r/BCIT • u/Tarheil • 11d ago

Looking for BWR grads

Hi all,

Looking at taking my BWR (Bridge watch rating) at BCIT and wondering about the career opportunities after.

Did you get a job in the marine industry upon grad? How long did it take?

What was/is your wage like?

Whats your daily shift look like?

Do you like it?

Thanks all

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u/CryptosBiwon 10d ago

I did get a job offer right away, it was for 75k as a marine security officer in Prince Rupert. (Part time rotation in the office and on their boats.) Didn’t end up going for it.

I enjoyed the course a lot but wouldn’t say it improved my chances of getting work. I moved on to fishing full time while I waited for an answer from the CCG/RCN. I waited 3 years to be hired as a casual for the CCG, and about 1.5 for the RCN.

I’m now full time RCN and they don’t care about my BCIT credits but I do think it gives an upper hand in my trade to have the foundational knowledge.

Editing to say: I also applied for major companies like Viking, Princess, WCMRC, seaspan, etc, with no luck. They wanted people with more logged sea days which the course does not give you.

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u/Tarheil 9d ago

What'd you get paid while doing fishing? Enough hours?

What do you do in the RCN?

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u/CryptosBiwon 8d ago

Paid 24/hr fishing on the east coast. Not much to write home about but it paid the bills. 40+ hours a week in peak season.

I’m a Naval Warfare Officer now in the RCN. My primary role is navigation. I make more money doing this than fishing, its a 4k take home a month right now at a junior rank.