Kevin - Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic

 

apprenticesearch.com: What preparation or training did you require for this trade?

KEVIN: I am still training but I went to college for gas technician courses, and there’s a wide variety of other courses that can be taken prior to applying to a job in any trade.  Even without previous training, you can still apply to jobs in the trade, it doesn’t hurt.

 

apprenticesearch.com: What are the most valuable skills you have learned? 

KEVIN: Well, there’s quite a list.  I’ve learned how air conditioners and furnaces and roof-top units work.  Also, I have learned to use different gauges and other tools that we use in the trade. It’s a lot of valuable knowledge, you become an asset.  I wake up in the morning and know that I am wanted somewhere.  It’s not just a job, it’s a career.

 

apprenticesearch.com:  What do you think that employers look for in an apprentice?

KEVIN:  Someone who has got their mind set on what they want to do and that realizes that it is a lifetime experience.  Sometimes it (an apprenticeship) seems long, but it is so worth it.  My only regret is not starting sooner. 

 

apprenticesearch.com: What did you do that helped you find this apprenticeship?

KEVIN: I spoke to apprenticeship coordinators, family, and friends.  I always had an interest in apprenticeship, so I just talked to people that had knowledge of it.  I also contacted the MTCU and spoke to a representative about apprenticeship.

 

apprenticesearch.com:  How was apprenticesearch.com useful to you during your job search and why would you suggest that other job seekers use it? 

KEVIN:  It is very self-explanatory.  You can tell it is not like other job search sites.  apprenticesearch.com asks you for the proper information, you give that information, and it was handled very professionally.  When I applied I felt the process was very professional.  Other job-seekers should use the site because you’re given the opportunity to find an employer that is serious about hiring and training an apprentice.  The companies are dedicated and care for the employees.

 

apprenticesearch.com: Do you have any strategies to suggest to someone who is looking for an apprenticeship? 

KEVIN: Try apprenticesearch.com!  Prior to checking apprenticesearch.com I was applying to a lot of jobs and could not get hired.  A lot of companies think that younger applicants are not serious or don’t know what they want.  When you get to apprenticesearch.com, there are a lot of stories and all this information broken down into categories.  It is not like other sites where you just send off a resume or fill in an application and that’s it.  On apprenticesearch.com the information is broken down into different trades and you know what job and what employer you are applying to.

 

apprenticesearch.com:  How did you find out bout apprenticesearch.com? 

KEVIN: From the [Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities] apprenticeship coordinator.

   

apprenticesearch.com: Looking to the future, what are your goals in this trade?

KEVIN:  I am looking forward to getting my license and being even more valued within the company.  It’s an ongoing learning thing even after you get your license.  You always want to learn more and get better with your tools and with your hands.  If a trade is something for you, heating and Air Conditioning is something very enjoyable.  Personally I think it is one of the best trades.  If you like electricity, you’ll deal with a lot of it.  If you like plumbing, you’ll deal with plumbing too.  We deal with everything.  It’s like 3 trades combined into one and it branches off into many other things [related to the trade] that you can do.