The trade for me? [Canada]

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Hi there,I'm in kind of an unusual situation, and I was hoping the fine fellows on the board here could perhaps give me some advice.Right now, I am an university student, and I will be graduating with my B.A. this coming Spring (2011). I'm the first in my family to go to university, and I am pretty proud of that fact. I've gone through more or less debt free, working side jobs and living with my folks for the duration to save money. Although I love what I study, and would be happy to continue with my schooling (graduate school or law school or something), there's no way that I would be able to afford it without going into some serious debt. I'm not keen on that, and although I could probably get some lame office job with my BA and work for a time, I'm not too interested in that idea either. I've worked office jobs before (even ran one for awhile, actually) and I am quite sure that path just isn't for me.My father is a (retired) marine electrician, and he and I also fish commercially when we can. He's never really pushed me toward the trades at all, instead wanting me to go become a lawyer or something like that. And while I may do that eventually, it's just not possible right now. So, I have been thinking quite seriously about getting a trade after I graduate with my BA, and I was looking specifically at welding.I have a couple of questions that I was hoping someone might be able to answer.1. I live in British Columbia, and I've read online that I could enroll at BCIT or UFV for the "Welding C" course. The websites call this a "foundation" course, which sounds good to me because I don't know how to weld. Do I need to take this course to become an apprentice, or is it an alternative to an apprenticeship?2. How does a guy become a journeyman? Do you have to go through an apprenticeship, or can you go through a trade school? 3. How long does it take to get your Red Seal? How long is an apprenticeship?4. What are job prospect like right now for welders in Western Canada? Should I be looking at some other trade to learn? Thanks guys. Any info you can provide me or direct me to would be much appreciated.
Reply:as far as i know they only offer the foundation program they used to offer both foundation and regular a apprenticeship program .The foundation program is much better and i think you end up learning more. But the way it works is its a 3 year program with levels C,B and A -with the C you do 7 months the school and 5 months of work in the field for a total of 12 months in order to get your C -then the B level you do 4 months of school and 8 months of work in the field -and then the final year the A level you do 2 months of school and 10 months of work in the field and after that you are classified as a Journeyman in BCFor your Red Seal you can write that as soon as you finnish your B level but you wont get the actual stamp in you book until you complete 5400 hrs witch is right around there anyway As for jobs there are not a lot of them around right now but if you live in a big city like Vancouver then you should t have to much of a problemI am currently a B level welder and i also have my Red Seal so if you have any other questions just let me know
Reply:If I was your parents and I put you up and helped you out for 4 years and when you graduated - you did not go in the field which you studied to be, I would kick your behind so hard that you wouldn't be able to sit for a month.Welding is hard work and it takes a long time to be proficient enough at doing it to be able to call yourself a welder.Welding involves reading prints, squatting bending carrying, crawling, standing for long periods of time, being in some really hot locations and being in some really cold locations.It is a dirty, hard, sweaty, grimy rotten job - that should only be done by someone who can't do anything else.You talk about how smart you are and how you can make something out of yourself - later.The time to do it is now and not later.  Wake up and smell the coffee - eh.There are times where a person could learn how to weld and then become a welding instructor or they could become a welding inspector or a engineer - but to go to college and then not use your education would be just wrong.Welding does not pay a lot of money in the grand scheme of things and just trying to be a B class welder is not going to do much more then put food on the table and a roof over your head.
Reply:Kind of sounds to me like your parents wanted a "Better Life" for you, than what they had.That is NOT welding.Don't get me wrong, I LOVE what I do for a living, I am a Journeyman Auto Mechanic (With Interprovincial Red Seal) a Journeyman Welder (with Interprovincial Red Seal) and a Class 1 Truck Driver with over 10 years of driving in the Oilpatch... But at the end of the day, when I am taking stock of all the aches, and pains, and wondering how much damage I have done to my health today, I  DO think that my cousins, who are either doctors, or otherwise involved in the Health Care field, might have made some better decisions than I did.Each person has a different skill set - My cousins (Mom's side) are more studious than I, and came from a White Collar background, whereas my family (Dad's side) is Blue Collar/Redneck - Redneck in the True sense (Not 3 tooth, In-bred Hillbillies) but Farmers, Truck Drivers, Welders, Labourers etc.I would say that if you have the opprotunity to "Rise above your station" and make something of yourself, you should keep on that path, as hard as you can until you reach your destination.Besides, investing in a Pre-Employment Welding Course will cause you to go into debt as well, and it will NOT be moving you towards your education goals.Later,Jason
Reply:Originally Posted by Cyrano I love what I study, and would be happy to continue with my schooling (graduate school or law school or something), I could probably get some lame office job with my BA and work for a time, I'm not too interested in that idea either. I've worked office jobs before  and I am quite sure that path just isn't for me.
Reply:I have worked with a number of engineers over the years who worked in a trade to finance their schooling. If the trade was related to their eventual discipline (e.g. welder -> mechanical engineer) they were often more competent because of their real world experience. Try to find a trade related to what you want to do eventually.On the other hand, my brother got a business degree specializing in accounting. After two years as an accountant he realized it wasn't for him, and our parents encouraged him to pursue something he enjoyed. Today (20 years later) he is a construction electrician making good money and still enjoys his work.