In a perfect world your post-secondary education would come with the following guarantees.

The first guarantee would be that your education will lead directly to employment. You will have the skills needed to do a job. None of this fumbling around in the job market because you are unsure what your Philosophy or Sociology degree can really do for you.

The second guarantee is that your learning would be practical. No endless hours spent in classrooms listening to professors discuss stuff you are never going to use. Good bye Chaucer and Shakespeare.

The third guarantee is that you would get paid while getting your education. No more trying to balance part-time employment to pay for your studies. You can concentrate on building your knowledge and skills without the worries of huge bills.

For most students the above guarantees are purely fiction. However, for a select group of students these conditions are part of their everyday life. So, what's the secret to getting in on these benefits? It's simpler than you think -- consider an apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships combine supervised on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Normally, about 80 to 85% of an apprenticeship is made up of work-based training and the other 15 to 20% is made up of technical training.

If you have not thought about apprenticeship training maybe it's time to take another look. Besides the advantages mentioned above there are several other reasons that apprenticeships are working for a growing number of students:

• Apprenticeships are available in construction, aerospace, graphic arts, horticulture, hospitality, motion picture, theatre, automotive & mechanical, and metal work. With over 100 apprenticeships there's a lot to choose from.
• You spend less time in the classroom and more time on the job.
• You will gain a recognized qualification to perform your job. For some trades the "Red Seal" qualification allows you to work in any province in Canada.
• As a skilled apprentice you will get paid more than unskilled workers.
• Your pay automatically increases as you build up your skills.
• You are up-to-date with the latest equipment and techniques.
• Your apprenticeship experience may lead to a permanent job with the employer who has trained you.
• As you gain experience as a journeyperson you can advance to supervisory positions or start your own business.
• Your training is not tied to a single employer but can be used throughout your chosen industry.

With all of these benefits it's safe to say that apprenticeship training offers a solid foundation to build your career. Quite simply, real training for the real world -- guaranteed!

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