How Does Your Military Experience Translate to Trades?

I’ve spoken several times of my desire to have more employers consider veterans as employees. Veterans have undergone serious training and have real-life experience that would make them an asset to any team. The challenge is, not many people know if military experience and certifications translate into Trade credentials. If you’re a vet, you can help matters by knowing the military and trades equivalents in your province.

Alberta has an advantage at present; certain Military certificates have direct equivalents to trades certifications. For example, someone with a military Vehicle Technician QL5 cert is recognized as a Journeyman Automotive Service Technician. So long as they have the certificate, they can start working.

In BC, a veteran candidate still has to challenge the Red Seal Exam to get their trades ticket. They are given a leg up on other trades qualifiers, in that their military certification will be accepted in lieu of providing proof of work hours, but they will still need to sit the exam. To see how your province qualifies military certifications, check out the QL5 Red Seal page here: http://www.red-seal.ca/others/dnd_2013_br.4ch.5r.2-eng.html

For more support when job-hunting after your service, there is the Career Transition Services or CTS. With the help of one on one career counselling, CTS will help applied Veterans through resume writing, interviews, job finding assistance and sometimes job placement. Spouses and Partners are also available to use CTS.

So, if you’re a vet with a QL5 or other military certificate, a simple line on your resume explaining your ticket is recognized as a trade certificate could mean the difference between having your resume passed over, or being called in for an interview. 

Kael Campbell is President and Lead Recruiter of Red Seal Recruiting Solutions, a company providing recruitment services in mining, equipment and plant maintenance, utilities, manufacturing, construction, and transportation. When he is not recruiting, Kael spends as much time as possible with family in the great outdoors and on the water. He volunteers his time as a Board Member of the Entrepreneurs Organization of Vancouver Island. You are invited to subscribe to our employer newsletter or submit your resume.