Heavy Equipment Operator - WorkBC East Kootenay Employment

Heavy Equipment Operator
DOLLARS TO SENSE
Average Starting Wage: $23.00
Average Maximum Wage: $30.00
Backhoe Operator, Bulldozer Operator, Excavator Operator
OUTLOOK AND PATH
Around 600 jobs will be opening up in this
field within the next 10 years.
IS THIS THE CAREER FOR YOU?.
different
Common machines that operate in the
Most job openings in the future will be due to
retirements.
machines that one can choose to
region are backhoes, excavators, bull-
operate.
dozers,
There is room for advancement in this career,
whether it be training on a different machine
or moving in to supervisory roles.
Kootenay
LEARN MORE
This
career
has
many
Employers
region
in
graders,
loaders,
tractors,
fallers and bunchers, and snowcats.
individuals with extensive experience
Your day on any machine will consist
with one machine, as opposed to one
of travelling to the worksite, inspecting
who has limited experience on multiple
your piece of machinery, and then
machines. Formal training is available
operating it for the duration of your
for this career at various institutions in
shift. This is done under the direction
the
take
of your foreman. This job involves a lot
anywhere from 3-12 weeks depending
of sitting and extensive hand/eye
on what training you are looking to
coordination. These jobs can be noisy
complete.
and dirty, and all employers are
Training
looking
East
for
province.
are
the
can
extremely safety conscious.
WW W .W O RKBC.CA
Great website with information on various
WORKING 9 to 5 ?
professions and presenting a provincial
point of view.
WW W .ITABC.CA

Website dedicated to providing
information on trades in BC including
in the morning and working well into the afternoon.

information on apprenticeships and
industry standards.
WW W .W O RKING INCANADA.GC.CA
Federal website with a wide range of
information on numerous occupations.
Shifts in this industry are commonly Monday to Friday, starting early
Many employers have their employees working 10 to 16 hour days,
depending on the job that needs to be done.

Often there is a lot of travel time to and from the worksite. This time
is on top of working a full 8 to 10 hours in your machine.

Some companies ask that their employees be available to work
weekends.
WW W .EKEMPLOYMENT.O RG
Your local source for information in-house
and connecting you to the best available
online.
The Employment Program of British Columbia is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia
Heavy Equipment Operator… continued
REGIONAL EMPLOYERS

Chatter Creek Holdings LTD.
(www.chattercreekholdings.com)

LOCAL PERSPECTIVE
Fiorentino Brothers LTD.
(250-426-7281)

Teck Resources
(www.teck.com)
ESSENTIALS LIST
This career can be difficult to get into
This is an industry that expects to
because many employers are looking
see a large number of retirements in
for
the next ten years.
candidates
with
extensive
Currently this
experience. However, once you are
industry makes up 9.5% of the jobs in
hired in the industry it can be a very
the East Kootenay region.
fruitful career. Very few companies
In order to keep employees working
will take on inexperienced workers,
locally a great deal of companies
Steel Toed Boots
and even then, only when they have
offer benefits after three months of
Steady Work History
contracts that allow for such training
employment. Additional perks can
Experience– with extensive seat hours in one
machine
to happen (which is beyond in-house
include RRSP programs, health and
orientation training). Once hired, all
wellness bonuses as well as regular
First Aid
companies offer in house orientation
bonuses. Often companies in this
Drivers License
training on machines to ensure you
industry supply company vehicles to
can operate them safely and proper-
employees for transportation to and
ly. Very few companies locally are
from work sites.
willing to send employees away to be
NEED MORE ADVICE?
trained.
GET HIRED
CRANBRO OK WO RKBC
Tel: 250-489-5117
24-11th Ave South
Advertisements for job openings are predominantly spread via company websites,
local newspapers, and social media.
FERNIE W O RKBC
Most applications are submitted by email or in person to the office administration for
the company.
Tel: 250-423-4204
302 c 2nd Ave.
G O LDEN WO RKBC
Tel: 250-344-5413
Expect to have at least one face to face interview with a potential employer.
References will be contacted who are included on your resume.
Work experience, a complete work history (with no gaps in employment), and an
interest in the company you are applying to are key components to setting you apart
from other applicants.
205-42 19th Ave. North
INVERMERE WO RKBC
Tel: 250-341-6889
2-1313 7th Ave.
WWW.EKEMPLOYMENT.ORG
Fernie * Cranbrook * Golden * Invermere
W W W .EK EM PLO YM E NT .O RG