Heavy Equipment Operator DOLLARS TO SENSE Average Starting Wage: $23.00 Average Maximum Wage: $30.00 Backhoe Operator, Bulldozer Operator, Excavator Operator OUTLOOK AND PATH Around 600 jobs will be opening up in this field within the next 10 years. IS THIS THE CAREER FOR YOU?. different Common machines that operate in the Most job openings in the future will be due to retirements. machines that one can choose to region are backhoes, excavators, bull- operate. dozers, There is room for advancement in this career, whether it be training on a different machine or moving in to supervisory roles. Kootenay LEARN MORE This career has many Employers region in graders, loaders, tractors, fallers and bunchers, and snowcats. individuals with extensive experience Your day on any machine will consist with one machine, as opposed to one of travelling to the worksite, inspecting who has limited experience on multiple your piece of machinery, and then machines. Formal training is available operating it for the duration of your for this career at various institutions in shift. This is done under the direction the take of your foreman. This job involves a lot anywhere from 3-12 weeks depending of sitting and extensive hand/eye on what training you are looking to coordination. These jobs can be noisy complete. and dirty, and all employers are Training looking East for province. are the can extremely safety conscious. WW W .W O RKBC.CA Great website with information on various WORKING 9 to 5 ? professions and presenting a provincial point of view. WW W .ITABC.CA  Website dedicated to providing information on trades in BC including in the morning and working well into the afternoon.  information on apprenticeships and industry standards. WW W .W O RKING INCANADA.GC.CA Federal website with a wide range of information on numerous occupations. Shifts in this industry are commonly Monday to Friday, starting early Many employers have their employees working 10 to 16 hour days, depending on the job that needs to be done.  Often there is a lot of travel time to and from the worksite. This time is on top of working a full 8 to 10 hours in your machine.  Some companies ask that their employees be available to work weekends. WW W .EKEMPLOYMENT.O RG Your local source for information in-house and connecting you to the best available online. The Employment Program of British Columbia is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia Heavy Equipment Operator… continued REGIONAL EMPLOYERS  Chatter Creek Holdings LTD. (www.chattercreekholdings.com)  LOCAL PERSPECTIVE Fiorentino Brothers LTD. (250-426-7281)  Teck Resources (www.teck.com) ESSENTIALS LIST This career can be difficult to get into This is an industry that expects to because many employers are looking see a large number of retirements in for the next ten years. candidates with extensive Currently this experience. However, once you are industry makes up 9.5% of the jobs in hired in the industry it can be a very the East Kootenay region. fruitful career. Very few companies In order to keep employees working will take on inexperienced workers, locally a great deal of companies Steel Toed Boots and even then, only when they have offer benefits after three months of Steady Work History contracts that allow for such training employment. Additional perks can Experience– with extensive seat hours in one machine to happen (which is beyond in-house include RRSP programs, health and orientation training). Once hired, all wellness bonuses as well as regular First Aid companies offer in house orientation bonuses. Often companies in this Drivers License training on machines to ensure you industry supply company vehicles to can operate them safely and proper- employees for transportation to and ly. Very few companies locally are from work sites. willing to send employees away to be NEED MORE ADVICE? trained. GET HIRED CRANBRO OK WO RKBC Tel: 250-489-5117 24-11th Ave South Advertisements for job openings are predominantly spread via company websites, local newspapers, and social media. FERNIE W O RKBC Most applications are submitted by email or in person to the office administration for the company. Tel: 250-423-4204 302 c 2nd Ave. G O LDEN WO RKBC Tel: 250-344-5413 Expect to have at least one face to face interview with a potential employer. References will be contacted who are included on your resume. Work experience, a complete work history (with no gaps in employment), and an interest in the company you are applying to are key components to setting you apart from other applicants. 205-42 19th Ave. North INVERMERE WO RKBC Tel: 250-341-6889 2-1313 7th Ave. WWW.EKEMPLOYMENT.ORG Fernie * Cranbrook * Golden * Invermere W W W .EK EM PLO YM E NT .O RG