Urban Myths
There are many ‘Urban Myths’ surrounding Apprenticeships. Here are some facts to clear them up:
Urban Myth: Smart students attend university, non-academic students pursue a trade.
The wood industry needs smart people who can keep up with advancements in technology, operate in the most expedient way to reach an outcome, and perform complex tasks. Apprentices don’t just learn practical skills, they also learn the theoretical and technical knowledge behind the practice.
A good percentage of industry management are people who have worked their way up, gaining the skills and qualifications required to carry out their job and manage people as they go.
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Urban Myth: Wood industry jobs are poorly paid.
You can earn an above average income within the wood industry. People who gain qualifications generally advance quicker than those who don’t. They also get paid more.
It’s also important to remember that Apprentices are earning a wage while they learn and don’t end up with a student debt.
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Urban Myth: The wood industry offers limited career opportunities.
With an Apprenticeship in the wood industry, you will attain a National Certificate qualification. FITEC qualifications are recognised as the industry standard throughout New Zealand and internationally. They will aid you in gaining further employment both in New Zealand and overseas.
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Urban Myth: Only practical jobs are available in the wood industry.
There’s more to the wood industry than meets the eye. As wood is New Zealand’s second largest export, there’s a huge infrastructure required to support the industry. We need scientists, engineers, office managers, marketing and sales personnel, logistics, despatchers, technicians, human resources, administration staff and many more jobs to sustain our industry. These careers require all levels of education and skills.
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Urban Myth: The wood industry is a ‘men only’ domain.
Women may not be as common within the industry, but they are out there. Every sector has opportunities for women, and encourage their interest and employment.
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Urban Myth: Wood industry jobs are too tough physically.
Wood Industry jobs historically involved hands on physical work – that’s what attracted many people to the industry. Progression in technology has seen a reduction in the number of physically demanding jobs as many physical and mundane jobs have been taken over by the use of mechanical equipment operated using computer technology.
There are still jobs within the industry that require a high level of physical fitness, however there are now alternatives for those that aren’t as fit.
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Urban Myth: The wood industry is only for people who like working outdoors.
There is a huge range of jobs within the wood industry providing the option to work both indoors and out. Even the perceived ‘outdoorsy’ types of jobs such as forestry have the opportunity to take shelter from the elements – inside the machine you are operating!
With the range of careers available, there is also variety in the working environment: scientists, engineers, office managers, marketing and sales personnel, logistics, despatchers, technicians, human resources, administration staff and many more career options provide a choice on whether to work indoors or out.
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Urban Myth: It’s dangerous working in the wood industry.
Any job working around heavy equipment and machinery has it dangers. However, stringent safety regulations combined with staff training and safe working practice has seen a dramatic drop in work place injuries within the wood industry in recent years. Increased productivity and outputs through less injury ensures continuing development of processes and procedures that promote best practice and avoid danger to industry employees.
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Urban Myth: Lot’s of people never complete their Apprenticeships.
There will always be some people who don’t complete an Apprenticeship. FITEC have Regional Training Advisors and Assessors who work alongside the Employer to assist Apprentices in maintaining their training plan. This means that people who may have fallen by the wayside, gain their qualifications.
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