Ms Skills - From the Executive Director

Hello Ontario:

It’s International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate the accomplishments of women around the world and the triumphs we’ve achieved, while recognizing the challenges and important goals that lie ahead.  At Skills Canada-Ontario, we’re proud to offer many women’s initiatives that show young girls the world of opportunity that is open to them in the skilled trades and technologies.  

Our Skills Work!® for Women Networking Dinners, give female secondary students the opportunity to chat with skilled tradeswomen in a casual environment.  Participants speak to female mentors working in all five major sectors – construction, industrial, motive power, service and technology – and leave with the knowledge that there are many more post-secondary options than they had probably ever considered before. 

Similarly, our Young Women’s Conferences, offered as part of the Ontario Technological Skills Competition (OTSC), give girls lots of information, as well as inspiration and confidence, to think about how they can pursue one of the more than 150 rewarding skilled trade careers that are available today.  These day-long conferences feature presentations, networking, lunch, and a tour of the OTSC.

Together with Women in Nuclear (WiN) Canada, we were pleased to launch a publication last November that identifies and refutes some of the misconceptions that surround women working in the skilled trades. This report, Womenworking in the Skilled Trades Myths and Realities, is available as a downloadable PDF in the Resources section of our website; I invite you to have a look!

On International Women’s Day, let’s commend the trailblazing women who worked in skilled trades careers back in the “old days,” when these were thought of as jobs for men.  They proved that, as Ann Nesbitt of Bruce Power says, “They’re not masculine skills, they’re just skills.”  Though there may still be some barriers in perception to be broken down, the sky is the limit for young women wishing to embrace the opportunities that exist in these satisfying and worthwhile careers.  Happy International Women’s Day to you all!

Gail Smyth

Skills Work!® for Women – Anne Giardini, Red Seal General Machinist

In the mid-1990s, many companies were downsizing and employees in a variety of jobs and sectors were panicking over job security.  This economic climate entered into Anne Giardini’s life in 1995, when she was an administrative assistant at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL).  Instead of waiting to be downsized, Anne entered a tool & die apprenticeship within the organization.  And with a what-have-I-got-to-lose attitude, Anne’s career path took a sharp 90-degree turn.  The rest, as they say, is history.

Once she was certified as a General Machinist, Anne was promoted to Project Leader after only five years on the shop floor.  In addition to her machining duties, that makes Anne also responsible for project assessment, ordering materials and meeting inspection requirements.  One of her current projects at AECL involves manufacturing control rod magnet assembles for the research reactor.   The project involves creating and overseeing work from her own shop, as well as work contracted out to four other shops. 

Anne was fortunate to enter the trades when she did.  For one thing, she found that even once she was certified in her trade, having a clerical background with computer experience was extremely helpful.  For another, she found that having some career experience enabled her to have a more positive attitude.  “I knew that I would get resistance from some of the guys, but since I started my career later in life, my maturity and life experiences were a definite asset.”  Still today, Anne loves her work for its variety and hands-on nature.

It’s difficult to find someone with more enthusiasm about women in skilled trades than Anne.  She has been a dedicated mentor at the “Skills Work!^® for Women” Networking Dinners and Young Women’s Conferences for several years.  She is also an active member of Women in Nuclear, a global organization that connects women working within the nuclear power field.  Her role as Deputy Mayor for the Town of Laurentian Hills probably doesn’t hurt her efforts either!

Anne’s basic message to young women boils down to this:  “It is definitely a good career option.  The money is good and many times you get to be your own boss.  There is a great network of women who will give support, so take advantage of it.”

Anne was a mentor at the November 16th “Skills Work!^® for Women” Networking Dinner in Pembroke.

Skills Work!® On The Road – Far North Region

Promoting skilled trades and inspiring young women

Welders and hairstylists and structural technicians, oh my!  These were just some of the amazing careers that were represented by women at the 2011-2012 “Skills Work!^® for Women” Networking Dinner in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Young women came from as far away as Marathon (3 hours away) to join in an evening of mingling, laughing, learning and sharing with other students and with women who work in the skilled trades and technologies.

Let me first back up a couple of years and tell you about my first encounter with the “Skills Work!^® for Women” Networking Dinner.  In 2008, a friend had told me about this wonderful event where I could come out and represent women who work within the Technology sector (an area I was currently working in and had been for about 5 years).  I jumped at the chance to be able to share my stories, knowledge and maybe even change one young woman’s life.  The thought that I had the power to help build confidence in young women was something I always strived for, and continue to, to this day.  All young women need to know that anything they want is within their reach and to never let gender barriers affect who they are and who they want to become.

Now, fast forward to 2011 where, after 2 years of being a mentor to young women at the “Skills Work!^® for Women” Networking Dinner, I am now facilitating them as a member of the Skills Canada-Ontario staff.

The most recent Networking Dinner I facilitated was in Thunder Bay on November 17^th.  It has been different working outside of the mentor role at these events, but it is still equally as invigorating to know the difference that I am able to make to these young women by bringing them together with so many other wonderful mentors from our community.  Having spent those couple of years as a mentor, I was all the more eager to find any and all women who work within the skilled trades and technology industries, because I know firsthand, the amazing affect it can have on the young women and how valuable this experience is for everyone involved.

With a fantastic group of young women from the area and excited and dynamic mentors from throughout Thunder Bay the event was a wonderful success.  Women from all sectors; industrial, construction, motive power, service and technology were all very well represented.  This gave the young women a rare, firsthand opportunity to hear the stories of these women and find out what life truly is like for them in their non-traditional roles.

The event was filled with empowerment and inspiration.  The best word for this event is “special.”  It was truly special and so enlightening to watch these young women have an event to feel and realize that THEY are special and they really can achieve anything they want.  The girls left with new friends, a newfound confidence and lasting memories.  I am so grateful that we at Skills Canada – Ontario are able to help these young women realize their potential and see the world in a different light.

Jessica Murphy, Liaison Officer

Far North Region

Skills Work!® for Women – Amanda Young, Electrician

Electrical work is hard.  There’s a lot of math and physics involved, the work can be quite physically demanding, and travel for work can be extensive.  But if you talk to Amanda Young, you’ll find that what can be the most challenging is working with so many different people.  Whether in a classroom or on a job site, the group dynamics are something that must be managed.  However, especially that she’s now teaching her trade, Amanda finds that the people are also the most enjoyable part of her job.

After trying floristry and early childhood education, Amanda’s desire for a higher income turned her attention to becoming an electrician.  After starting as a labourer, and then going through her electrical apprenticeship, she’s now had her ticket for about 10 years.  She’s worked on a variety of jobs over the years, even taking her to the oil sands in Alberta.

“It was amazing.  We were in an isolated area, but there were 2000 people working in the camp.  Hundreds of buses were transporting people back and forth all the time, all different shifts and all different trades.  And there were 6 camps like this.”  She also enjoyed getting to use tools and machinery that she never would otherwise have seen, and to travel to places she may not have visited.  For free, no less!

In recent years, Amanda has turned more toward teaching.  Over the past six years, she has taught intermittently at Georgian College, and now she is the Lead Teacher for the Electrical Techniques program at Georgian.  Not only is she responsible for her own classes, but three other teachers report to her, plus she has the responsibility of looking after program needs such as tools, materials, textbooks and curricula.  Amanda’s passion for teaching has provided her with a number of other opportunities to speak to youth about her career, including through the YMCA, WIST (Women in Skilled Trades) and Women on Words.

The most important thing to remember going into an apprenticeship is that it can be demanding.  You don’t always get to do what you want, but you need to learn what you can, and stick it out until you get to the point where you can pick and choose your jobs.  Math skills are important, and you need to be versatile.

Particularly for young women, Amanda's advice is this:  “be prepared for obstacles, and bring a positive attitude.  It’s easy to get dragged down by others’ attitudes and behaviours.  Try to look at your workmates as people, not just a bunch of guys.  If you have confidence in yourself, the people you work with will reflect that.”

Amanda was a mentor at this year’s “Skills Work!^® for Women” Networking Dinner in Barrie on November 15, 2011.

Skills Work!® What’s Out There?

Sheet Metal Workers

Normally, when people think of construction careers, the first to come to mind are carpenter, plumber or electrician. Construction is the largest sector in the skilled trades, so there are plenty of reasons to look around and see what other options exist!

For this installment of our career profile series, we’ll be looking at Sheet Metal Workers. The basic definition of this job is to shear, form, fabricate, weld, solder and assemble a host of items made from galvanized iron, sheetsteel, copper, nickel alloy, stainless steel, aluminum, plastics and ceramics. The most commonly recognized sheet metal work is roof decking, eavestroughs and ducting/ventilation systems.  Once upon a time, sheet metal workers were known as tinsmiths.  Just think of the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz and you get the idea!

Sheet metal workers also perform these duties:

• Read engineering and architectural drawings and sketches of work to be performed
• Lay out, measure and mark sheet metal according to drawings or templates
• Develop patterns for sheet metal using computer-assisted design and drafting (CADD) software package
• Operate light metal-working machines such as shears, brakes, punches and drill presses to cut, bend, punch, drill, shape or straighten sheet metal
• Operate computerized laser or plasma-cutting equipment to cut sheet metal
• Fit and join sheet metal parts using riveter, welding, soldering and similar equipment
• Install sheet metal products according to specifications and building codes
• Grind and buff seams, joints and rough surfaces
• Inspect product quality and installation to ensure conformance to specifications

Workplaces/Employers
Primary steel producers, aircraft and parts manufacturers, building construction companies

Salary Range

$12 - $37 per hour, approximately $25,000 - $76,900 per year
(Remember, average salaries include apprenticeship wages, and are exclusive of vacation pay, overtime pay and health benefits.)

Education Required
9000 apprenticeship hours (approximately 4-5 years)
OR
College – check out www.ontariocolleges.ca to search options!

Helpful Skills

• Aptitude for science and math
• Interest in computers and technology
• Comfortable working in a variety of environments
• Able to read and interpret technical drawings

Contact your local or regional branch of the Sheet Metal Workers and Roofers Union for more information.


Career Management Tip - Resume Components

When you’re writing your resume it’s important to be aware of what the reader will want to see.

Answering these questions will help you focus during the resume writing process.

• For whom are you writing this document? Who is your target audience? 
• What competencies need to be highlighted? What do you do better than those in the same position? 
• What have you done that demonstrates those competencies and differentiators? 
• Why, how and what were the results and/or benefits of your activities? Quantifying and qualifying your accomplishments is important. 
• What is the best resume format to capture and present this information? 

Must-Have Resume Components
Regardless of style or format, resumes tend to contain similar components, depending on your defined target.

• Vital Statistics – Every resume should include your name, address, phone number, and email. If it’s relevant to the position you are applying to, you may also want to include your online portfolio, blog, or LinkedIn URL. 
• Profile or Career Summary – A thumbnail sketch of who you are and what you have done with specific competencies you want to take forward or that are particularly marketable. 
• Business Experience – This includes the company’s name, and possibly a brief description, or scope statement of what that company does, years employed, job titles and dates of employment. 
• Scope of Responsibility Statements – Put these under each job title. It can include reporting structure, the functional areas you supported and budget size or revenue you oversaw. 
• Accomplishment Statements – Specific examples of what you have done and the associated results and benefits. 
• Education and Professional Development – Include both your formal education and other courses, seminars and workshops that are relevant to your target market. List this information in reverse chronological order, but be selective as to the ones that are included. You should include items that will add value to your resume. 

In our next career management tip we will focus on writing a GREAT resume profile. Stay tuned!