With more than 200 trades across Canada to choose from, finding the right one can seem challenging. Here are some tips to help you identify what would be a perfect career choice for you.

Consider a wide range of trades

Do you like working in the garden, or fixing your car? Do you enjoy home maintenance projects or styling hair? Get familiar with the many trade choices first, and think about what work you like to accomplish.

The Government of Canada also offers a comprehensive, searchable catalogue of trades you may want to check out.

Narrow your choices down to 5 or fewer trades

Keep it manageable by narrowing down your choices. Get as familiar as you can with the work, to see if you’d like it.

Observe a trade or participate in a youth apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship program

Some school boards offer Observe a Trade days, which will give you the opportunity to see what’s involved in your favourite trades. For something more comprehensive, you can also participate in a pre-apprenticeship program, which gives you practical, on-the-job training with hours that are often transferable to your full apprenticeship. Check out our list of youth apprenticeship programs.

Talk to people who work in the trade

See if you can get in touch with a journeyperson who works in the trade you’ve targeted, to see what advice they can give you. This is a great way to learn some tips from those who have already been there.