Laurent Aurélien managed to “get his head above water” thanks to a six-month training course that changed everything for him.
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The young man, who is now 33 years old, was however not in his first professional training.
After completing high school, he began a program in auto mechanics, then another in sales-consulting and representation. He then worked as a salesman on commission for a few years, chained jobs but without really finding what he really wanted to do in life. “I had jobs, but nothing concrete,” he sums up.
Caught up in debt
He then tried his luck in Alberta, but on his return, he was overtaken by the debts he had accumulated while trying to maintain a certain standard of living.
“My parents were worried, they wondered how I was going to get out of it,” he says.
Thanks to a government program, he meets a guidance counselor who introduces him to various trades, including that of concrete reinforcement installer.
Laurent had never heard of it, but the training is short, six months, and the working conditions are interesting. “I said to myself: why not, I will try it.”
“My job, I love it”
Four years after graduating, Laurent tells himself he couldn’t have done better.
“My job, I love it,” he says. It’s not always easy, but I still like it like on day 1. I’m never tired.
He “trips” every day to install the steel bars and beams that are used to reinforce the concrete used for various constructions, and he no longer has to worry about his money problems, the debts being now behind him.
After starting out at $34 an hour, he now earns $43. Since completing his training, the young man now has a new house, a new car and… three beautiful children.
“My life has changed considerably and it is in large part thanks to this training. Those six months changed everything.”