r/newfoundland • u/WarmBit4959 • 2d ago
CNA Engineering Tech
After struggling to find work with software for almost 2 years I have been thinking of going back to school for Architectural or Mechanical Engineering Tech. What have the job opportunities/career outlook for these diplomas been over the last couple of years?
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u/Firm-Positive1540 1d ago
Mechanical engineering they are crying for people in the trades if your looking to stay on the island and have no desires of ever leaving you'd 100% land a job right after your school they also offer paid apprenticeship for Mechanical engineering so you get paid to do your schooling but it's long tideous hours and alot of hands on. I know some one currently in it and he is almost finished now and he was getting paid 30$ hr 😊 and you get your Red Seal which is higher then a masters the Red Seal can open the doors to endless possibilities. Look into it if I was you
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u/Ryano2112 1d ago
Red seal is not a thing for mechanical engineering, or mechanical engineering technology.
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u/Firm-Positive1540 1d ago
My bad it's Mechanical Trades and he is doing heavy equipment which you do get your red seal
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u/big_tuna_88 7m ago
Im a Mech Tech, you will have a much better time finding work in province with a trade, and you will probably make more money once you get a red seal.
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u/sra778 Manitoba 2d ago
Are you prepared to look outside the province?
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u/WarmBit4959 2d ago
I wasn’t considering that as an option but is that the situation at hand?
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u/sra778 Manitoba 2d ago
Yes, for a lot of jobs. Go away to get some experience then come back.
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u/WarmBit4959 2d ago
Thank you for your feedback.
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u/sra778 Manitoba 2d ago
Not trying to discourage you as they are excellent programs but this is the reality of the job market.
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u/Defiant_Citron_5821 2d ago
Newfoundland is going to suffer greatly one day because of the "job market". The neoptism will die with all the old people
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u/NLBaldEagle 2d ago
Both of these programs are solid. There is absolutely work in this province for graduates of these programs. However, there are also opportunities off island for grads from those programs.
I'd suggest doing a bit of job market research beyond a Reddit post...there is some information available, as I recall, from the Federal government, but you need to look up the NOC code for each of these programs. Also, reach out to the provincial certification body for Engineering Technologists (www.aettnl.com) for other info.
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u/Cull_The_Conquerer 1d ago
If youre willing to travel for work or work from home as a drafter I know Geomatics Technology is in hot demand.
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u/ne999 Newfoundlander 2d ago
Get training in a proper trade with apprenticeships and work towards your red seal. Do not just get a paper diploma that might be considered meaningless in other provinces.
Ahead of all that, look at the job market for that trade in Newfoundland and then across the country. Just use the job search sites. Talk to the local union for the trade as well.
Eg, I think ship building is booming at places like Irving Halifax and Seaspan in BC. Lots of good paying union trades needed there without having to break your body.
There’s a big build up around defence manufacturing. Or joining the CAF could be an option for you. Pick a trade that transfers to the civilian job market.
Unfortunately, you might have to move away to get good work and then you can maybe use that experience to get a job back home if that’s important to you. I had to move away for work ages ago and never moved back, but my immediate family moved to. If they hadn’t I certainly would have found a way back home.
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u/scrooge_mc 2d ago
Those technologist and technician positions are not trades so what do you mean "proper trade"?
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u/ne999 Newfoundlander 2d ago
Something that has recognition across the country. Trades with things like red seal do.
Plumber, electrician, welder, pipe fitter, millwright, etc.
See: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/campaigns/skilled-trades.html
Another example is getting a degree vs a diploma. You can go on to get a masters based on your degree but the “diploma” means nothing to another university.
My brother had this experience: did a “post grad” diploma and it meant nothing to employers. My niece did a medical technologist diploma CNA and nobody in her graduating class got a job. She moved to the mainland and managed to get a temp job before having to switch careers.
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u/LongTrackBravo 2d ago
MLT? You would think you could find a job here with the endless vacancies/shortages.
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u/sra778 Manitoba 2d ago
NLHS refuses for the most part to hire local grads.
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u/Defiant_Citron_5821 1d ago
NLSchools too. Retired teachers shouldn't be allowed to go back and take the spots of what could be full time positions. Double dipping, the Newfoundland way.
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u/NLBaldEagle 1d ago
Engineering Technology is taught, and practiced across the entire country. There are ten provincial organizations that certify Engineering Technologists. There is a fair amount of information that also indicates that - because of the shorter education timeline and moving sooner into the workforce- that the 3 year diploma programs often lead to higher compensation, particularly through mid-career.
In Newfoundland, the biggest struggle for Engineering Technology graduates is the direct competition with graduates from MUN engineering, who often end up doing the work that should be done by Technologists.
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u/Defiant_Citron_5821 2d ago
I have an electrician red seal and I regret still living here having to go through the same old slog with nothing ever changing only things getting more expensive, government paper pushing jobs increasing and every other work getting increasing;y more rare as the years go by
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u/Ryano2112 2d ago
I’d lean more towards electrical/instrumentation tech if I were choosing a program at CNA.
Since they’ve removed the power engineering portion from mechanical tech I don’t think it’s as appealing.