News Article

Many opportunities in small equipment service field


4/24/2008 10:29:31 AM


Six months after graduating from College of the North Atlantic’s Small Equipment Service Technician program Justin King of Stephenville became the owner of his own small equipment repair shop.

Growing up in Stephenville, Justin King could always be found tinkering with motors. So naturally when it came to choosing a career, King headed for College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Small Equipment Service Technician (SEST) program.

“It was always something I enjoyed. Going through high school, I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do,” recalls King.

“I knew I liked playing around with motors but I didn’t know what I wanted to do because at the time there were no trades offered for that kind of work. It was always something I was interested in though and as soon as it became available I took the program.”

King enrolled in the program six years after graduating from high school. The 27-year-old is now the owner of Engine King in Stephenville. He finished the program in 2004 and began working in the field right away.

“I was an employee here for five or six months and then I took the business over myself. I was lucky get a job since Stephenville’s such a small town. All the jobs in this town were taken up at the time, but I started working here while I was still in school so I had my foot in the door. The day I finished school – I had the job here lined up and I started the next day.”

He recommends CNA’s SEST program to anyone who has an interest in this field.

“The program was good. It was a lot more in-depth than I thought it would be, but I enjoyed the hands on work especially. I grew up riding snowmobiles, motorcycles and racing – I felt comfortable in the shop working on the machinery. It’s the kind of course that seems overwhelming at first – there’s a lot of book work – but don’t get discouraged and keep at it because it’s worth it once you’re done.”

Like King, 19 year-old Ryan Hawco, also of Stephenville, could always be found around snowmobiles or motorcycles.

“I found out about the program while I was in high school when CNA had a booth set up for a career day. I thought it was a great program with a wide variety of equipment to work on – I learned a lot that’s for sure,” says Hawco.

“I was always interested in dirt bikes, motorcycles and sleds. They are the reason I did the course – I just wanted to further my knowledge since I enjoyed working on them.”
He says it was that interest which led him to enroll in the SEST program with CNA in 2007.

“I grew up on dirt bikes and sleds and now I stunt ride motorcycles for a team here in Halifax and we do a lot of shows during the summer. There is always work to be done on our bikes with fixing them after crashes or just regular maintenance, so now I can do it right away instead of having to wait to have the work done by a local shop.

“Also one thing I like about the small engine trade is there is always something different to work on – there’s such a wide variety of equipment from snow blowers to high performance motorcycles.”

Hawco is currently employed with Planters Equipment Ltd., a John Deere Dealership in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

“After the summer I graduated, I moved over here to Halifax from Newfoundland to look for work and have been working with Planters Equipment ever since. In certain areas of Canada I think there is a big demand for workers in this field – it is a big and consistently growing industry.”

He believes the training at CNA prepared him well for work in the industry.

“My instructor was very knowledgeable having worked in the field for many years, any questions or problems I had he could always answer. I do keep in touch though e-mail to let him know what I am doing and how everything is going,” continues Hawco.

“The training from CNA has been useful with my job. The program prepared me well for what I am doing now, however there is always lots more to learn on the job. If you have any interest in dirt bikes, snowmobiles, motorcycles, ATVs, or lawn equipment I would recommend the program. It has such a wide variety of equipment you can work on. You never get bored with it because there is always something different to fix.”

Paul Barron, instructor of SEST, says this program is ideal for those interested in recreational products and those who enjoy fixing machinery. He describes the job opportunities for this industry as good – an important factor when heading to school.

“They’re pretty good. There hadn’t been a course for a few years in the province. I did a trip promoting the program and everywhere I went people agreed there was a need for trained people because they couldn’t get them. I get calls from Alberta and up north looking for people. I get these types of enquiries every month.”

The program provides training for how to repair a wide range of machinery – from a lawnmower to a V8 marine engine.

“ATVs, chainsaws, anything you can think of construction related or recreation related,” says Barron. “Out east (the Avalon) it would be very easy to get a job. Anytime in my life when I needed a job, and I started in this field in 1977, I could always get work. I never had a problem getting a job.”

He says graduates of the SEST program may find employment in a variety of mechanical settings, including the service, sales and/or parts departments of the many recreational vehicle and rental dealerships that exist throughout the province.

In addition, opportunities exist with independent garages, service stations, and repair shops, as well as manufacturers. Additional experience and training may lead to positions such as foreperson, supervisor, or inspector.

Barron says self-employment opportunities are quite good in this area too, as can be seen from King’s situation.

“While I was in school I would work during vacation, holidays, etc.,” says King. “I got to stay in my home town and open my own shop. I’d always thought about doing that but I never thought it would happen so fast or quickly. I thought it would be a long time in the works but the opportunity came up – everything fell into place and I jumped at it.”

For more information about the SEST program at CNA, log on to the college’s website at www.cna.nl.ca.

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For more information please contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Assistant
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-6408