Carpentry Jobs in Canada

Carpentry Jobs Overview

Carpentry is a skilled and well-respected trade that plays a significant role in Canada's construction industry. Professionals working in carpentry jobs are craftspeople who construct, install, maintain and repair fixtures, structures, and furniture made of wood, wood substitutes, concrete, and metal. If you are creative, have a keen eye for detail, and love working with your hands, a career as a carpenter could be an excellent fit for you.

As commercial and infrastructure work continues to progress, carpenters will be needed more than ever before. Investment in residential and commercial building construction has increased significantly, creating a greater demand for skilled carpenters. If you are looking for a career in carpentry, now is an ideal time to start your search.

Working in carpentry, you can choose a subspeciality - rough carpentry or finish carpentry. Rough carpentry involves constructing and inspecting structural walls, roofs, floors, and joints. Finish carpentry is more intricate, where you'll focus on the finishing touches such as trims, crown moldings, baseboards, stairs, and other aesthetic elements.

Your day-to-day tasks will vary depending on your area of work and the specific project. Some of your duties could include:

• measuring, cutting, shaping, and fitting wood materials or wood substitutes
• fitting and installing floors, doors, walls, staircases, trim, and hardware
• repairing and renovating wooden structures
• putting up frames for buildings, houses, bridges, and dams.
• working with blueprints, drawings, and sketches
• preparing cost estimates for clients

You'll spend most of your day doing manual work, requiring high physical fitness and strength. Your hours will vary depending on the specific project and deadlines, and you may have the opportunity to work overtime hours. Some of your work may occur outdoors, so be prepared to work in all-weather environments.

To explore more specific construction jobs, you can expand your search to include:

• master plumber jobs
• chief electrician jobs
• pipe welding jobs

Training and Skills for Carpentry Jobs

You won't need an undergraduate degree to become a carpenter, though you may need a high school education to apply for training programs. There are a few steps you'll need to complete before applying for a job:

• complete a three to four-year apprenticeship program - this involves classroom studies and on-the-job training under the supervision of a certified carpenter (a journeyperson.) You'll earn a wage while working on the job site.
• obtain a trade certification – required in Quebec, but voluntary in all other provinces and the territories. Even when certification is voluntary, it is still advised, as it lets employers know that you are a skilled professional. It will also look impressive on your resume and can help you secure a job.
• take the interprovincial Red Seal exam – once certified, you can opt to qualify for the Red Seal endorsement. After becoming qualified, you can work as a carpenter anywhere in Canada.

Once you have work experience and training under your belt, it's a great idea to start building a digital work portfolio to showcase your best projects. This is your chance to stand out from the crowd and show a potential employer that you are committed to your profession.

To succeed as a carpenter, you'll need to have essential skills such as:

• attention to detail
• physical and mental stamina
• creative thinking
• problem-solving
• teamwork
• awareness of safety issues
• analytical thinking

Update Your Carpenter Resume

Before you start searching for carpentry jobs, you'll want to review and update your resume. Your resume should target the specific role and employer you're applying to. Monster has a carpenter resume sample and template to help you get started if you don't currently have one.

Remember to highlight certifications, training, and work experience and include keywords that match the job description. Soft skills such as communication, critical thinking, time management, and problem-solving are essential for this job, so remember to include them.

Take the time to write a convincing cover letter to increase your chances of getting noticed. You can highlight carpentry-related projects you've worked on and use this to explain why you will make an outstanding addition to the company. For more advice, read our tips on how to write a cover letter.

Interviewing for Your Carpentry Job

An interview for this role may include more competency-based or behavioral-type questions. In addition to your work experience, an employer may want to know what you would do in a specific work situation or how you have handled challenges in past projects.

Prepare to answer questions on how you best contribute to a team or your most significant accomplishments. It's also important to show enthusiasm for the job and your commitment to work hard. Read our helpful articles on how to prepare for an interview and put your mind at rest.

How Much Does a Carpentry Job Pay?

Working in carpentry jobs, your salary will depend on your skill set, experience, specialization, and location. For example, in Ontario, you can expect to earn a median hourly wage of $28.45, whereas, in British Columbia, you can make a median hourly wage of $27.87. In Quebec, you can earn a median hourly wage of $27.56 compared to Newfoundland and Labrador, where you can make on average $27.18 per hour. Use our salary calculator to determine what you can expect to earn in your desired province.

Start Your Search for Carpentry Jobs

Your search for the carpentry career you've always dreamed of starts here. You can apply for carpenter roles by setting up a Monster profile today. After you've signed up, you can upload your resume, apply for jobs, receive job notifications, connect with recruiters, and much more.