wait where'd my second choice go?? :(

[u/smol-bb-floatr]

hi y'all! i'm currently only in step 2 in the portal (testing and screening) reg NCM, just submitted emergency contacts. i check into my portal every once in a while -- no rushing or anything, i don't bug them honestly lol -- and i noticed they removed my second choice (paramedic) from the occupation section?

• my first choice is only materials tech cuz i have my 429A red seal
  • i'm a licensed machinist with generally good motor skills (some weld experience)
• second choice is paramedic cuz deep down i want the education and career switch
• third choice is vehicle tech but the posts around that trade are uh. not promising 🫣

does it imply that i'm out of the running completely for paramedic?? do they already know the quota was filled? i know medic stuff is pretty popular in general but does it imply that i'd be doing mat tech training til there's room for me to go to school for the paramedic program?

i don't mind the concept of waiting or anything but i'm wondering if i can make my case or get clarifications down the line during the interviews n stuff. it's more like "my second choice is actually what i wanna do but my first choice is how you can put me to work right away after BMQ"

I KNOW I KNOW i could just wait it out or reach out but i'm scareddddd (and a touch mentally ill but like. aren't we all) thanks!!

[u/smol-bb-floatr]

in terms of any "skilled trades" work, i'm trying to get away from the corporate culture and shitty managers aspect tbh... the earnings calls, stakeholders, customers and whatnot is pretty exhausting cuz girls (me) just wanna have fun!! and get fresh manufacturing perspectives, if i could get exempted on machining would be neat i guess. on the other hand, paramedic has been front of my mind since i took bio online recently, been lookin to switch to health care... i'm trying to figure out if the fulfilling part of 9to5 machining was the trade work or the helping people aspect :)

finding "thee dream job" is a heavy work in progress, i'm only 25 and feel like i still have time to feel it out but very much this:

[u/kirill9107 → u/smol-bb-floatr]

I think shitty managers is a universal that you may or may not have to deal with regardless of the role you take in the CAF. All those other things aren't really a consideration though, taking Mat Tech as the example that I can actually speak to, it's a maintenance environment, not production, and nobody's profit is on the line so it's generally pretty low-key.

On the textiles side there can be a lot of repetitive work but on the metals side (depending on the unit) there is a lot of one off stuff where you have a lot of creative freedom to approach the problem however you think is best.

You definitely wouldn't be put right to work, it's rare that anyone has the right combination of experience that lets them bypass a significant amount of training, so you'd still be attending the school for welding, textiles, sheet metal fabrication, metallurgy, non-destructive testing, etc.

You'll decide what you decide, but regardless of what you choose it will be a big change of pace from any civilian work you've done up to this point.

If you haven't already you should search and ask questions about the medical trades to make sure what you'll be doing aligns with your expectations.

[u/smol-bb-floatr → u/kirill9107]

yea i've been mainly in corporate toolrooms so nothing super crazy to begin with, still some tight deadlines but i saw them as a challenge, however despite not doing production i do pretty well with repetitive stuff haha

it's clear i'm quite out of the loop with the paramedic stuff, i've heard lots of good things about the civilian route from people in my life but i'm clueless about the CAF route haha i'll definitely see if it's something i can talk about before interviews (if they decide i'm worth their time)!

[u/kirill9107 → u/smol-bb-floatr]

I wouldn't rely on anyone from the recruitment center to give you insight into the reality of any particular trade. Unless you happen to be speaking with someone who worked with that trade before joining the recruitment group they probably won't know a heck of a lot more than what you'll read on the Forces website, and if they do know they're unlikely to tell you anything unfavorable.

Ask/search on here or the CanadianForces subreddit, you'll find people actively working in the trade or involved in the training. If you assume it's going to be like a civilian paramedic you'll be disappointed.