The chef at that great little Italian place downtown, the young woman cutting your hair, the stone work mastermind who just laid the new patio in your backyard… what do all of these people have in common? They work in Skilled Trades.
When most people think of Skilled Trades jobs, they usually think of electricians, plumbers, and contractors, but there are a whole realm of opportunities in this field that don’t involve work boots and a hard hat.
Here are ten Skilled Trades jobs you may not have known were options!
Landscaper
Landscapers play a key role in beautifying our lives by making exterior spaces attractive and more inviting. These professionals create and maintain outdoor environments for everything from residential and commercial spaces, to parks and government buildings.
This role requires knowledge of horticulture, math, science, and landscaping. Formal training is available, but oftentimes landscapers build their skills on-the-job.
Child and Youth Worker
Child and Youth Workers have a challenging yet rewarding profession. They work to improve the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development of children and adolescents. They often act as both a mentor and a role-model for these kids, building a trusting relationship to help them build life skills.
Child and Youth Workers require a broad range of skills, including nutrition and teaching. They also require a thorough knowledge of relevant government legislation. In most provinces, this role requires the completion of both an apprenticeship and in-school training.
Chef
The Skilled Trades are not just about metal and machines – Chefs are Skilled Tradespeople too and the role involves more than you would think.
“When you start working, it’s weird how little cooking has to do with food as much as learning how to cook in the first place, and learning to cook well. Because cooking is a trade, the way you learn is through the people,” says Aamir Hussein, a Chef and graduate of George Brown’s Culinary Management program.
Chefs can either take formal training through a college program or learn through externships (experiential learning programs similar to internships).
Gemsetter/Goldsmith
Have you ever thought about the people behind the jewelry we see glistening in shops at the mall? Well in fact, Gemsetters and Goldsmiths are the ones who create and repair precious and semi-precious jewellery.
This role requires working with precious metals as well as doing gemstone work. Gemsetters and Goldsmiths complete an apprenticeship as well as in-class technical training.
Hairstylist
We can all appreciate a good haircut. Hairstylists are another example of lesser-known tradespeople – they are required to complete a college program and an apprenticeship where they must perform with accuracy and consistency. It’s a fantastic option for people who are looking for a creative career path!
Educational Assistant
Educational Assistants support teachers in schools. They focus on helping students achieve their educational goals, providing one-on-one support.
Professionals in this role need strong communications skills and the ability to identify and support various learning styles. They also require knowledge of relevant legislation since they are responsible for the health and safety of children. They mainly work in a classroom setting, and must complete an apprenticeship as well as college training.
Horse Groom
Horse Grooms are responsible for the management of horses and the care of stables themselves. In many cases, the head groom is responsible for training schedules, selecting optimal feeds, and ensuring proper veterinary care of the horses.
If you love horses and working outdoors, this role could be for you! Experience working with horses is a huge plus for this role. Apprenticeships are also available for aspiring professionals in this line of work.
Special Events Coordinator
Special Events Coordinators are the magicians that work behind-the-scenes. They organize and execute meetings, conferences, conventions, weddings, fundraisers, festivals, trade shows, and other large scale events.
This role calls for strong communication skills as well as egg-cellent organizational skills. A Special Events Coordinator also needs to organize, ship, and store supplies, while ensuring they meet the unique needs of their clients.
Arborist
Arborists cultivate, manage, and study trees, shrubs, vines, and more. This role is distinct from foresters and loggers because they focus on the health and safety of individual plants and trees rather than managing entire forests.
Arborists become qualified through provincially governed apprenticeship programs.
Hardware, Lumber and Building Materials Retailer
You probably knew that the guys who worked with lumber were tradesmen, but did you know that hardware, lumber and building materials retailers are also Skilled Tradespeople?
This role requires exceptional customer service as well as specialized product knowledge. Retailers require extensive knowledge about materials so they’re able to recommend products or services to their customers.