Andrew Bik, Structural Technologist

Real world results

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"My work is directly related to and directly produces real world outcomes. Anything being built and manufactured at some point in time was drawn, the idea was put on a piece of paper.

"I know when I complete a drawing, in a matter of months what I draw on a piece of paper or on software is being built. I can see the result of my work with my own eyes.

"It's very rewarding and one of the greatest feelings to see that you contributed, you helped to create the structure or building or a bridge or a road, or whatever that is."

Where I work

I work for KGS Group, an engineering consulting firm located in Winnipeg Manitoba. The company offers a full range of engineering services including structural, mechanical, civil, municipal, electrical, environmental and hydrological.

The company started with four principals in 1986 and has continued to grow. The head office is in Winnipeg and we have branch offices in Thunder Bay, Regina and Toronto. There are about 200 employees throughout Canada.

Team size varies

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"I'm part of the team and the team depends on the size of the project. Some little projects require one engineer who does the calculations and I create blueprints.

For Manitoba Hydro, there are teams of draftspersons and engineers. We work closely with each other to clarify the work. We don't want to have two people working on the same part of the structure.

"And there's the issue of interference. One draftsperson is drawing a foundation, another is drawing a wall. Those two parts have to fit, so we have to stay in constant communication."

Many projects

I work in the structural department where we have several projects right now. Some are large, some are small. Some take years to complete and some take weeks.

One of the larger projects is for Manitoba Hydro. We're designing power plants for the Wuskwatim Generating Station.

The project is quite unique and needs a company like ours that has very specific skills and past experience.  It involves a three unit powerhouse, a service bay, non-overflow dam, spillway and a variety of gravity retaining walls.

Computer blueprints

My job is to do the structural plans after an engineer designs a bridge or a road or a hydro plant.

I put all the engineer's plans and designs on paper for contractors use to build the structure. I have to give them clear and specific instructions on how to build it and what materials to use.

In the old days draftspersons drew plans directly on paper and made only one blue copy called a Blueprint. Today all our drafting is done on computer using a program called AutoCad.

Changing the drawing is a lot easier this way and even though we no longer make copies that are blue they are still called blueprints.

Complicated process

It's a long and complicated process to build a new structure. The structural, mechanical and electrical parts and all other components of the building have to work together. There are building codes to follow too. For example, you can't have a door where you're supposed to have a column.

Another challenge is upgrading an existing structure to put in more efficient equipment.We need to design the new section to fit with their equipment and the existing plant arrangement.

There are codes to follow here too and you also want to have as little disruption for the client as possible. That means any new construction happens during their down times as much as possble.

Life in Ukraine

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"Living in Ukraine wasn't easy. When I grew up, Ukraine was part of Soviet Union. It was challenging, there were economical, political and cultural barriers to deal with and there was no democracy at that time.

"People couldn't express their views, they were not in charge of their lives. They were told what to do and how to do it.

"I remember times where we were forbidden as kids to go to church, so Christmas time or Easter time my mom would actually have me covered with her coat and that's how she would bring me into church."

Close Family

In many ways I was just like any average kid with a large family. We had a three bedroom house, but we usually had eight to ten people living together.

When I was growing up my grandparents lived with us so we always had lots of people around and we were very close. When my sister got married, she lived with us with her husband.

My family is still living in the Ukraine except for one of my sisters who lives in Montreal.

Respect for my parents

I have a lot of respect for my parents. They did a great job because we were always cared for although we were not rich.

I remember times where I didn't have toys that I wanted to have, but we were always loved. My parents always supported my sisters and me and we were very close.

My parents are retired now. My mom was an accountant and my father worked for the town health department. My mom had a full-time job and I'm still amazed how she managed to have home-cooked meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner for our big family.

Left home at 18

In 1990 when I was 18, I came to Canada with my mom to visit my great aunt. My mom had to leave after a month and I decided to stay and make Canada my home. For me it was easier to move here because I was young and I had no family.

It was hard to leave my parents and my sisters. It was also a big challenge to learn the language. I had to go to school, learn new customs, make new friends. During my first few years I was very sad. I missed my friends, family and my way of life.

Now I have no regrets. I enjoy what I do and I enjoy living in Canada.

Many hobbies

I have a lot of hobbies. I enjoy reading and I spend a lot of time with family and friends.

In summertime I like mountain biking, fishing and sports, especially soccer, or football as we call it back at home. My wife and I also go camping every summer.

In the wintertime we go downhill skiing at either Holiday Mountain, Springhill or Asessippi Skiing Park, usually about twice a winter. We have also skied in the Canadian Rockies and that's the best of the best for skiing.

Flexible hours

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"KGS Group is very flexible. One of the reasons I like working here is because they understand people have family.

"Sometimes you can start work earlier and you can leave work earlier, or if you have an appointment in the morning you can come in half an hour later, as long as you stay a half an hour later.

"They're not rigid. You don't have to punch in as long as the work is done and as long as you put in your time."

Some overtime

I don't normally stay later after I put in my eight hours of work. But when there are deadlines sometimes we are asked to stay on the weekend or in the evenings.

Sometimes I stay longer just because I choose to. I like to set goals at the beginning of the day and complete those goals. I don't leave at the end of the day and not finish what I was planning to finish that day.

I can work on my computer at home, but so far I do all my work at work.

Juggling projects

Sometimes I might have to juggle three or four different projects at the same time, on the same day.

If I am waiting for a client to give me an answer on where they want to position certain things, I just switch and work on a different project.

But I have to concentrate on doing one thing at a time. That's the only way I can do my best work.

Balance work and home

There has to be balance in life. I can't have too much of one thing or other. When I'm at home I try not to think about work. I try to focus on my family.

When I'm at work I'm try to give a hundred percent to my work. I try not to think about family, even though there are always times where you can't help it and you have to.

Creative challenge

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"I create something from nothing. I have this blank piece of paper and after days or weeks I draw a package of drawings that a structure can be built from.

"This job is very creative because different drawings from different draftsperson will look different. My drawing wouldn't look the same as somebody else's drawing. That's how you can express yourself.

"Even though there are standards we have to follow and rules you can't break, everybody has a unique touch on each drawing, so it's challenging and interesting."

Draw efficiently

When I draw something, I'm not sure how it's going to turn out, so first I arrange my general layout and plan the parts I'm going to have. There's more than one way to make a drawing and I try to come up with the most efficient one.

It was harder when people drew on paper because it's a lot of work to start over again if they want to change something.

It is easier now on the computer. If I don't like something in one spot I can move it to another spot, though I still have to foresee how the final product is going to look at the end.

Pressure to be right

The biggest challenges of my work are the deadlines and the technical challenges. I can't rush and I can't cut corners.

I have to review my work and other's work to catch the mistakes. I have to pay attention to detail.

I enjoy the fact that I have to do the best job possible. If I do make mistakes, there are going to be serious complications. If the plan goes out wrong and contractors start building, then its going built wrong.

Keep learning

In this field I have to constantly challenge myself to learn new things. Otherwise I would be unemployed.

On the job training is very important, because we work with technology and computers. New software is always coming out so I have to stay on top of things and improve my skills.

The AutoCAD software that I use has gone through so many changes that today's version is totally different from the one five, ten, fifteen years ago.

Deal with stress

I try to concentrate on what I'm doing and be cool and not rush and do something that might affect my work. But I do have bad moments when I'm stressed and sometimes ignore other people when they ask for help.

When I am stressed out, I take a moment, get my thoughts together and figure out how I'm going to deal with it, or else I ask for help. I try to rationalize whatever happens and the reasons why it happens.

Detail oriented

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"I'm detail oriented. I think it helps a lot, especially in the type of work that I do. I like to do a hundred percent good job. It's very important to pay attention to small details.

For example when you see something wrong in a drawing and haven't designed it, I can't ignore it, I have to fix it up, I have to bring to somebody's attention. I want to make sure that the whole thing looks correct.

"I'm technical. I like to know how things work and how things interact."

Two high schools

I had already graduated from high school in Ukraine before I immigrated. In Canada I first went to school to learn English.

After two years I went to high school to get my diploma here and it was challenging. I had no problem in science and math and but English was hard and I failed grade twelve. That was a big shock because I had never failed anything before in my life.

It took me a few days to get my thoughts together. Then I figured out I can do it, I'm just going to work harder. I went to summer school and I graduated from high school.

Other jobs

After I graduated from high school here in Winnipeg, I applied to the Engineering Faculty at University of Manitoba. I wanted to be an engineer, but I didn't end up going there. After that I had a few jobs to make ends meet.

I worked for Carnival Cruise Lines and travelled throughout the world. Then I worked for a heating and air conditioning company but there wasn't much of a challenge for me in that job.

I decided to go back to school because I knew what I wanted and how important school was.

Natural choice

In 2001 my wife went into Structural Engineering Technology at Red River College and I liked what she was studying.

Because I like math and science, and engineering deals with math and science and problem solving, structural technology seemed like a natural choice for me.

I also liked that it was hands on learning and that it was a co-op program where you get to work in industry. I decided to go into that program.

I've really completed a circle because engineering was originally my plan after high school, and that's where I've end up today.

Designing and drafting

At Red River College we learned different drafting standards skills. Part of the course we were concentrating more on designing, but we used and we learned how to use AutoCAD and how to use drafting skills to create plans and blueprints.

When I started working with KGS Group, it was to my advantage that I had a background in structural technology. I understood how the structural members work together and that helped me when it came to drawing those members.

Set goals

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"The most important thing is set a goal for yourself and work hard to pursue it. If you want to be an engineer or a technologist or a draftsperson, you have to go to school.

"School is not easy, but never give up. I believe anybody can achieve anything if they work hard enough and if they just set small goals. Once you achieve, then set a next set of goals. That's how I did it.

"That's how anybody can finish school and be successful in their lives, and provide for their family and themselves."

Skills needed

To prepare for this field, you have to take math, science and computer courses in high school. I use a computer all the time, and most of my work involves calculating dimensions, converting measurements and calculating distances.

You have to be able to communicate with engineers and other team members. If you have an idea, you have to be able to express it clearly. At the same time, teamwork is essential. You constantly work with other people. That's how you clarify details and prevent a lot of potential problems from happening in your work.

Professional plans

I want to keep gaining experience in my field. I've been working here only for about a year and it takes time to learn. Different companies have different standards.

The more experience you have the more challenging and difficult and bigger projects you can work on. I would enjoy that challenge.

Later I'm planning to go to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay to get my engineering degree. They have a program designed for technologists. After that, I would like to be able to come back to KGS Group and work as an engineer.

Personal plans

I changed continents when I was eighteen, so I don't know what's going to happen to me in the next 18 years. For now we will stay in Manitoba.

My wife and I don't have kids yet because I'm planning to go and continue my education, but we're planning to have a family eventually.

I will visit my friends and my family back at home in Ukraine. I haven't seen them since 2001. I want to visit my sister in Montreal first so, since it's closer to home.

Outlook for occupation

The future looks goods for draftspersons. I think it's always going to be easy to find a job as an engineer or a draftsperson.

Right now there are so many positions and so many different projects going on in the City of Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba that it's very easy to find a job.

At the same time, this field itself is changing because technology is changing. You have to constantly be on top of the things.

Job market info

The links below take you to federal and regional government information on employment, education, salary ranges and long range prospects for this career.

The official title for Andrew's occupation is "Drafting Technologists and Technicians" and its NOC* code is 2253.

Manitoba Job Futures

Manitoba Labour Market Information - Who Hires

*Each occupation has an official name and unique number called the 'National Occupation Classification' code or 'NOC'.

Education

High School

Useful high school subjects*

- Math
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Drafting
- Blueprint reading
- Computer related courses

*Source: Job Futures.ca

For those out of school, Adult Learning Centres can help you get or upgrade your high school diploma, including adding subjects that are required for work or further education. All Manitobans are normally entitled to 4 free courses.

After high school

Red River College

Winnipeg Technical College

Assiniboine Community College - Brandon

University College of the North - The Pas/Thompson

Skills

Useful Experience/Skills*

- Team project work
- Proposal writing
- Presenting
- Committee work on industry ethics
- Computer skills

Source: Job Futures.ca

There is not yet an Essential Skills* profile for this occupation.

*For more information on Essential Skills and their importance to this occupation, go to Essential Skills

Professional resources

Architectural & Building Technologists Association of Manitoba (ABTAM)
Association of individuals active in the architectural and building technologies within the construction industry and related fields of work

Certified Technicians and technologists Association of Manitoba (CTTAM)
Certifies Engineering Technicians and Technologists in Manitoba

Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT)
Establishes and maintains national competency standards for certifying members in 14 applied science and engineering technology disciplines

Related careers

Architectural Technologists and Technicians (NOC 2251)

Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (NOC 2231)

Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians (NOC 2241)

Industrial Designers (NOC 2252)

Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (NOC 2232)