Wilf Ramsay adjusts a motorcycle windshield at Ramsay Cycle and Sport in Sydney. (TERA CAMUS / Cape Breton Bureau)

PEOPLE WHO liked to take things apart as children tend to do well fixing things as adults.

Take a career as a motorcycle mechanic, for example.

"Most people get into it for the love of it. It takes a special sort of person to make it in the field," saidWilf Ramsay of Ramsay Cycle and Sport in Sydney.

Start with a good aptitude for mechanics, toss in a serious appreciation for motorcycles in general, add an ability to cope with change and you have the basic ingredients for a firstclass motorcycle mechanic, said the owner of one of the larger recreational vehicle centres in the province.

Most RV businesses handle diverse product lines from different manufacturers. Motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, generators and outboard motors are available at Ramsay's.

Some RV centres handle snowmobiles as well. "It's important to be able to handle multiple lines of work. The first thing that comes in might be a Harley- Davidson, the next a Yamaha. After that, you might be working on a Honda bench generator," Mr. Ramsay said of a typical workday for mechanics at his 12,000-square-foot Keltic Road location.

Many successful motorcycle mechanics in Canada sign up for the motorcycle technician program at Fairview College in northern Alberta.

After that, it is a matter of getting as much experience as possible working on a wide range of products and being ready to participate on every training opportunity that presents itself in the future.

"You really have to be a sponge for information because things are changing all the time," said Mr. Ramsay. A career as a mechanic sound interesting? Read on

NATURE OF THEWORK

Mechanics install and service electrical equipment such as oil, coal, and wood burners; appliances such as televisions and VCRs; electric motors and transformers; and motor scooters, motorcycles, and snowmobiles. They cut and solder wires; replace defective parts; analyze faults with test instruments; and make adjustments and replacements using a variety of hand and power tools and specialized equipment. They calculate estimates of repair cost and advise customers on condition of equipment and work to be performed.

SKILLS
This work requires an understanding of the principles of electricity and a mechanical aptitude. You should be able to follow instructions and performdetailed work. Patience and the ability to be methodical are required when testing motors and equipment. Analytical skills are required to determine what is causing equipment to malfunction and decide on the necessary repairs. A background in high school mathematics and the sciences is helpful. You should also have good motor coordination, physical strength, and stamina.

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Oil Burner Mechanic is a compulsory certified trade in Nova Scotia. You must be a registered apprentice or hold a Certificate of Qualification to be employed in this trade. Appliance Service Technician, Electric Motor System Technician, Electronics Technician (Consumer Products), and Motorcycle Mechanic are designated trades for certification purposes only in Nova Scotia. Although you are not required by legislation to be certified in these designated occupations in the province of Nova Scotia, many employers require you to be a registered apprentice or hold a Certificate of Qualification.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Workers may be self-employed and provide services as needed to their clients. Therefore, earnings may vary throughout the year and depend upon the person's ability to attract and retain customers. Red Seal trade certification (allowing interprovincial mobility) is available for these trades.

WORK PROSPECTS
This is a medium-sized occupational group, and employment is expected to grow about the same as the average of all occupations. Growth in this occupational group is linked to growth in the retail trade, construction, and services sectors.

Continuing technological improvements may negatively affect this occupation. Advances in technology have made such items as electric appliances, heating systems, electrical equipment and transformers, and small engines more reliable, thus reducing maintenance needs. Also, the increasing affordability of many of these items has led to consumers replacing malfunctioning machinery and equipment rather than repairing it.

The largest occupation in this grouping is oil and solid fuel heating mechanics, of which there are about 240 across the province. The oldest workforce in this occupational group is that of electrical mechanics who have an average age of approximately 46 years.

Retirements are expected to contribute to job openings for electrical mechanics in the coming years, and this occupation is expected to see the greatest amount of employment growth out of this occupational group

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