CHANPREET, Electrical Apprentice

“I have been hauling fuel throughout Kelowna and Kamloops for the last 3 years and decided that it was time to learn some new skills. I opted for the electrical trade and completed the foundation course at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops.
Apart from driving a fuel truck, I did not have any construction experience. Being new to the trade and an immigrant, I was a little nervous about getting a job, where and how to start and the expense of PPE and tools.

My REPS Afra helped with updating my resume, coached me on the importance of soft skills and how to work on my strengths and weaknesses when it comes job searching. She provided interview tips, guidance on what to expect as an electrical apprentice in the real world, information on the apprenticeship process and then linked me up with some employers.

The outcome was way more than I ever expected. I felt more confident going to employers with an updated resume and interview skills. After I got a job offer in Kelowna, the employer sent me a list of tools I’d need on the first day. I forwarded the list to Afra, and she set me up with funding from the STEP program. This relieved the stress of having an extra expense to start a new trade. I am starting my new job in a week, and I am more excited now after all this help from STEP.

I would definitely recommend STEP to others, and I think this is a great program to help people who are nervous about starting a career in trades.”