From dealerships, rental agencies and repair shops (and more), the Canadian automotive industry provides numerous fulfilling and long-lasting career opportunities. In fact, the Canadian automotive industry is the sixth largest on the planet, accounting for 25% of the country’s entire merchandise exports. According to the Automotive Industries Association of Canada, direct employment in the aftermarket (which deals with the manufacture, remanufacture, distribution, wholesaling and retailing of replacement parts, accessories, tools, equipment, accessories, chemicals and services) totaled 410,700 jobs in 2009.Despite these numbers, you would be perfectly reasonable to assume that the industry’s job prospects have taken a hit in the last few years. The economic downturn in 2008, along with accelerated automation and global warming posed tough challenges and led to a 21% drop in new car sales…which obviously had a trickle down effect in all areas of automotive manufacturing, sales and repairs.However, the industry has bounced back in the last two years, and as Windsor Star reporter Grace Macaluso recently reported, Canada’s share of North American light-vehicle production is now at an all-time high (the number now stands at 17.3% of North American vehicle production, which is up from pre-recession levels of 16.8%). Automotive Training Center director Zyg Strecha believes this increased production points to improved job opportunities, adding that, “New vehicle sales are also up a few percentage points over last year, so the economics and employment opportunities are there”.Adding another extra boost is Canada’s Economic Action Plan, which has helped firms modernize their operations to create and maintain jobs. This follows the restructuring assistance the Canadian government provided to prevent the collapse of large companies, including Chrysler and GM, both of whom have repaid those loans in full. The rejuvenated strength of the industry’s biggest players, coupled with technological advances and the looming retirement of baby boomers, indicate that there are very bright job prospects in many segments of the vast auto industry.If you are passionate about cars, therefore, now is the time to act on your dreams. To best prepare for these tremendous career opportunities, interested candidates should enroll in automotive training programs at auto repair schools with the best and most cutting edge training facilities. In order to step directly into the automotive workforce, students should look for automotive training programs that allow them to spend the maximum amount of time in real, industry standard auto repair shop environments. The best of these auto schools, for example, will use modern classrooms, bays, hoists, scanners for vehicle diagnostics and emissions testing, welding equipment, alignment hoists, modern paint booths and mixing rooms (for auto body repair) and much more.Don’t be scared off by the news. Your career in the automotive industry is still within reach.
Author Archives: admin
Avoid These Costly Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes
The kitchen is the heart of every home. It’s where all meals are cooked and prepared – where guests and families congregate to swap recipes and stories over dinner or Sunday lunch. It is important to design your kitchen to be as spacious and welcoming as possible, and make sure it is conducive not just for cooking, but will also allow space for all the activity that’s going on.Despite your good intentions, however, not all kitchen improvement projects end up well. Layout planning may be an issue, or the choice of paint colour, type of cabinetry, and furniture do not match. Here are some kitchen renovation tips and things you should avoid:1. A bigger kitchen is not always betterA carefully planned kitchen is often better than a haphazardly designed bigger one.Almost every kitchen remodeller’s dream is to get a bigger kitchen. But bigger does necessarily mean better. If a kitchen renovation experts advises you to improve your home’s entire floor to free up space for a bigger kitchen, take their advice with a grain of salt and try getting a second opinion from a different firm. Sometimes, a small but well-designed kitchen with high-quality materials and carefully planned details is enough. Remember to keep in mind the kitchen work triangle to manage the workflow and maximise the efficiency in the kitchen.2. Skimping on storage and cabinetsCheaper is definitely never better. Your kitchen storage should be durable enough to last your kitchen’s lifetime. Investing in a strong and durable cabinet is a must for any kitchen. You’ll be opening and closing those drawers every day so they’ll be subjected to a lot of wear and tear. Make sure you get hardwoods with a good finish and strong hinges to get the best value out of your remodelling efforts.3. Relying too much on the design fadGreen can veer towards trendy and seasonal. Balance it out with neutral colours to make it more timeless. Fads always come and go. Because of this, trendy homes can easily become dated in just a few years. Be careful when allowing current trends to influence the design of your new kitchen. It is still more important for the kitchen to match the rest of the rooms in the house and reflect the personality and activity of the family or individuals living there. Opt instead for good space planning and timeless kitchen designs.4. Getting distracted and going against the original design planStick to the plan. This will not only makes sure that the process of remodeling is smooth, it also ensures you stay within budget. The key to a successful remodelling project is following a well-organised design plan. If you have already declared a budget, selected a colour theme, purchased materials and furnishings according to the said plan, follow it. Avoid getting distracted by “newer and shinier” kitchen gadgets and furnishings as well as kitchen layouts that seem to look more exciting that the one you planned. Stop second-guessing your initial choice and stick to it.5. Trying to be your own designer despite lack of experienceDesigning your kitchen isn’t as easy as painting one colour and mixing it with the other. Remodelling the kitchen, even if it’s one room, requires a good eye, creative design skills, and ability to produce layouts that consider the function of the kitchen and the flow of people around the house. This project is definitely time-consuming and complicated, and when done incorrectly, it could even be more costly than what is necessary. According to Denise Dick, a CMKBD and NKBA member in Carrollton, Texas. “Just like you go to a doctor specializing in a part of the body the specialist for that part of the home is the kitchen designer. We understand how it all fits together and why the parts are necessary. You’re going to do it right the first time with a designer.”