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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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!

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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.

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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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

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.

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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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.

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!

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

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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.

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.

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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Are you considering enrolling at a construction or trade college, but are unsure of what to look for? Choosing the right college for your needs and goals is important. You want to make sure that it will provide you with everything you need for success and that once you complete your program, you feel confident in your skills and ready to start your trade.

Selecting the right college doesn’t have to be difficult. When starting your search, make sure you opt for a construction college with the following qualities.

Select a Construction College with Small Class Sizes and Individual Attention

Enrolling at a construction college ensures you receive the training you need to start a great career that allows you to do a job you enjoy, while making a reliable and stable income. By choosing a college that has small class sizes, you’ll receive more personalized and individual attention from your instructors. In addition, smaller classes will allow you to ask important questions and learn from your instructor’s experiences.

NATS’ small class sizes allow students to work closely with instructors

Choose a Construction College That Offers Helpful Career Services

Selecting a college that will provide you with all the construction skills and knowledge you need is important; however, knowing how to land a job after graduation is just as crucial. Great construction colleges will provide comprehensive career services that will help smooth the transition between college and your future career. For example, North American Trade Schools (NATS) teaches students how to write stellar resumes, specifically tailored for the construction industry. Students at NATS will also learn to polish their interview skills, and learn how to find the best job for their career goals. Remember: top construction colleges are just as invested in your future success as you are!

Opt for a Construction College with a Great Industry Reputation

While there are many colleges offering construction trades, they aren’t all created equally. If a college is known for providing top-notch career training and producing hard working and dedicated graduates, then you’ll benefit from that notoriety once you start your job search. So, if you want to secure a great career with top employers in the construction industry, make sure to opt for a college with a fantastic reputation.

Employers hire graduates of NATS because of the college’s strong industry reputation

Select a Construction College That Has Instructors with Industry Experience

There’s no one better to learn from than construction professionals with many years of experience working in the trades they teach. When learning from instructors who know the ins and outs of the construction industry and have dedicated a fair share of their lives to the trade, you’ll benefit from their valuable insights and wisdom. Not only will they prepare you to succeed by teaching you to expertly perform the capabilities you need for a promising career, they’ll also be able to offer relevant advice that will help you navigate your new career.

Choose a Construction College That Prepares You for Lucrative Careers Quickly

One of the main reasons students enrol at a trade school instead of opting for on-the-job training is because college provides a fast-track to lucrative careers. While building your knowledge is important, it’s understandable that you want to break into the workforce and start in your field as soon as possible. That’s why NATS offers quick and efficient programs with plenty of hands-on training. By ensuring there’s an emphasis on learning by doing, you’ll feel confident to begin your career immediately upon graduation.

Did you know that North American Trade Schools is an industry-leader in preparing students for a career in construction?

Contact NATS today to learn how you fast-track your career!

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Kathryn K. is a Home Renovation Technician student at the London campus of North American Trade Schools. In her review, she talks about her experience at NATS, her instructors and why she decided to attend the school to study to become a Home Renovation Technician.

 

Transcript

“My name is Katheryn K. and I’m starting the home renovations course here at NATS. Before I came to NATS I was working in an office for the last fifteen years and you know it wasn’t what I wanted to do, I needed to get my hands dirty and I decided, you know what, I can do this, I’m going to take a shot and jump right in.

I chose NATS because I was looking online and I saw a testimonial by another woman and I thought, you know what, if she can do it so can I. What I like best of the instructors is how knowledgeable they are and how willing they are to help you learn what you need to learn and they won’t stop until you understand it.

What I really enjoy about the campus is the small atmosphere of it the amount of equipment that they have for every students, you’re not waiting, you don’t have to take as many turns and you actually do get a lot of hands on experience.

Something that I learned that mats that I enjoy the most is not only learning how to build roofs and stairs, I actually learned self-confidence and I learned that I am capable of doing things that are typically a man’s job. In five years I see myself owning my own renovating business, flipping homes and renovating older homes, making a little shiny new.

I find it easy to make friends on campus because everyone here is extremely friendly, teachers included and it doesn’t matter what course they’re in, they’re willing to help you with any questions that you may have. My family is very proud that I’m attending NATS, they’re very looking forward to myself renovating all their homes.

They’re very supportive and they’re very willing to help me along the way in any way that they can. If you were undecided about coming to NATS just come out here and come for the tour and see for yourself how wonderful it is out here.”

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