solar power, expertly-trained and knowledgeable solar salespeople will become increasingly important and in demand.

Do you want to discover even more career opportunities you can qualify for after earning your solar technician certification?

Don’t Wait! Contact North American Trade Schools to learn more.

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