If you've identified a particular trade or industry occupation that you think you want to pursue, you should learn as much about it as possible. The more you know, the more confident you can be that a particular field is right for you.

There are lots of ways to do further career planning research. The internet is an excellent resource. In particular, web searches can help you identify industry associations and trade unions in areas that may interest you. These organizations, in turn, are often excellent sources of further information, and sometimes have specific programs or resources that will assist with your job search.

Talking to people who work in a field that interests you is also very useful. See Finding a Job below for a discussion of this and other aspects of "networking".

If you think a job in the trades and industry occupations is the path you want to head down, there are a few key considerations you should bear in mind.

Many people are drawn to trades and industry occupations in part because they let them live and work in the community of their choice. But you may need to be flexible in terms of location.

In particular, you may need to temporarily relocate to pursue either the technical-training or work-based components of your training. Some types of work also tend to involve a long-term commitment to mobility, in order to go where the work is available.

Pursuing a trade or industry career has the significant advantage of enabling you to do most or all of your training on-the-job, and to earn a salary while you're developing your skills. However, you will still need to make some investments in the early stages.

People pursuing industry training are responsible for paying tuition to cover part of the costs of their technical training, as well as for covering other costs like text books. Most employers will also expect you to pay for the hand tools you'll need to do your job.
(Note: Some employers may cover a portion, or all of these costs.)

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, industry training usually means not just applying to a school, but getting a job. With the exception of those who start out in Foundation Programs, you'll need to find an employer who will hire you before you can begin your training. That means you'll need to focus on your job search skills right away.

Finding a Job

Many people are very intimidated by job-hunting, and there's no question it can be challenging. There are some techniques, however, which can improve your effectiveness and reduce the stress of this process.

First, get the basics right. You'll need a resume. Be sure to give this your careful attention, and get feedback on your resume from a few thoughtful and objective people before you use it. You can find how-to guides on resume writing in your local library.

With your resume in-hand, you'll be ready to start regularly monitoring all of the obvious places where you might find out about job openings. This includes newspaper ads, employment centres, and union halls.

But, as you've probably heard, a great many jobs are never advertised in these obvious places. This makes it vital for you to do some networking – to be sure that people who might hear about the kind of jobs you're interested in know you're in the market. Start with family and friends, but don't stop there.

Look for opportunities to connect with people who are working in the field. Through your research, you'll no doubt learn about local companies who employ people in the field you're interested in. Consider asking for an "informational interview" – an opportunity to meet someone in the company and to ask about working in the field, and about job search and training options. This is an excellent way to learn important information, and to make an impression on people who may know of openings.

Volunteering is also an excellent way to expand your network, develop a track-record as a valued member of a team, and maybe even get some experience relevant to the trade or industry career that interests you.

Finding the right job may take some time. The important things are to develop a strategy, maintain a positive attitude, and keep focused on your job hunt.