Carpenter ESSENTIAL SKILLS Fact Sheet Essential skills are skills that help you to perform the tasks required by your trade and other activities of daily life. They provide the foundation for learning other skills, and made it easier for you to adapt to workplace change. Different trades can require different Essential Skills. The Fact Sheet lists the reading, writing, calculating, thinking and interacting skills that are used in a particular trade. Many of these are needed during your apprenticeship, especially during in-school technical training. The Fact Sheet describes the difficulty level for many of the skills. Look for a number beside the tasks. The levels range from 1 (easier) to 5 (harder). Levels of difficulty, where indicated, have been determined by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). If you want to see whether you have the necessary Essential Skills to do well in in-school technical training technical training, you can complete the Self-Assessment Checklist and the Essential Skills Exercises for a particular trade. Contact the Apprenticeship Branch at (204) 945-3337 or 1-877-978-7233 (Toll Free) for more information. Reading Text Read field instructions and log books Read specification information 2 Find information in manuals (eg. installation manuals) 3 Skim and scan Material Safety Data Sheets 3 Read regulations and legislation (health and safety, etc.) 4 Read contract documents and shift schedules Read and interpret building codes and standards 3 2
Use of Documents Read product labels 1 Understand symbols Interpret shop or manufacturer drawings 2 Read parts schedule Read tables, charts, and catalogues (load charts, span tables) 3 Interpret blueprints and trade drawings (architectural, structural, 3 landscaping and site, electrical, mechanical) Writing Write lists or notes for oneself and others Maintain logbooks, ledgers, and records 2 Complete forms 3 Make sketches, schematics and diagrams 3 Write incident, service and other reports 3 Math Perform basic mathematical operations (calculating materials, bill, costs, etc) 1 Estimate time, materials, and labour as a job progresses 1-2 Calculate using whole numbers, fractions, percents, decimals and averages Perform conversions (e.g., between metric and imperial, different specifications, etc.) 2 Measure precise distances and dimensions of different shapes 2 3
Calculate area, volumes, perimeters, dimensions 2 Estimate distance, quantity and volume Calculate ratios and proportions, for example in 3 scale drawings and quantity take-offs Calculate weights and loads Calculate slope and elevation (Pythagorean Thoerem) 3 Apply geometrical principles (eg. Calculate stringers, rafter line length) 4 Oral Communication Describe situations Speak with and listen to jobsite personnel (other trades persons, supervisors, owners, engineers, inspectors) Give and receive verbal instructions and supervision (including teaching apprentices) Participate in meetings Explain and listen to ideas and concerns related to the job 2 Explain and listen to required processes or flow of activities 2 Provide feedback on quality of work 3 Explain products and equipment Thinking Identify something according to a specific criteria or characteristic Compare and contrast different products and processes for a specific situation in light of cost effectiveness Relate drawn images to concrete objects HRSDC Levels of Difficulty 4
Select appropriate tool, equipment or process for a given situation Schedule job and work flow Organize and retrieve information Decide on appropriate course of action in a given situation 2-3 Organize materials, time and people to complete a task 3 Memorize details and procedures 3 Integrate information from multiple sources to troubleshoot a problem 3 Establish priorities and precedence Make decisions for problem-solving and trouble-shooting (potentially in a high-risk situation, combining a variety of complex factors Computer Use Use computerized maintenance record keeping systems Use internet browsers Use word processors Use databases Use e-mail In order to do well in technical training, Carpenter apprentices should also be able to Study and Test-Taking Take notes during a class Read textbooks and learning materials Highlight important information in notes, books or other learning materials 5
Ask questions of the instructor and other students Participate in small group discussions Get information from demonstrations Study for tests Write multiple-choice tests Manage time and assignments For Information contact these Apprenticeship offices or call Toll-free from Rural Manitoba1-877-978-7233 Winnipeg 1010-401 York Avenue, R3C 0P8 204-945-3337 - Fax 204-948-2346 Brandon 102, 340-9th Street, R7A 6C2 204-726-6365 - Fax 204-726-6912 The Pas 305-4th Street West, R9A 1M4 Box 2550, 204-627-8290 - Fax 204-627-8137 Thompson 118 3 Station Road R8N 0N3 204-677-6346 - Fax 204-677-6689 6