In the Spotlight

Chelsea Britt - New Boots Coordinator

What inspired you to choose the trade you are working in?

I have always been interested in new construction and real estate. Growing up, my parents built two new houses for us, and I always loved the smell of a new house being built. I also really enjoyed house renovation shows on TV. My original plan was to work in residential, wiring houses and flipping houses, so I wanted to have a trade relevant to that so I could do some of the work myself instead of having to hire someone else for everything. I basically just picked electrical out of a hat (not literally) to try, and I ended up loving it. So far, I have only renovated my own house and the rest of my career has been working in maintenance and industrial electrical, but I still have a lot of career time left to explore other avenues. That just goes to show all the avenues and opportunities there are in trades. I gained a lot of knowledge and learned a lot of things I never expected to in the beginning.

What was required for you to study in this field of work?

Directly after high school, I took a one-year course at NBCC Saint John, Electrical: Construction, and at the end of the course was able to write my first block. I could have tried to find an employer to hire me and start my apprenticeship directly, but I had very little experience with electrical (just one co-op course in high school). I knew taking the NBCC course was the right path for me. A year of learning the theory and having hands-on experience with dedicated instructors gave me a lot more knowledge and confidence in my abilities.

Which support networks were available to you to help you get into this field of work? Did you have a person/mentor to call upon to help guide you?

I was fortunate my parents were very supportive of my decision to have a trade career. They helped me find a co-op work placement in high school and with my application and acceptance to NBCC.

But I did not really have anyone close to me that was in a trade to guide me. After I was accepted into the Electrical: Construction course, I found out my friend’s dad was in the Electrical Union in Saint John. He took me on with his company for my work term in college and then helped me with my application to the union. After I had already applied to the union, one of my cousins met another member of the Saint John Electrical Union while they were both doing volunteer work at the hospital. She told him that I just finished the electrical course at NBCC and was looking for a job. He passed along his contact information, and he helped me get my first job with the union.

What obstacles have you faced since you entered the workplace?

When I started the trade, it was hard to find work gloves, boots, and clothing that fit. There are now some companies that offer extra small gloves, smaller sized boots and clothing but there is still room for improvement. There were also a few instances that I came across a lack of bathrooms/changing rooms, which I know is an ongoing problem for smaller companies and job sites. When I started, there were very few tradeswomen even though I was on a large job site, and even fewer women that were around my age (19 at the time). It was years before I got to work with women my age. The men I worked with were really great, but it would have been nice to have some other young women around as well.

What advice would you have for parents of students looking to pursue a career in a male-dominated occupation?

Be supportive! They are already stepping outside of their comfort zone and may have other people discouraging them about their choice. Take the time to research the trade they are interested in, learn about the different career paths and opportunities the trades offer. Trades careers are not ‘lesser’ career options than those that require university degrees. Skilled trade jobs are important jobs that teach valuable life skills. There will never be a time that they are not needed. They teach critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It is rewarding work that gives you more confidence and enables you to be independent.

For more information about New Boots, check out their website.