Jared McIvor had two goals when he decided to upskill with an apprenticeship: learn enough welding and fabrication to take on more tasks at work, and to build his own smoker. Today, he’s achieved both of those goals.
After 12 years working at Alliance freezing works, Jared (or ‘Bill’ to his mates) was ready for a change. A friend told him about local manufacturing business Te Pari and how the company takes on apprentices, so he looked into it. He started work there and, six months in, signed on to an engineering fabrication apprenticeship through Ara Institute of Canterbury.
“I was 33 and thinking I was getting too old for it and wouldn’t have the spare time to complete it,” he says. “But you never know what you’re capable of until you try.” Jared lives south of Oamaru, so night classes at Timaru campus meant a 1-hour drive each way on top of full-time work. He knew it would take commitment, but he was keen to learn new skills and use them straight away on the job.
Then, during his first year, Jared’s wife was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. “That made it very hard,” he says. “She didn’t make it to see me complete my study.” When life is like that, you focus on what you can control. For Jared, that meant keeping up with work, sticking with the learning and doing what he could, when he could. He says the support from his tutors made a real difference,especially around night classes.
“I’m grateful that my tutors allowed me to catch up on alternative evenings, or gave me papers in advance,” he says. “On days where my wife was really unwell, I couldn’t attend.” When Jared first started at Te Pari he was assembling fabricated products and recalls “knowing nothing about welding and fabrication”. Now, after successfully completing the New Zealand Certificate in Engineering Fabrication via his apprenticeship, he’s part of Te Pari’s engineering and prototyping team within research and development, where he fabricates prototypes.
Jared has more variety in his work now, as well as increased pay. It’s also changed how he feels about himself. He says he’s gained “increased self-worth and a sense of pride in my accomplishments. I strive to do my job to the best of my ability, study allowed me to achieve this.”
Outside of work, Jared still makes time for the things he enjoys. In his spare time, he likes cooking with his smoker and thinking about what he might build next. Ask him what success looks like now, and he keeps it simple: “Success is having a job to be proud of while having the freedom to live the way you want.”
For anyone thinking about upskilling but worried they’re too old, not smart enough or too busy, Jared’s advice is straightforward. Back yourself, start where you are and give it a crack. You might surprise yourself.
