Apprentice jobs in Canada

At CN, we are committed to our pursuit of excellence. We take pride in delivering work of the highest standard, continually innovating to shape the railroad of the future. As responsible railroaders, we make the right decisions every time, putting safety first, acting with unwavering integrity, and holding ourselves accountable for our actions. We believe in succeeding together—by fostering inclusivity and collaboration, we sustainably deliver exceptional results for our customers.

If you are a skilled trades person or interested in skilled trades and continuous learning in a safety-focused environment, working at CN could be a great fit for you. You’ll be working on all types of equipment and structures designed to support the distribution of freight across North America. Enjoy paid training and evolve your skills. The careers we offer are meaningful because the work we do matters. Join us and get your career moving!

The Car Mechanic Apprentice is responsible for inspecting, maintaining, building and repairing railway freight cars and equipment in accordance with Federal and CN’s regulations. The incumbent is considered a Car Mechanic Apprentice until they have graduated to Journey Car Mechanic.

• Available to work night shifts, weekends, holiday, and overtime when required.
• Partially performed outdoors in various weather and environmental conditions.
• Frequent bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, performing overhead work, lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs. (22 kg) and occasionally up to 85 lbs. (39 kg)
• Frequent climbing or balancing, grasping, and good hand-eye coordination.
• May be required to work away from assigned terminal.

• Inspect cars and components in accordance with railroad associations, Federal Railroad Administration regulations, and company operating standards.
• Perform all scheduled, on-request and preventive maintenance and repair on rail cars, under frames, on structures, safety appliances, draft systems and any associated tests.
• Repair and install railway car parts such as compressors, air valves, bearings, couplings, air cylinders and piping.
• Use hand tools, power tools, welding equipment, cutting torches and measuring instruments.
• Operate transport vehicles including cranes, trucks, track mobile and shop equipment.
• Prepare inspection, maintenance and work reports, and record details on prescribed forms in accordance with established procedures.

• High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED)
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must meet all medical fitness for duty requirements for the position, including requirements for Safety.
• A valid driver’s license.
• Ability to work autonomously, adapt to different situations and manage stress.
• Demonstrates good teamwork and maintain positive interactions with others.
• Good verbal, reading comprehension and writing skills.
• Dedicated to getting the job done while meeting established standards of quality, safety, and client satisfaction.
• Familiarity with electrical and electronic tools and instruments.
• Ability to determine the condition of objects and parts for wear and defects.
• Basic computer skills.

• Previous welding experience gained through formal training or work experience
• Vocational/technical training and/or knowledge of Railroad Operating Rules
• Familiarity with electrical and electronic tools and instruments
• Ability to work autonomously, adapt to different situations and manage stress
• Demonstrate good teamwork and maintain positive interactions with others
• Good verbal, reading comprehension and writing skills
• Ability to determine the condition of objects/parts for wear and/or defects
• Dedicated to getting the job done while meeting established standards of quality, safety and client satisfaction

• Competitive Wages, Benefits, and Pension Plan
• Paid Training and Career Development
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance
• Employee Share Investment Plan
• Educational Financial Assistance Program
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
• Extensive Employee Discount Program
• Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

This position is a unionized position, as such pay and benefits are governed by the applicable Collective Agreement.

The incumbent receives paid on-the-job training, both theoretical and practical instructions, over a period of 3 weeks at 40 hours per week. Depending on the incumbent’s level of experience, a 4-year on-the-job CN specific apprenticeship program may be required, and the incumbent will attend a series of courses at their work location.

The training includes rail car components, rail car inspection, single car tests, special commodities Level 2, freight car repairs, jacking procedures, railway welding, aerial lifts, yard operating rules, and other items relevant to the position. A successful completion of this training is essential for future performance of duties.

• Medical assessment (including drug, hearing, and vision).
• Criminal background check

• 3 weeks in CN campus
• 2+ weeks in shop (on-the-job training)
• 2 weeks in CN campus

CN is a premium railroad that sustainably generates value for our customers, shareholders, employees, and stakeholders with an unwavering commitment to safety and service. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. CN's network connects Canada's Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 20,000-mile rail network. CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN powers the North American economy and is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

At CN, we are dedicated to building North America's safest , most inclusive and sustainable railroad, which includes reflecting the communities in which we operate. Research shows that candidates often don't apply unless they feel they fit the job posting at 100%. To all potential applicants, even if you don't meet every job requirement listed in a posting, we still encourage you to apply. If you require an accommodation for the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodations), please get in touch with our team at cnrecruitment@cn.ca.

As an equal opportunity employer, qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.

Please monitor your email on a regular basis as communication to applicants is done via email.

FAQ
Check here for answers to your CN hiring questions.

Yes, we have many positions ranging from entry to senior levels, both in the field and in corporate and IT functions. All available positions are posted onto our Careers website.

Yes, Internship opportunities are posted onto our Careers website, when available.

Search and apply for a job on our Careers website. Once you've created a profile you'll be able to apply for additional openings and view the status of your application(s). We do not accept resumes by email, fax or mail.

Yes, feel free to apply to any jobs you're qualified for.

The application process for a former CN employee is the same as for all other candidates.

CN requires that applicants be legally eligible to work in Canada or the US. This includes Citizens, Permanent Residents, or anyone in possession of a work permit with certain conditions. At this time, CN does not provide immigration assistance to foreign applicants.

To see your application status, go to our Careers website and login to your candidate profile. It may take some time before your status is updated, as we receive a high volume of applications on a daily basis. If you are being considered for a job, you will be contacted by a member of our Recruitment Team.

Yes, if you change your mind about a particular job, you may withdraw your application at any time. If you've already received a job offer, you can simply decline it.

The Recruitment Team will notify you by email whether or not you will be moving on to the next step of the recruitment process, based on your online assessment results. If successful, you will be invited to the next available recruitment session hosted in the location you have applied to. Keep in mind that it can take several weeks before a session becomes available.

You will have to wait a period of 6 months before you are eligible to re-apply to a position that requires the same testing.

For online assessment troubleshooting and support please contact cnrecruitment@cn.ca.

Due to the high number of applications we receive, we cannot provide feedback as to why each candidate was not progressed.

Click the Create a Profile button in the upper right-hand corner of our Careers website and complete the form and captcha.

No, once an application has been submitted, you cannot upload additional documents, revise questions, nor replace the existing resume or letters attached to that application.

If you forgot your password or need to create a new one, click on the Forgot Password link. Enter your User Name or User ID, and an email containing your password will be sent to you. Be sure to check your inbox, spam, and junk folders for the password recovery email. If you do not receive the password recovery email within 24hrs, contact your Talent Acquisition Advisor directly or send an email to cnrecruitment@cn.ca.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with our Careers website, send us an email at cnrecruitment@cn.ca describing the technical issue(s) in detail and provide us with screenshots so that we can better assist you.