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Are You Right for the Job? Patrick Heard - Edmonton, Alberta - "Doug's Place" Want to Drive a Cutlass 1972 convertible? --Patrick had always liked cars, even when his friends thought he was crazy. While they were playing video games or watching TV, he was out working on his car. During his high school summers, Patrick washed cars at Doug's Place, a collision repair shop in Edmonton, and loved it. After high school, he was accepted at the University of Alberta in environmental studies. But that's when Doug, his boss, asked him if he wanted to become a body repair technician. Patrick zipped through his four years as an apprentice and got his Red Seal last September. This means, at age 24, he is a journeyman body repair technician, qualified to do both bodywork and painting. Body repair technicians fix everything from small scratches in a car's finish to major damage following an accident. This might include replacing body panels, repairing carpets or floorboards, or even straightening the car's frame following an accident. Body repair technicians also restore older cars to their original condition. Using his skills, Patrick has worked on his own car--a 1972 Cutlass convertible--that is the envy of his friends. Patrick's Career Path "This is a high tech industry with lots to learn and many rewards," says Patrick. He has a job, a car and a motorcycle, and no student loans to pay back. And the opportunities are endless. As a first-year apprentice, Patrick put in 2,200 hours before taking his first eight weeks of theory and exams at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary. He chose the Calgary program because of its advanced technology and up-to-date facilities, and because he could get into the program right away. He finished his apprenticeship at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton. Are You Right for the Job? A body repair technician should:
All in a Day's Work: When he was still learning, Patrick did a lot of odd jobs around the shop. Now he has much more responsibility and does more challenging work. On a paint day, he first does a full maintenance check on the paint booth. He then washes it down and checks the filters and prepares the site. The paint is mixed by a technician using a computer-controlled scale. If he is doing bodywork, Patrick might use a laser-controlled measuring device, which is used to straighten and align the frame after an accident. He might also work on an air bag electrical system, or fix the ABS (anti-lock braking system). The focus at Doug's Place is on safety. Technicians must wear gloves, put on respirators and make sure their clothes are done up properly. The fresh air system has to be checked regularly to avoid any build-up of fumes. And in the spray booth, technicians always wear a vinyl suit and safety glasses. Someday, he wants to own his own business, maybe a restoration shop. Patrick's advice for those thinking about bodywork as a career: "You have to love cars. You need an eye for quality. You have to take pride in your own vehicle. And you need to treat the cars as though they were your own." Apprenticeship: ON, AB, NWT |
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