Career choices for the outdoorsman-What should i do?

Ok guys, i know theres tons of people on here that work many different jobs/careers, so with your expert opinions what should i do??? Im in grade 11 right now soon to be in grade 12 so i really have to decide what im doing now. I have been thinking of OPP officer for a long time now and thats my first choice, always wanted to be a police officer and OPP will most likely get me somewhere out of the city. Second choice would be farmer however i live in Toronto (I did not choose this, hate it here) and with no family members owning farms (at least in this country) or family friends i have no real way of learning, so not very likely although i would love to become one. I have also been looking at land surveyor however must land surveyors survey new subdivisions that are destroying the country side and i just cant support that i hate urbanization. Trades interest me particularly welding (2 uncles are welders) however im not sure how easy it would be to do that in the country. My main priority is getting a job that will allow me to be outside of the city and live... comfortably (fairly good pay for the people not understanding). So with so many fellow outdoorsmen out there i would love to hear what you guys do and education, job availability and satisfaction you guys have experienced. Hope you guys can help me out with what i should do, and i guess this could also become a good resource for younger people in the future.

1. Needs to be out of city
2. Decent pay
3. Not nearly impossible to get into

Wildlife Officer comes to mind however some hunters may feel you're siding with the enemy

Need a little more info. Are you willing or able to go to College and/or University? If you can go to College I'd say consider Forestry Tech or Technologist. Fisheries Tech or Technologist. Sir Sanford Fleming College would be worth looking into.

If you're thinking University consider Fish and Wildlife at Univerity of Guelph (which also has a good AGricultural program) but jobs are hard to find in F &W.

That used to be my first choice however if you think about it when are they needed most? Hunting season, that means ill be missing out on the season. I would be a good CO but i would miss out on the hunting season so id rather not.

Find a trade you like and get into it. There are all kinds of apprenticeship opportunities right now and the government is very generous with grants and loans. After 5 years and getting your journeyman's red seal it is not uncommon to pull in $100k / year plus a lot of the jobs get you working outdoors in various projects. A lot of tradesmen are also outdoors men. It seems to be a nice fit.

Good luck with your decision. Nice to see a young lad serious about his career plans!

well theres a million choices ahead of you... all depends on where you wanna live, and how hard you are willing to work... trades is always a great place to start... i did machinig... good pay, easy enough to get into if you are good with your hands, but depending on what the company you work for deals in, you are at the mercy of the economy... up here around north bay, most of the machining, is tied into the mining industry, so just like mining, it follows a boom or bust pattern... if i was back in your shoes, id either go to school for an electrician, or for a mining position itself. electrician opens up a large area of places you could work, especially if you can get your foot in the door with hydro... and mining offers very good paying jobs, if you dont mind spending time in remote areas of northern ontario...

theres also forestry if you really wanna work in the outdoors...

I can go to Colledge or University ive taken University (academic) courses all throughout highschool so i have the option of both. I have been checking out Wildlife and forestry technician but jobs are hard to get. Most are seasonal and part time (Means no work when theres snow on the ground). Finding a good career is so hard nowadays and since i want one out of the city that pays decent its even harder.

OPP is good choice if that is what you want to do. Don't waste your time with schooling related to police as you would go to police college anyways.

Find something else you like to do or are interested in like forestry or one of the trades. Get a diploma in something you like or about the outdoors. something to fall back on. OPP wont likely hire you till you are mid 20's although some kids get through. There are great jobs out there in trades like steam fitters (you could work at Bruce power), electrical (hydro), forestry (harvesting or even hydro has guys and girls keeping lines clear.) Find a trade you like and likely there is a demand up north. You might need to school or apprentice in the city though.

Don't settle and don't fall for some broad who doesn't want your goal. Good luck.

honestly id stay away for fish and wildlife programs... just like you say, not many jobs left, and probably only gonna go down from here... i know lots of people that took the fish and wildlife program... very few of them are working in that field today...

I have been researching trades a bit and Northern Ontario seems to be needing a lot of people in the trades, particularity in mining. Im either thinking of mining or something in health care, because where people go so does health care so somthing like a nurse or x ray technician. Is anyone here in mining, i would like to know what positions would be the best and the type education needed for them. Mineing isn't something im really knowledgeable in and im gonna need some guidance with this.

ill never discourage somebody from farming... but id suggest getting yourself a good career, buying a small hobby farm, make sure its the life for you, and gradually work your way into a big farm... farmings not cheap, the only farmers that are makeing money are the ones that have money... if i feed my family and break even i consider myself lucky :)

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Originally Posted by Danny20gauge

I have been researching trades a bit and Northern Ontario seems to be needing a lot of people in the trades, particularity in mining. Im either thinking of mining or something in health care, because where people go so does health care so somthing like a nurse or x ray technician. Is anyone here in mining, i would like to know what positions would be the best and the type education needed for them. Mineing isn't something im really knowledgeable in and im gonna need some guidance with this.

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depends again on what you would wanna do... you will need your common core training... theres a program up above sudbury that does this, i think one in new liskard as well... a mining engineer or something if you wanted to put the time in...

http://www.norcat.org/common-core-training.html

check out some of the mineing companies carears pages to see jobs that might interest you

klgold.com
goldcorp.com
debeerscanada.com

Here's some ideas.
Hydro 1 linesman.
Power (Stationary) Engineer
Instrumentation Tech.

Trades seem to be your best bet these days. Fleming has a one yr. course that exposes you to multiple trades, so you can decide what you want. That is what my grandson is doing, next year. Hell I didnt Know what I wanted to do at 18.

You mentioned health care. That could be your ticket anywhere. Find yourself in a nice retirement place like Kirkland or somewhere with a bunch of boomers. Only do it though if it interests you. At your age try to do something you want to. If you can't then do something where you want to live that gives you the income to do what you love outside of work.

I worked in the electrical field all my working life, electrician, hydro lineman, utility manager. I enjoyed working with people. Hunted and fished every chance I got. You have to enjoy what you are doing , or you will be miserable. I would suggest a trade if you are , fairly handy, not afraid to get your hands dirty. I have a small farm, always had a hound, rabbit , fox, coon. Had to get established before I could afford it though. Good luck with what you decide, remember it might not be what you end up doing, time will tell. old243

Nice to see a kid with ambition. My hunting group is full of police officers ( OPP, RCMP) and a game warden, I'm the only one who isn't LEO. The warden started at SSF in Lindsay and he was a forestry tech for a few years before switching. Truthfully, of all of us he is the one who actually spends the least amount of days hunting each year and virtually never fishes anymore so if you love the outdoors keep that in mind. You couldn't ask for a better career to maximize hunting time than police. The shift work will put you in the field for way more days than other jobs. The pay and benefits/pension are fabulous too, damn hard work though. From what I see the Fish & Wildlife career is very hard to break into and I can't see that getting any better over the next decade.
Trades have always been great jobs and will always be necessary. Doesn't matter wether you live in an urban or rural area people will always need electricians , plumbers etc. You should also look into the RCMP if police is a choice as you will get posted in some remote areas at first with fabulous hunting opportunities.

Terrym, do you know what schooling the OPP officers went through. I was planning on Police foundations but now im realising that thats not gonna be enough. So now im thinking of a Honours bachelor of applied science in justice studies and then take police foundations. If anyone else knows what kind of schooling will get me into OPP it will be much appreciated.

Land surveyors are needed in nothern ontario, in fact firms are screaming for them. Most graduates want to work in an urban setting. Its not all about building subdivisions.

A survey technician can make a decent wage while an Ontario Land Surveyor can make a very good wage. If you work in the north you will be in the bush. From personal experience cutting a property line out with a razor sharp axe is a good workout and an excellent way to relieve stress. You will also develop an immunity to black flies and mosquitos. Rofl.

If you have any other questions, feel ftee to PM me. Oh, and make sure you like math.

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Originally Posted by Danny20gauge

Terrym, do you know what schooling the OPP officers went through. I was planning on Police foundations but now im realising that thats not gonna be enough. So now im thinking of a Honours bachelor of applied science in justice studies and then take police foundations. If anyone else knows what kind of schooling will get me into OPP it will be much appreciated.

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As a past graduate of PF, my advice would be to enroll in a program that acts as a plan B if the policing thing doesn't work out. The OPP favours all post secondary education, but the problem with PF is that graduates from the program are a dime a dozen, which means the program doesn't hold much weight as far as being competitive in the process. Take something else that interests you, expand your education base through continuing education courses, and volunteer your butt off.

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Originally Posted by Danny20gauge

Terrym, do you know what schooling the OPP officers went through. I was planning on Police foundations but now im realising that thats not gonna be enough. So now im thinking of a Honours bachelor of applied science in justice studies and then take police foundations. If anyone else knows what kind of schooling will get me into OPP it will be much appreciated.

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I'm old and so are my buddies. The OPP guys only did a college Law Enforcement services diploma and the RCMP guy got in with high school only but they were very different times. I think today they wouldn't look at you without what you are considering today. I will ask my buddy what they are asking for these days. Not to be ignorant here but are you a white male?

Don't give forestry a second glance. Run run far from it. Forestry is a sinking ship right now. Until things get straightened out in the industry its like flipping a quarter as to whether you work or not. Try and stay away from any boom bust scenarios. Gold is in right now but what about in two years? Five years?

The OPP will offer what you are looking for so long as you can handle it but like others have said police foundations is not important. Get yourself something good to fall back on then when you hit your mid 20's go and do your preliminary tests for the OPP. The written test is quite simple....."is the car red" type of thing but prepare for the physical test. Its a carry a dummy around a simple obstacle course kind of thing..... not too bad but the beep test had me breathing out my..... Once you pass those you can file an application to work. If thats accepted you are off to your 13 week paid course. (Thats how it was a couple years ago anyhow)

As a fallback the surveying you mentioned is becoming more of a demanding field. Civil engineers are tough to come by too but its my understanding that straight out of school can be a rough go.

Best of luck with your huge choice.

Terrym,No im not a white male if i were then there would be no chance of me getting accepted, im half polish and half Filipino and my skin color is fairly dark, police is all about visible minorities nowadays.
Oaknut, Thank you for the information im not worried at all for physical testing i am very fit and i have ran the beep test multiple times, im also in Army cadets, joined as a foot in the door kinda thing and for a good reference but ive done plenty of physical training. Good to know knowledge test is easy.

There is lots of work in northern Ontario. Just that a lot of people don’t want it because they want to be close to Maple Leaf Gardens, the Raptors, Senators, opera, malls, malls, malls, restaurants, concert halls…. You get the idea, I’m sure.
By road, the remotest hole of Northern Ontario for travel distances has to be the Hearst/Kap area. But even there, it is just a 5-6 hour drive to get away for a weekend to a bigger center with shopping, sports, shows…


But dude…
You are in Grade 11 and already rejecting jobs like CO because that will conflict with your fall time recreational plans!!
H0Lee $h!t
Have you inherited wealth?
If not, get used to the real world dude!!!
After you’ve finish the easy world of high school, the real world will kick in.






Like Bill Gates said at a High School Graduation Speech:
You will NOT make 70 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice president with car phone, until you earn both.
The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself, (or about hunting seasons).




I do wish you well.
Although monetary income seems to be the dominant issue for many, do something you really like.
What do you want?
A hateful job for $250,000/year or a job you love for $50,000/year.

A good instrumentation and control electrician is worth their weight in gold. In demand in just about every sector. My I&C guys are never slow no matter the economy. It is required in every sector of infrastructure, education, healthcare, building sciences and industry. One of my guys has a criminal record related to some long past stupidity in his past life and still makes well over 100K/year.

I'm surprised that no one has mention joining the military...a young guy looking for a future should always pop into a recruiting centre and see what they have to offer...

There are careers in every field you've mention and expressed interest in Danny. The pay scales are very good. You'll get full medical/dental benefits and a great pension plan. They will cloth you, feed you, give you a place to sleep and provide a fully funded education in any field you have chosen, be it at the college level or University..AND all the while your drawing a salary.

http://www.forces.ca/en/home

I spent 25 yrs in Uniform, then retired to a 100 acre hobby farm and now living the dream....the best decision I ever made was walking thru the doors at the recruiting centre and starting career in the service of our country.

Good luck Danny, nice to see you are looking forward at an early age.

MP is correct. If I could do it all over again the military is a good choice. Today for some careers they will train you send you to college or University pay you while you are attending and pretty much guarentee you employment. Many of my friends are ex military all pulling pensions at a very young life and then went on to do other things even my manager is ex military.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I'm surprised that no one has mention joining the military...a young guy looking for a future should always pop into a recruiting centre and see what they have to offer...

There are careers in every field you've mention and expressed interest in Danny. The pay scales are very good. You'll get full medical/dental benefits and a great pension plan. They will cloth you, feed you, give you a place to sleep and provide a fully funded education in any field you have chosen, be it at the college level or University..AND all the while your drawing a salary.

http://www.forces.ca/en/home

I spent 25 yrs in Uniform, then retired to a 100 acre hobby fame and now living the dream....the best decision I ever made was walking thru the doors at the recruiting centre and starting career in the service of our country.

Good luck Danny, nice to hear you looking forward.

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My brother got Into the RCMP 10 years ago without 'police college' I'm sure it's changed now as they had a blitz of hiring back then


if you get into a skilled trade you will always have a job.

I agree with the Military option also. It is a fabulous carreer choice that opens up all kinds of trades/options including police work. One of my OPP buddies started his police career there as an MP. The military also pays real wages now.

I say join the Air Force, become a welder (trade) work 25 yrs and if you’re a decent worker you should make the rank of Sgt. Do your 25yrs, get a pension of about 2500.00 per month, you will be 43 (if 18 in grade 12). Still relatively healthy and start your second career outdoors as a guide for ducks, big game ect ect. You see most people do not think of this option. I retired at age 42 and will be 52 in April. Since retiring, I have enjoyed a 25K pension every year since, plus I got a job in the public service and own a business. My pension covers my mortgage and the basic niceties of life and I never have to worry about losing my job and not being able to pay my bills.

The second aspect of my military choice is the Air Force option. I was army for my whole career and this is hard on the body. When I was in a tent/trench, most of the Air Force guys were in Hotels….and in our bravado…we called them legs, wogs and slackers. Who is laughing now, them, with healthier bodies than me!

The third reason is pay, even if you are an average soldier you will make Cpl after 4 yrs, and this is 50+K per year (for your whole 25yrs)….. Even a degree in Computer Science will not pay you this much a year starting out (later), but no pension.. for the most part. If you sign up, be aware they will try to get you into the Army Trades (welders in all Services, Army, Navy, Air Force)..but stick your guns and say I will wait for the Air Force.

Lastly, pick the Air Frame (welder, aircraft skin finisher), or Aero Engine Tech in the Air Force, you fly everywhere and live for the most part in hotels (except when attached to Army)

The point of all this, I did a total of 30yrs and fished in every province and the artic. I fished in most countries in Europe and Asia as well when deployed or on R&R. This 17 kid joined the Army with a grade 9 (back in 1980) and seen more of the world than anyone on this forum, experience some horrible things, but far too many amazing things. I have got my GED, and bought and sold 10 homes (which the Army paid all my expenses for when transferred). You can walk into any bank and say I am in Army and get a loan…the know one phone call to Base..will solve the problem of late payments. Great lifelong friends, world traveler and adventure. It is very hard at times, and you do give some freedoms, but the only I would change…is not falling for the recruiters pitch and join the Army…. Instead of becoming the welder I wanted to be in the Air Force…..

Good Luck

My uncle did exactly what L052 just described. He was an aircraft mechanic in the airforce and retired in his late 40's and ended up working in the fishing industry which was his passion anyway.

line052 has summed the military up very well. Check out the recruiting website and look at the Airforce trades. Most of these trades are considered 'spec' trades, which means you will receive more pay once you are fully qualified (on salary page reference 'spec 1' category)... You can also get info from your cadet unit. If you are interested in the military, feel free to PM me. I was in your shoes once too.

http://www.forces.ca/en/jobexplorer/browsejobs-70

Are you willing to re locate out of province...become a CO out west.....they have a great job and still plenty of time for hunting and fishing.....there is more need for them so more of them there more to fill in and like any job you are entitled to holidays just being at the bottom of the totem pole you may have to work a few yrs to get the ones off you want.

And when all else fails marry a really rich woman!!!!

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Originally Posted by Danny20gauge

That used to be my first choice however if you think about it when are they needed most? Hunting season, that means ill be missing out on the season. I would be a good CO but i would miss out on the hunting season so id rather not.

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You guts are all making me feel like I should have joined the military.

An old friend of mine joined the Navy and after a decade or so of service, which included service in Afghanistan (which I can't figure out a Navy Petty Officer in the desert) got promoted and is now finishing his 4th year in Engineering at RMC...He seems to be doing quite well.

Another friend was going to go Army right out of high school, did basic and decided it wasn't for him. They wanted to send him to school...the nerve of them LOL. He is now OPP many years later.

Another friend (brother of the dude above) was a Geologist for a major mining company...decided he didn't like it...went for a ride along and is also now OPP.

I was talking with the wife about this...she says a lady she works was informed by her son that he wants to be a pilot...the tuition is $80K...

She is working overtime to make the money....I'd be driving him to the recruiting centre :)

If your not lazy get into a trade, there is always work. Work your AS%%%S off in the off season and take your vacation time and lieu time and off time what ever, hunting. And who says you have to live in the far North stay in the country not to far from the city and after work or before go hunting. Your thinking to much, which is not a bad thing just don't let it eat at you! I could only count a handful of people I know that went to school and are doing the jobs they went to school for. I would love to know how many people on this site are doing what they went to school for, that would be a good survey instead of "do you think your going to hunt bear this year" LOL Good luck

Lotts of good advice given already, I will only add tht dont go to university for a general BA. Those things are a dime a dozen and many of the graduates in the past 7 years have still not found the job they were anticipating. If university is your goal then go for it but you better be prepared to specialize and that will take longer and cost more money before you are gainfully employed.
Nothing worse than having a degree in international trade and no job prospects on the horizon. If you think policing is up your alley then I suggest u take criminology in university then apply to the force as this worked quite well for a good friend of mine.
As others have said aquiring a trade or joining the armed forces is an almost guaranteed ticket to a long and fufilling career.

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Originally Posted by tom gobble

If your not lazy get into a trade, there is always work. Work your AS%%%S off in the off season and take your vacation time and lieu time and off time what ever, hunting. And who says you have to live in the far North stay in the country not to far from the city and after work or before go hunting. Your thinking to much, which is not a bad thing just don't let it eat at you! I could only count a handful of people I know that went to school and are doing the jobs they went to school for. I would love to know how many people on this site are doing what they went to school for, that would be a good survey instead of "do you think your going to hunt bear this year" LOL Good luck

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pretty much hit the nail on the head... chances are you are gonna change career paths... i think i herd somewhere that the average person now adays, will have 4-5 different careers in their lifetime...

i went to school for machining... spent several years of my life doing it... also spent years laid off from machining... finally found my self a nice easy job, which dosent pay as much, but is more steady, and have settled in here... and if things ever go south here, i have machining to fall back on...

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Originally Posted by Hunter John

Lotts of good advice given already, I will only add tht dont go to university for a general BA. Those things are a dime a dozen and many of the graduates in the past 7 years have still not found the job they were anticipating. If university is your goal then go for it but you better be prepared to specialize and that will take longer and cost more money before you are gainfully employed.
Nothing worse than having a degree in international trade and no job prospects on the horizon. If you think policing is up your alley then I suggest u take criminology in university then apply to the force as this worked quite well for a good friend of mine.
As others have said aquiring a trade or joining the armed forces is an almost guaranteed ticket to a long and fufilling career.

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Dig. International Trade. Bazinga.

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Originally Posted by FrucksOutdoor

Wildlife Officer comes to mind however some hunters may feel you're siding with the enemy

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Being a CO would mean you are usually working during prime hunting/fishing time.

I work 12 hour shifts in the mining industry. I get 14 days off out of 28. Most of them when others are working, so I usually have the woods and waters to myself.

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Originally Posted by fishy steve

depends again on what you would wanna do... you will need your common core training... theres a program up above sudbury that does this, i think one in new liskard as well... a mining engineer or something if you wanted to put the time in...

http://www.norcat.org/common-core-training.html

check out some of the mineing companies carears pages to see jobs that might interest you

klgold.com
goldcorp.com
debeerscanada.com

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VALE seems to always be looking for miners. I believe they will give you Common Core if you are selected for underground work. There is also a Smelter Common Core, but it is more of a safety/awareness overview spanning 40 hours of training as opposed to the skills training you would get with underground common core. They will give you that as well.

Trades at VALE make around $35/hour, plus bonus, shift premiums and OT. Skilled trades working for contractors can sometimes make twice that, but usually you are hopping from project to project around the province or country. You would probably get isolation pay, depending on where the work is, but you would not be home much. Many remote camps do not allow hunting and fishing while you are in for your work term. Although places like VALE and XSTRATA pay less, there is the benefit of coming home after every shift and depending on the schedule, you could be off for several days at a time. I have one more day shift tomorrow and then I'm off for 6 1/2 days.

More to think about.

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Originally Posted by old243

?..You have to enjoy what you are doing , or you will be miserable...old243

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I lucked out in that the company placed me in my first job classification and I loved it once I got comfortable with it. My work conditions were announced with changes that were not to my liking or a benefit to my health. I bid on an overhead crane operator assignment and I love that as well. Work is not "work" to me. I enjoy what I do. If and when I decide I don't want/like to do it anymore, there are lots of opportunity to try something else. One benefit of working for a large company.

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Originally Posted by jim

Trades seem to be your best bet these days. Fleming has a one yr. course that exposes you to multiple trades, so you can decide what you want. That is what my grandson is doing, next year. Hell I didnt Know what I wanted to do at 18.

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I couldn't agree more about not knowing what I wanted at 18. I took electronics technician with the promise of LOADS of well paying jobs. By the time I graduated, the best job offer I had was assembling circuit boards in T.O. For $8/hr. Min wage then was $6.85. My diploma, however, was my ticket to getting into my present job, although my job has NOTHING to do with my education.

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Originally Posted by 35wailin

VALE seems to always be looking for miners. I believe they will give you Common Core if you are selected for underground work. There is also a Smelter Common Core, but it is more of a safety/awareness overview spanning 40 hours of training as opposed to the skills training you would get with underground common core. They will give you that as well.

Trades at VALE make around $35/hour, plus bonus, shift premiums and OT. Skilled trades working for contractors can sometimes make twice that, but usually you are hopping from project to project around the province or country. You would probably get isolation pay, depending on where the work is, but you would not be home much. Many remote camps do not allow hunting and fishing while you are in for your work term. Although places like VALE and XSTRATA pay less, there is the benefit of coming home after every shift and depending on the schedule, you could be off for several days at a time. I have one more day shift tomorrow and then I'm off for 6 1/2 days.

More to think about.

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yes alot of companies will hire you without it, and do their own training... but thats alot of times do to who you know and not what you know... to maximise your chances, take the common core training... before i landed this job i tried to get in at kl gold... even had a "in" with a buddy that was a supervisor, but gold took a dive at that point and they had shut down hiring...

If you enjoy the outdoors as much as the rest of us, find something with lots of holidays or flex scheduling (like OPP and fire). Take it from me - school is very expensive - I'm still paying for it and still attending more university courses. So choose only what you have to do in terms of schooling to get you to your career destination.

If you can find something that you pour your time into and are rewarded with great paid holidays and a PENSION, that's a win.

Best of luck!

Thanks guys after all of your help i have a lot of things to think about, i still wanna go with the OPP route. But since they like to hire when your mid 20's im thinking of either picking up a trade work for a couple years and then apply and im not excepted then ill still have a good job or do the Same but join military and after 5 year contract ill apply to OPP and if i dont get accepted ill stay in the military

Go with you plan and idea of what you want, you seem like a bright young who is planning a practical future. Keep thinking this way, eyes open, open for challenge and change, and always look for opportunity. Got a feeling you will do well in life. I do have to say, that all my life I was and still am a salaried worker. Starting your own business is an option when you are young. Something simple like Sod, or small garden projects. I never really made money until I owned a business, what I mean by that is each paycheck was the same every other week. When you own a business you have expenses and money into the business. The difference is keeping the cash you earn with good planning for (CCA) write off’s (capital cost allowances), and expenses of running a business. In my case, the pension and job supported the supported the business credit. Income earned with business was wrote down with CCA and expenses, in the early years, the write downs actually cut into the taxes I paid on pension and job. (You cannot do this forever), but it helped to fund the next years capital purchases with refunds or pay off other equipment. I did grass cutting at first and my brother told me “do a lot of work to make a little money” Next I moved into 1 day projects, sod, seed, flower beds, gutters, small outdoor projects that I could be in and out in 1-2 days and be paid on the spot. The business grew and things got more involved with up 14 employees at the peak. I am scaling back to original concept over the next 2 yrs, now that everything is paid off. The reason for me is WSIB premiums (on business owners) and new pension plan for Ontario. Our landscape network in Ottawa noticed about a 25% jump in “under the table “jobs last year. This coupled with all the new taxes are the reason I am scaling back. It might be something to look into, you driven.


QUOTE=Danny20gauge;865389]Thanks guys after all of your help i have a lot of things to think about, i still wanna go with the OPP route. But since they like to hire when your mid 20's im thinking of either picking up a trade work for a couple years and then apply and im not excepted then ill still have a good job or do the Same but join military and after 5 year contract ill apply to OPP and if i dont get accepted ill stay in the military[/QUOTE]

Danny.

My 2c, take it with a very big dose of salt. And keep in mind the topic is very large, complex, no way to dissect it here. Following points will try to be brief.

The world right now is under going big change, the dust is nowhere near settled.
Many are predicting that the trades are going to be in high demand, especially with Boomers leaving the workforce.
Today we see all kinds of youth spending 10s of thousands on post educations, only to come out with a lot of debt and a worthless pedigree, and no jobs.
Many industries I hate say it, if your not the right sex/pigment...forget it.
Many areas are downscaling big time.
Many areas are growing old...technology and etc is changing how the world operates.

Myself, if I could turn back the hands of time and take 30 years off my life, Id try to get into paramedics.

However, I'll put a kernel on the table for you. something I think is well worth considering, I hope my youngest daughter will do.

Armed Forces.
You can make a life of it, or you can "do your time" and leave. Leave with training and qualifications in various fields, and when your in your mid twenties/early thirtees with a lot of in demand real world experience and training...Find your future.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I'm surprised that no one has mention joining the military...a young guy looking for a future should always pop into a recruiting centre and see what they have to offer...

There are careers in every field you've mention and expressed interest in Danny. The pay scales are very good. You'll get full medical/dental benefits and a great pension plan. They will cloth you, feed you, give you a place to sleep and provide a fully funded education in any field you have chosen, be it at the college level or University..AND all the while your drawing a salary.

http://www.forces.ca/en/home

I spent 25 yrs in Uniform, then retired to a 100 acre hobby farm and now living the dream....the best decision I ever made was walking thru the doors at the recruiting centre and starting career in the service of our country.

Good luck Danny, nice to see you are looking forward at an early age.

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Once again, you beat me to it.

Join the army. If you want a trade, they'll pay you while you're in school learning it, unlike trades civvy side where you'll usually be on lay-off while in school. Or go combat arms and enjoy being outdoors for much of your career.

Most Army bases are out in gods country where there are ample opportunities for hunting / fishing, just take a look at locations like CFB Petawawa, and CFB Gagetown on the map and see what I'm talking about. You'll also accrue a fair amount of leave time to plan trips into that backcountry.

Hey Bud,

you are about to embark on the most difficult choices of your young life that will affect your future. I didn't know what I wanted to do at your age, but I knew what I was already good at and tried to roll with it. It has worked out to be a satisfying career, with decent pay in cushy office setting while going out to jobsites whenever I choose. I have somewhat flexible hours, get a company car and good benefits and get some vacation, but definitely not as much as I would like, but not many people do. I very rarely work any weekends or evenings, but I am the type of guy who does what has to be done, so I guess it is my choice when I do.

I decided when I was at the end of high school it was either between skilled trades or community college. I opted for community college since I had some help from my family and wanted to experience life as a college student. I decided to take architectural technology which combined my love or construction and my abilities to be somewhat handy and my skills that I learned in school to draft and design. if trades aren't for you don't rule out the "technologist" route. There is a shortage of good people in some industries to be the liason between the trades (technicians, journeymen etc) and the professions (engineers, architects etc).

I Started out doing architectural drafting and have since moved my way up into a project management position for a large trade contractor, which pays much better and is less monotonous than sitting at a desk drawing lines all day. But I had to do the drafting to know what I know today and be better at my job. there are lots of options at the technologist level, and every industry has different needs and different specific disciplines for this type of person. I still had to work my butt off and prove myself, while I have seen some folks take what I took in school and are doing something totally different or moved onto taking another college or university course. some guys take technology courses plus a trade certification and they are poised well to be high level managers or supervisors with those credentials.

Ill be honest sometimes my job drives me nuts, and is sometimes very highly stressful. But I get a good and steady salary, I have never been laid off, and I get to point to high profile buildings all over the GTA and southern Ontario and say I had a significant part in them.

the best advice I can give to you is to try and follow what you love OR are good at, and take every opportunity to expand your skills and resume. unfortunately not all of us get to do what we "love" but life's path may lead you back to that and all your experiences will help you find your niche, many people I know who followed their dreams aren't making a living wage and struggle while others get very lucky and get it all, but IMO that is the exception. regardless you have to work hard and prove yourself to others, and remember you are never to good to do a certain job or task when you are a rookie in the workforce.

I sometimes wish I had explored the trades more, or gone the military route, but I do not regret my path, and I know there is lots more life to live and many more opportunities will come up in life, and I just go with the flow. All I need to be sure of is that my future children will have everything that they need provided for them and we are happy and healthy and together.

these are just my thoughts on your situation. only YOU can make this decision, but solicit as much advice from role models and people you trust, and heck these guys definitely know what theyre talking about too!!

best of luck in the future.

I forgot to mention, one thing about certain jobs is you need to be near a city. In the specific discipline I work in, I need to be near a major city centre to make any decent amount of money or I have top start fresh with another discipline (still possible, but not good). however there are lots of trades and technologist jobs in rural places and small towns, mining has them. when I started my career the outdoors was not priority.
I started my career in London, ontario, and have since moved to Cambridge to work in Mississauga/ T.O since the money and opportunity is much better (and my company pays my gas to work). but there are different things you can do with any job in different locations. again it is what you make of it. I still get out hunting almost every weekend in southern Ontario, and have lots of vacation to go up north or on fishing missions. But now that my family is growing, hunting will be less of a priority, but I still have some really nice spots right nearby so I can get out when I want.

Also, I did land surveying in college (actually just layout, but similar) and it was fun. but I like to be in the outdoors on my terms. when you have to show up to work outdoors everyday and need to bust your balls, no matter what that is a different thing than liking recreation in the outdoors.
it was a good job, and licensed OLS surveyors get paid well, but it was not for me.

just some more thoughts on the subject...

If you are interested in mining take a geology degree at university. With geology you can work almost anywhere you want to. Also it is a multidisciplinary field so if you like physics you can do geophysics, if you like chemistry focus on geochemistry etc. If you are interested in mining economic geology or mapping is where to focus. I recently graduated with a B.Sc. and M.Sc from Carleton geology and I did 3 summers of Arctic fieldwork, went to Europe multiple times and went to Antarctica for a field course. Geology will take you where ever you want to go.

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Originally Posted by Useless

If you are interested in mining take a geology degree at university. With geology you can work almost anywhere you want to. Also it is a multidisciplinary field so if you like physics you can do geophysics, if you like chemistry focus on geochemistry etc. If you are interested in mining economic geology or mapping is where to focus. I recently graduated with a B.Sc. and M.Sc from Carleton geology and I did 3 summers of Arctic fieldwork, went to Europe multiple times and went to Antarctica for a field course. Geology will take you where ever you want to go.

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Even the apparently thriving metropolis of Cornwall ON.

[QUOTE=Danny20gauge;864978 Im either thinking of mining or something in health care, because where people go so does health care so somthing like a nurse or x ray technician.[/QUOTE]

My GF is a nurse in Sioux Lookout,they are allways looking for people in health care.
She works 4 on (2 days,2 nights) than 5 off.
Trades people are also allways in demand in NWO.
If you like to hunt & fish,you will love NWO

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Originally Posted by Bluebulldog

Even the apparently thriving metropolis of Cornwall ON.

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Actually yes. Is that a problem?

Not at all.

A tad ironic however.

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Originally Posted by Bluebulldog

Not at all.

A tad ironic however.

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I guess that proves my point about geology being a fantastic career opportunity. Even in a "thriving metropolis" such as Cornwall, there are jobs for someone who has been educated as a geologist.

btw I don't see the irony.

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Originally Posted by Useless

If you are interested in mining take a geology degree at university. With geology you can work almost anywhere you want to. Also it is a multidisciplinary field so if you like physics you can do geophysics, if you like chemistry focus on geochemistry etc. If you are interested in mining economic geology or mapping is where to focus. I recently graduated with a B.Sc. and M.Sc from Carleton geology and I did 3 summers of Arctic fieldwork, went to Europe multiple times and went to Antarctica for a field course. Geology will take you where ever you want to go.

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The problem with geology is that when you want to settle down... I have a friend who (at 50) went back to Carleton and got a degree in geology - but he's been out of work for a year now because he doesn't want to travel more than a couple hundred miles for work.

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Originally Posted by Useless

I guess that proves my point about geology being a fantastic career opportunity. Even in a "thriving metropolis" such as Cornwall, there are jobs for someone who has been educated as a geologist.

btw I don't see the irony.

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OK, and only since you asked....

The ironic thing is that you are a recent graduate with lots of "field placement" experience while you were a student. You're advising the OP about a geology degree taking him anywhere he wants to go, yet you live 100Km from where you took both of your degrees. The last time I checked, there is no active mining taking place anywhere near that, unless you count the geologic studies being done for the river energy project.

Werner is however correct about the field. I have a few colleagues who eventually went to the Civil Engineering side from geology because they basically said it was a lot of travel ( often out of country), unstable as many of the placements were contract based, and sporadic.

health care, the military, police work - look for something with a pension - not sure if they will always be there, but as long as they are - you might as well take advantage of it....Not that I did though. And my girls aren't following that advice either....

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Originally Posted by werner.reiche

health care, the military, police work - look for something with a pension - not sure if they will always be there, but as long as they are - you might as well take advantage of it....Not that I did though. And my girls aren't following that advice either....

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yea pension is something my job is missing as well. however a lot of companies will match rrsp contributions in order to boost retirements savings. without a pension some discipline is required, but personal retirement saving is possible.

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Originally Posted by Bluebulldog

OK, and only since you asked....

The ironic thing is that you are a recent graduate with lots of "field placement" experience while you were a student. You're advising the OP about a geology degree taking him anywhere he wants to go, yet you live 100Km from where you took both of your degrees. The last time I checked, there is no active mining taking place anywhere near that, unless you count the geologic studies being done for the river energy project.

Werner is however correct about the field. I have a few colleagues who eventually went to the Civil Engineering side from geology because they basically said it was a lot of travel ( often out of country), unstable as many of the placements were contract based, and sporadic.

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I don't want to hijack this thread so this will be my last comment on it. I went to school 100 km away from here because I didn't want to be far from home. I often came home on the weekends to hunt, spend time with family, etc. and it was only an hour long drive. I live in Cornwall because that is where I choose to live. I was born and raised here, I have family here, and I consider myself lucky to have a professional career in my home town. I could have gone elsewhere to work, either in Canada or abroad, but Cornwall where I want to be.

Contrary to your statement about there being no mines here in Cornwall, in fact there are lots. Not all geologists work in mines that produce precious metals and not all mines are tunnels into the ground with a canary in them, which is what I am guessing you are envisioning when you picture a mine. However, there are many quarries and pits in the area and throughout Ontario that are important to the economy and that many people might see as types of mines.

One of the points I was trying to make was that in geology you can study any type of science that you want. I know geologists who prefer desk jobs so they sit at a desk and write reports all day long. I know some geologists who can't stand being at a desk, so they are in the field collecting data for the people sitting at the desks writing reports. There are some geologists who do both. Geology is like any other field. It goes through its up and downs. There are positives and negatives about it, and it's not for everyone. However, it is a field that can take you places that you would never expect to go. Or you can go back to your hometown and make a career out of it, even if your home town is Cornwall.

As far a the OP goes, he showed an interest in mining. It seems that he is a high achieving student who would might excel at finding resources rather than working in the mines themselves. I was simply giving another option.

Never mind that a plumber making house calls bills more per hour than you do: Canadians are turning their backs on skilled trades. And as the Baby Boomer generation steps away from the workforce in the next decade or two, experts predict Canada’s skills shortage could reach a million people.

In the end I think the OP should join his local Liberal riding association and devote his life to getting the Liberals elected. He will possibly get a plum civil service job with a pension. There ya go, cash for life and police protection. Or he could get himself elected as a school trustee and never have to actually campaign again for continuous re-election. God bless Ontari-owe.

My son just got hired with siemens, Wind Turbine Technician . He is an outdoors guy. It's a good job, pension and security. If heights don't bother you.

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Originally Posted by Final Flight

My son just got hired with siemens, Wind Turbine Technician . He is an outdoors guy. It's a good job, pension and security. If heights don't bother you.

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The only trouble is if another government gets in and kills the Green Energy Act.

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Originally Posted by Bluebulldog

The only trouble is if another government gets in and kills the Green Energy Act.

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That will not happen, it's here to stay. He has all the inside info. Many more wind farms are coming.

Skilled Trades. Machinists (like really good machinists) are hard to come by...and many of those that are out there are rounding the bend. The man who owns my company also owns a large machine shop and has a hard time finding skilled persons.

Also good welders, pressure welders...and fitters. Tough to find...and there are jobs out there.

Also to go along wit the fitters and welders. NDE Techs. And NDE techs can make beaucoup de bucks.

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Originally Posted by Fishy Wishy

Skilled Trades. Machinists (like really good machinists) are hard to come by...and many of those that are out there are rounding the bend. The man who owns my company also owns a large machine shop and has a hard time finding skilled persons.

Also good welders, pressure welders...and fitters. Tough to find...and there are jobs out there.

Also to go along wit the fitters and welders. NDE Techs. And NDE techs can make beaucoup de bucks.

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tell him to look up here... theres a 150 of us laid off from the company i worked for lol well theyve called maybe 40% of them back... i told them to go fly a kite lol

New to the site. I can offer some advice as I have graduated about a year ago. I went to University of Windsor. I took the Medical Laboratory science program that's tied in with St. Clair college. It basically works like the nursing RN program.
I have worked for just over a year and although I'm classified as part time I have worked more then full time hours. We are tied in with the HOOPP plan like all the health care workers. The money is on par with RN,X-ray and respiratory therapy. I like it because you are with the patients in ER and all over the hospital, but you get to run all the testing and figure out what's wrong with the patient and talk with the doctors directly.
Being a shift worker I can work afternoons all week and still get out and hunt/fish all morning.

Thanks for all the advise guys, i have a LOT of thinking to do you guys really opened my eyes to just how many jobs there are available to me and the choices i should make. Wish you guys all the best at work and in the field

In my opinion, think of a job that will keep you in the comfort of an office and will provide the means for a lifestyle that you desire (outdoors enthusiast). Really what will make a difference is WHERE will you be in your new job. You can be an IT analyst somewhere up north, where you have wildlife in your backyard, or a clerk or bank employee, real estate agent or whatever you want to be. What is important is WHERE will you live your life to be able to do what you love to do - in your case - being outdoors.

Just my opinion......

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Originally Posted by Danny20gauge

Ok guys, i know theres tons of people on here that work many different jobs/careers, so with your expert opinions what should i do??? Im in grade 11 right now soon to be in grade 12 so i really have to decide what im doing now. I have been thinking of OPP officer for a long time now and thats my first choice, always wanted to be a police officer and OPP will most likely get me somewhere out of the city. Second choice would be farmer however i live in Toronto (I did not choose this, hate it here) and with no family members owning farms (at least in this country) or family friends i have no real way of learning, so not very likely although i would love to become one. I have also been looking at land surveyor however must land surveyors survey new subdivisions that are destroying the country side and i just cant support that i hate urbanization. Trades interest me particularly welding (2 uncles are welders) however im not sure how easy it would be to do that in the country. My main priority is getting a job that will allow me to be outside of the city and live... comfortably (fairly good pay for the people not understanding). So with so many fellow outdoorsmen out there i would love to hear what you guys do and education, job availability and satisfaction you guys have experienced. Hope you guys can help me out with what i should do, and i guess this could also become a good resource for younger people in the future.

1. Needs to be out of city
2. Decent pay
3. Not nearly impossible to get into

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Just to add a link to a resource that you may find helpful Danny....there are a few government grands and loans available for apprentice programs....worth knowing about , may help financially. Good Luck !!

http://www.esdc.gc.ca/en/support_apprentices/index.page

I would think long and hard about the policing option. Great pay and benefits with lots of time off. There are lots of northern police agencies in addition to OPP opportunities. Thunder Bay , North Bay, Sudbury, etc...

My opinion differs from some of the others in that if you want to police, then gear your education to that career. Commit to it and you will be a police officer. I believe in the Policing Foundations programs. Check them out. See their job placement ratios, then go for it 100%.

Werner raised a good point about pensions. If I was a young lad now starting out, this would be a very important issue for me. Gone are the days of being able to save and invest your money so that you have a retirement stash to support you in your later years. It used to be that you could get an easy 10% low-risk return on your saved money, and you'd see it grow exponentially (I remember 18-22% on GICs, Canada Savings Bonds, etc). For the past 10 years, you're lucky if you get 1.5% on anything safe. Nothing is going to grow in an RRSP anymore. The thought of not having a pension for income would be a serious concern for me. If I could turn the clock back 25 years (I'm going to be 50 soon), I would have invested my savings in purchasing land instead of dismal GICs, mutual funds, etc. I would have taken some bank loans, carried more debt, and purchased some cheap land parcels. I'd be retired now if I had done that. The boomers are all retiring, and the price of land is (and will) only go in one direction. Around where I live, that 150 acre parcel that was $100K only 10 years ago has more than doubled. One acre country severance lots that could easily be bought for $20K less than 10 years ago are now $80K. I think the Irish and Scots who settled this area 150 years ago knew the same thing. Buy land......they sure aren't making any more of it. The world population will double by 2035. Can you imagine what a 50 acre bush property will be worth then !
You are a wise young man to be putting some serious thought into what you want to do in life. Some will beg to differ, but what you decide and do in the next 15 - 20 year period of your life will have big implications. The "system" is no longer as forgiving as it used to be. Right now I truly do feel sorry for the generation of young folk coming out of school. I see 25 year olds who come out of 3-4 years of school, and owe $50-60K, even though they used savings to go to school, and even worked while attending. Pair that off with a girlfriend/boyfriend who's in the same boat, and you're deep in the hole before you even get a kick in the cat. Prepare to specialize. Getting an education as a generalist will leave you unemployable. I'm liking the armed forces advice that others have suggested. Go get your skilled trades training in whatever field interests you. Get your training paid for, and have income at the same time. Have some fun while you're at it and see some of the world. Decide what you want to do 5 years down the road, when you're certified, and most importantly debt-free. Just remember to get 3 penicillin shots in your bum before you go to either Gaugetown, or Wainright!

If it was me I ask TR to hook me up that guy has me jealous with his job

I suggest you go to University. Tailor your courses so that you can become an astute politician and make changes on behalf of "us".
Lastly, you won't have to worry about the pay being decent. Once you've done enough terms, it's cash for life. You'll then have tons of time off to go hunting! Most importantly, it would be nice if you could invoke a law that states that all hunting/fishing revenue MUST be dedicated to hunting and fishing. I know....that's really crazy thinking but......
I also commend you for having the smarts to think about your future now. I wasn't so smart and that's why I ended up where I did. If you have the academic ability, university is never a wrong choice, other than F&W as already mentioned. You will assuredly have trouble finding a job there-in.
I sincerely wish you all the best!

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Originally Posted by Danny20gauge

That used to be my first choice however if you think about it when are they needed most? Hunting season, that means ill be missing out on the season. I would be a good CO but i would miss out on the hunting season so id rather not.

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My nephew (now 31) was a game warden in Manitoba and Nunavut. He loved the work but was missing SOME of hunting season. However, there are a LOT of different trades that work at MNR and have great outdoor jobs and they can take holidays when they want.
My nephew is now an RCMP officer, lives in Northern B.C. and fishes and hunts as much as he wants. This fall he went for sheep, goat, elk, moose, mulie and whitetail. Next year he's going to take his uncle along....

WOW ! Lots of good advice. I'm near retirement and work in the water/wastewater treatment biz. People must have clean water, right ? Next they need food , shelter and then sex ! Pick something in one of those fields and you will always be in a job ( ie; making money). To find a job/career that you love and can make a living at is near impossible so be ready to compermise because it's all about the money !

Good Luck & Good Hunting !

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Originally Posted by longpointer

To find a job/career that you love and can make a living at is near impossible so be ready to compermise because it's all about the money !

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I don't think its hard to find a job/career that excites you.....it's what you saddle yourself with in life that creates those demands that make you settle for briefcase and living in the burbs. Most guys could live off the grid and be happy living year round at the moose camp in Kapuskasing...but you'd probably have a hard time convincing the wife (or her mother) and your kids to stay there with you...lol.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I don't think its hard to find a job/career that excites you.....it's what you saddle yourself with in life that creates those demands that make you settle for briefcase and living in the burbs. Most guys could live off the grid and be happy living year round at the moose camp in Kapuskasing...but you'd probably have a hard time convincing the wife (or her mother) and your kids to stay there with you...lol.

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Ain't THAT the truth, Mike! My Dad left a lot of security behind, and moved us up to Kenora when I was a teenager. Best thing that ever happened to me. Gutsy move and we had some hard times, but it was worth it. And he had to do what so many will not...take his kids a lot further from their grandparents.

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Originally Posted by Kilo Charlie

My Dad left a lot of security behind, and moved us up to Kenora when I was a teenager.

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Or by its lesser known name "Rat Portage"

Don't even give farming another thought. I got into it and had money to dabble in it as a hobby farm but it was a huge money pit and requires hard dedicated work. You make mistakes while learning and established farmers are more shrewd and may take advantage if you don't have a good business sense. Also insurance, travel, vehicle repairs and utilities are higher than city living. If you grew up with it and have a farm in the family you only have half a battle.

despite the amount of good advise you're getting on various pro/cons of jobs, I assume not many people on here know you personally. you have to realize that people have very different preferences and those might impact how happy you'll be later in life. so, don't only look at the job, the pay, the benefits and the location, but also if you could see yourself in 20 years with family doing the same job (not many will do it - for a good reason or two). not to say a career change would not be a good idea, but don't get into something that you are not made for; e.g. some people like to follow and want stability, others need to create something of their own, some like to work every day with people and others would kill themselves before selling cars, etc.

there's always the "start a business" model. if you have knowledge/experience. guiding and such