Manufacturing Engineering Technician – Automation (Millwright), Graduated 2012
Competed in 2012 Skills Canada, placed 1st in Millwright Trade at a National Level
"Since I was a kid, I always had an interest in how things work and fixing things. This growing interest eventually translated into enrolling in Mohawk College’s Manufacturing Engineering Technician – Automation (Industrial Mechanic Millwright).
In 2012, while still in school, I was asked to compete in the Skills Ontario Competition, an exciting opportunity for top students from across the province to demonstrate they are the best in their respective trade. Being a part of this exciting competition was an amazing experience and I’ve kept in touch with some of the participants.
Taking part in the Skills Ontario Competition can be very beneficial career-wise. In my experience, l met industry professionals and representatives from companies looking to potentially hire recent grads.
After competing at all levels of Skills Ontario Competitions and graduating from Mohawk, I accepted a job with Imperial Oil (Esso). For five years, I lived and worked in the Northwest Territories at the company’s Norman Wells Operation. I was given a lot of responsibility during this period and it was a great experience of putting my skills to work while living in a remote northern area.
I’ve since transferred to Imperial Oil’s Cold Lake Operation in Alberta where I continue to work as a millwright. My typical workday is a mix of troubleshooting and repairing pumps of various styles, ordering parts and completing preventative maintenance at the plant.
My advice to anyone thinking about entering the Skills Ontario Competition is, ‘Go for it and enjoy every moment of it.’ The competition has the potential of making you stand out from other candidates and landing your dream job.
Every now and then, I think back to my time spent at Mohawk, training and taking part in competitions. The skills I developed were applicable to the trade and my co-op experience was essential in getting my foot in the door of the industry. My experiences at Mohawk opened up a world of opportunity, something I’ll always be grateful for."