Skilled Trades

3 Things Students at Construction School Should Consider About New Decking Projects

May 22, 2018

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Nothing says summertime like a great deck, but the amount of design and construction work that goes into the project can be taxing. There is the budget to consider, and what kind of square footage it allows for, as well as lighting, patio furniture, and other accoutrements. Clients will also need to determine a feasible location on their property that makes building the deck possible.

Constructing a deck requires a lot of expertise, and knowing how to go about making sure they’re stable and that the right materials are being used can ensure they’re built to last. Here are three important factors students in home renovation technician programs should consider whenever they start on a deck project.

Be Mindful of Your Building Foundation

Before digging and construction begins, you should consider the kind of foundation that you’re working with. For instance, your clients may want to build their deck on soils rich in clay. Clay soil tends to be weaker and may only be capable of supporting a weight of 680kg per square foot, and does not drain water very well.

Clay rich soil may also swell on rainier days, or shrink in dryer weather conditions, which can put the stability of a deck at risk by causing it to lift or drop. When erecting piers, you may also need to consider building in areas where there are less large rocks and stones, as removing or drilling through them could be more expensive.

When building on clay soil, be sure to pour your concrete mixture directly into the post holes you dig as soon as possible, as it will minimize the space between the piers and the soil and improve grip. As decks built on clay soil can also sink a little more each year, try to use a wider surface area than concrete footing so that weight can be evenly distributed.

Considering Wood and Composite Materials for the Decking Surface

Deciding between building a deck surface and railing with composite or wood material can be tough. Wood materials tend to be cheaper to install, but they need to be treated regularly so that they don’t crack. Mahogany and Western Red Cedar are good choices, because they can stand up to weather conditions and resist rot and termites. However, trade school graduates should inform their clients that maintenance of a wooden deck can be costly.

trade schoolWood materials might be cheap to install, but are expensive to maintain

On the other hand, composite materials, like those with polyethylene plastic, do not require staining, painting, and sealing, but they could take longer and cost more to install than wood. Composite materials may also come with a warranty in case they split or splinter, which is great for clients. Ultimately, it’s up to the client to decide which materials to use, but your advice is always helpful.

Students in Construction School Learn About Building Codes

The blueprints for decking projects might need to follow certain building codes, all of which vary depending on the city or province. For example, the height of the rails on one-level decks can depend on the height of the deck’s surface above ground. The National Building Code of Canada requires decks with a height ranging from 24” to 5’, 10” to have 36” railings – anything higher needs 42” rails. You should also make sure that the distance between the bottom of the rail and the balusters that support them is no more than 4”.

become a home renovation technician-3Canada has building codes for deck railings

Knowing these codes is paramount when you become a home renovation technician, and you’re likely to learn many of them in programs offered at North American Trade Schools. With the right training, you’ll know if a project meets the legal building requirements of each province.

Are you looking to kick-start your career at a great construction school?

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Surprising Skills That Can Help You Become a Construction Electrician

April 03, 2018

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What does it take to be a great electrician? Being good with spatial work and mechanics can certainly help, and having an ability to work well in groups is valuable as well. There are other skills though, which you might not immediately associate with electrical work, that nonetheless deliver tremendous value in the right hands.

Curious about which surprising skills might prove useful to you in a future career as a construction electrician? Here are a few that can make a real difference.

Being Good at Basic Math is a Big Asset When You Become a Construction Electrician

You won’t be doing calculus as an electrician, but being good at basic math can give you a big leg up in your work. Measuring, addition and subtraction, working with basic formulas, and a number of other kinds of math may be required in the course of electrical work. There’s no rule against using calculators, of course, but having a good understanding of the math being done – or even being able to do some of it in your head for a quick estimate – could help you work more quickly.

electrician schoolHaving a head for numbers can be an asset for electricians

Not normally a big fan of math? Unlike much of the math work you might have done growing up in school, the math you do when you become a construction electricianalmost always translates into something you can see – a length of wire, a particular angle in a layout, etc. This sort of practical problem solving can be far more satisfying than math as most people know it, and might even be a bit of fun once you’ve learned the ropes.

Skills in Reading and Interpretation Are Important Assets for Electricians

There are a number of technical documents, measurement tools, blueprints, and other things you will need to able to read and understand in electrical work. It takes a little practice to be able to interpret these correctly, but having a natural knack for reading can be a big help.

As with math, the kind of reading you’re doing here won’t be like what you did growing up. No dull novels or academic essays, just concise and instructional material that will inform your electrical work. You can learn everything you need to know about working from these sources of information at electrical schoolso there’s no need to worry about being unfamiliar with them heading in to your career.

Developing the Ability to Seek Out Learning Can be a Great Asset in Electrician School and Beyond

Learning might seem like an unconscious phenomenon, but it can also be a skill. To be able to learn on an ongoing basis means being open to new ideas and willing to experiment with new tools and concepts, and not just assume you know what you need to know because of prior experience and education.

This is important to electrical work because the industry has changed before and will change again, and adaptable professionals will be better able to roll with the challenges and opportunities posed by these changes.

become a maintenance electricianDevelop a skill for lifelong learning for a great chance at career success

Partly, you can develop this skill by just keeping the same open attitude toward learning that you’ll have during school. You might also check in with your instructors to see if they have their own advice about how to go on learning throughout your career, since they’ll have many years of professional experience to draw advice from. However you approach it, finding a way to develop a skill for continual learning can be a secret weapon for success in electrician careers.

Think you have what it takes to become a maintenance electrician?

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Skilled Trades

Industrial vs. Residential Electricity: What You Need to Know at Electrician School

February 09, 2018

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To the average person, electricity is electricity. It all keeps the lights on, gets motors running, and performs thousands of other tasks at home, at work, and out in the world. Professionals with electrician training, though, know that there’s a bit more to the story, with significant differences existing between the electrical setups in different environments.

Want to get better acquainted with different electrical setups before you start your electrician training? Here’s a look at some of the differences between industrial and residential electricity.

Become a Maintenance Electrician and You’ll See How Powerful Industrial Electricity is

The main, and perhaps most obvious, difference between industrial and residential electricity is that industrial setups are usually far more powerful than the ones connected to a home. They use what is known as “three-phase electric power,” which allows a far greater amount of power – up to 600 volts – to be transmitted.

Single-phase electricity like you would get at home hits a maximum of 120 volts. The extra capacity allows for more to be done in an industrial setting, since big machines need a lot more power than your everyday stove or TV.

It also means amateur handymen should never work with industrial electrical setups. Instead, they should leave that kind of work to individuals who have received proper training at electrician school, both in how to work with the specific capabilities of industrial electricity and in the correct safety protocol for industrial work.

Electrician School Graduates Work With Specialized Equipment in Industrial Settings

Different kinds of components are required to enable and accommodate the difference in industrial electricity’s capabilities. One prime example is the industrial circuit breaker. It operates according to the same basic premise as a residential circuit breaker, set to trip and break off the flow of electricity when an overload is detected by the system.

The main difference is, of course, in the level of risk present when something goes wrong. With industrial and commercial electrical setups carrying a current that is many times more powerful than those designed for homes, it’s absolutely vital that the breakers be able to both handle much stronger loads and be able to work flawlessly in shutting down currents that are threatening to overload the system.

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Specialized circuit breakers and other components are used in industrial electrical setups

To become a maintenance technician who is able to work in the industrial sector means becoming familiar with these and other specialty components. A good electrical training program will provide expert guidance and hands-on experience working in this area, ensuring graduates leave fluent in the skills and knowledge required in all sorts of electrical work.

Complexities in Industrial Electrical Costs Mean There’s Great Desire for Better Efficiency

Inefficient energy use means more cost for the same result, which is of course something that no client wants. Combine that with complexities present in the industrial energy pricing model, in which it is not just total energy usage that affects a bill, but also sometimes the maximum amount of power the client might draw at any one time, and the need to keep energy costs lower gains renewed importance.

Today, there are also other factors, like carbon taxation and other energy reduction measures, which might also place pressure on organizations to cut down on energy usage. By comparison, homeowners and renters tend to enjoy a relatively simple, consumption-based bill, and shouldn’t directly experience quite as much pressure to cut down.

What could this mean? For one thing, it’s likely that clients will see the value in acquiring the services of well-trained electrical technicians who can service their machinery, keep it running in tip-top shape, and keep energy costs as low as possible. Complete training that includes an education in industrial electricity, and you could be poised to take advantage of these opportunities.

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Training in repairing industrial electrical equipment could help you meet demand for greater efficiency

Do you want to become an expert in electrical installation and repair?

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4 Traits That Will Help You Succeed During and After Electrician School

January 02, 2018

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If you are considering pursuing maintenance electrician training, you already have the most important trait of a successful professional: the desire to learn and work in the industry! That being said, there are a number of other characteristics that individuals who work in this business tend to share, as they are good indicators of a capacity for success in important aspects of the trade.

What are these traits, and do they describe you? Read on to learn more about a few of them, how they help electricians excel in their training and careers.

1. Professionalism Goes a Long Way After Electrician Training

Although much of your work as an electrician will be hands-on and technical, overall professionalism is still an essential trait of successful electricians and students in maintenance electrician training. Depending on whether you are a student, an employee, or self-employed, professionalism may come in different forms.

For example, in electrician school, being punctual to class and turning in high quality work is a sign of professionalism, while a maintenance electrician may exhibit professionalism with well-organized invoices and paperwork. Professionalism demonstrates to your instructors, colleagues, and clients that you are reliable and serious about your work.

2. Safety-Conscious Individuals Thrive Through Maintenance Electrician Training

Maintenance electricians deal with potentially hazardous materials and equipment on a daily basis, both in their training and throughout their careers. This means that an awareness of and adherence to safety standards is incredibly important, as your own wellbeing and that of those around you is at stake. Safety is important not only in an electrician’s working behaviour, but also in the quality of the work they produce – mistakes and low-quality electrical work can pose electrocution and fire risks to clients.

electrician trainingA high level of respect for safety regulations is essential for success as a maintenance electrician

3. Clear Communication Skills Will Help Both You and Your Clients

Communications is incredibly important for both electricians and students in maintenance electrician training. Poor or unclear communication can result in misunderstandings between you and your clients or instructors, which in turn can lead to inaccurate work and mistakes.

Being an effective communicator will also enable you to explain important concerns and instructions regarding your electrical work to clients. Developing both your written and verbal skills during your electrician training will help you work more efficiently and effectively.

4. Being Eager to Learn is Vital for Students in Maintenance Electrician Training

Finally, one of the most important and visible traits that an aspiring maintenance electrician can have is an eagerness to acquire the knowledge and skills that come from training at a well-regarded trade school like NATS.

Pursuing formal training ensures that you have developed your skills to a high standard that has been assessed by professionals. Further, this training will give you access to instructors who have years of practical experience in the industry, and are therefore in a good position to give you technical and career advice. Armed with these resources, you can develop and improve on all of the most essential traits for success in your maintenance electrician career.

electrician schoolA high-quality education will connect you with instructors with valuable experience and insights

Do you want to know more about how you can achieve success as a maintenance electrician?

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Skilled Trades

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

November 15, 2017

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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.

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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.

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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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2017’s Top Handy Apps for Students in Construction School

October 31, 2017

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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

career in construction-1.jpgEvery 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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Savvy Safety Tips to Keep in Mind at Electrician School

October 17, 2017

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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.

become an electrician-1.jpgMake 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.

electrician certification.jpgTreat 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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How Top Colleges Smooth the Transition from High School to Maintenance Electrician Training

September 19, 2017

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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 to Grads

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

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.

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. For instance, the Student Ambassador program allows students to engage more closely with the school and their peers, and barbecue and raffle events throughout the year also help to build a supportive community.

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

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.

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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 employers. 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 make the career college leap after high school?

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Level Up Your Resume and Land a Career in Construction with These Expert-Approved Tips

August 29, 2017

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Crafting a great resume is an important part of many career searches, and can help you convey to potential employers the specific reasons why you are a great fit for their needs. Entering the field of construction, you will likely find having a great resume very helpful in getting you interview opportunities.

Want to know how best to go about creating a great resume? Here are some expert-approved tricks you can try throughout the job application process.

Use Relevant Keywords When Building a Resume for a Career in Construction

It’s important to note that recruiters, managers, and HR representatives don’t always look every resume over as carefully as they could. Instead, it’s common for them to just scan through resumes in hopes of seeing information that jumps out at them and lets them know whether a candidate is a good fit. That’s why one of the best ways to enhance your resume’s effectiveness is to design a resume with this reality in mind. Look at job postings titled career in construction and see what types of skills employers in this field are looking for, then, include references to those skills in your resume. For example, if you’re applying for a career as a construction electrician, you might want to include keywords about installing electrical equipment, testing components, or diagnosing the cause of electrical failures. Tailor your keywords to the specific things a particular posting highlights and the result will likely be an impressive and effective resume.

Pair Your Resume with a Thoughtful Cover Letter

Some people apply for jobs simply by sending in a resume, then wonder why they never get called in for an interview. However, by attaching a cover letter to your application you can dramatically improve your chances of an interview.

Cover letters serve two purposes. First, they allow the person reviewing your application to get a sense of who you are as a person. If you write politely, they will likely envision you as someone they would like to work with, rather than someone who seems impolite. Second, a cover letter serves as an opportunity to highlight specific skills or accomplishments that make you a great fit for the role you are applying to. Perhaps you have a knack for getting to the bottom of problems with electrical systems and you would like to expand on that in a little more detail than a resume would allow, a cover letter is the ideal place to do so.

A good construction school will offer plenty of hands-on training, providing graduates of their programs with plenty of specific skills to refer to in their cover letters. Be sure to keep this in mind when writing your own cover letter and resume.

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Take the time to write a cover letter, it can enhance your resume

Get a Second Opinion on Resumes for a Career in Construction

Self-editing a resume is a good way to spot typos and other mistakes, but it’s not quite as good as getting somebody else to look it over for you. Another person may be able to spot areas that can be improved, or come up with suggestions that you wouldn’t have thought of. That’s why a great tactic to take when creating your resume is to ask someone else for help.

Schools NATS offer a number of valuable career services to their students, including assistance with crafting winning resumes that will impress employers. Be sure to take advantage of this service, as it will provide expert advice that can be truly transformative. Your resumes could turn out to be much better than before!

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Get some extra help building a great resume by talking to career services

Are you ready to pursue a career in the construction trades?

Contact NATS to learn more about our training programs.

 

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Foolproof Strategies for Managing Money While in Construction and Maintenance Electrician School

August 15, 2017

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With a median hourly wage of around $30, those working as maintenance and construction electricians can often enjoy a comfortable and financially secure lifestyle. Students working their way toward this kind of electrician career, however, may sometimes wonder how to best manage their money while they are still in school and not yet enjoying the high salary of their future profession.

Following a few foolproof strategies can make it much easier to minimize expenses, keep up with bills, and handle other important financial matters while you are a student.  Want a few examples? Here are some smart financial management techniques to try while training to become an electrician.

Do Good Research to Find Deals on Purchases While at Electrician School

When going to the store, it’s tempting to just grab whatever it is you need off the shelf without thinking about it, but this can cost you a great deal of money in the long run. Doing a little bit of research in catalogues, or on deals sites like Shopbot, can help you find good discounts on life’s essentials. You can pick up things like food, appliances, and other necessities at a steep price reduction, and save a good amount of money over time.

Developing this kind of researching habit can also prove to be very valuable once you become a construction and maintenance electrician. Electricians use a variety of tools to accomplish their work, including testing instruments, measuring tools, and special safety gear. Being in the habit of doing a good amount of research before buying these workplace essentials can help you get top-quality equipment at a lower cost, and ensure that you’re fully prepared to do good, safe work.

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Knowing how to research products can help you save money on electricians’ tools

Spend Less Money on Luxuries During Construction and Maintenance Electrician Training

Luxuries like video games, daily coffees from cafes, and other non-essential treats are nice, but can quickly eat up a student’s money. That’s why it’s advisable to cut down on these kinds of expenses during your time at construction and maintenance electrician school.

You don’t need to completely give them up in order to make significant savings – even just reducing spending on them can help you save a fair bit of money. You could maybe get an expensive coffee once or twice per week instead of every day, or wait a few months after a video game’s release to buy it at a discount.

It might not be fun to cut back on things you love, but a benefit of training to become an electrician at a school like North American Trade Schools is that you can complete your education in under a year. Before you know it, you’ll be on your way to a career with a great salary – and plenty of budget space for your favourite luxuries.

Lighten Your Financial Burden With Financial Assistance Programs

Having a little extra money in your pocket can make it much easier to manage expenses. For that reason, a great strategy for students looking to manage their money is to take advantage of financial assistance programs.

There are many different kinds of financial assistance programs available. The Ontario Student Assistance Program, for example, offers loans, grants, scholarships, and bursaries to eligible students that can help cover tuition, living costs, transportation, and other expenses. There is also the option to get a line of credit from banking institutions to help pay for school, or to make use of a number of other programs offering loans and grants to students.

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Financial assistance programs are good ways to help pay for electrician school

Taking advantage of these kinds of programs is a great way to reduce finance-related stress. It can also give you more time and energy to devote to learning the technical skills for working with electrical systems and wiring, and help you achieve great results at school.

Do you want a career with great pay and prospects?

Contact North American Trade Schools to learn about our construction and maintenance electrician training!

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