CrewedUp hopes to make job hunting easier for trades workers

If you've worked in the trades long enough, you've probably heard the phrase, "Sorry, we're crewed up." A British Columbia heavy equipment operator is hoping to change that with a new online platform designed to connect workers with employers across Canada.

Supplied photo - Screen shot from the CrewedUp platform

British Columbian heavy equipment operator Tim Mason founded CrewedUp, which is a free online platform designed specifically for trades and blue-collar workers. Mason's background includes civil construction, pipeline work and heavy equipment operation and the idea for CrewedUp came from his own experiences working in industries where reputation and connections often carry more weight than a traditional resume.

"In this industry, a lot of work is still found through word of mouth," Mason explained. He said workers often spend hours reaching out to contacts looking for work, only to hear the phrase, "Sorry, we're crewed up,” which ultimately inspired the platform's name.

Instead of relying solely on work histories and references, CrewedUp allows workers to build profiles that include certifications, tickets, work experience, resumes, photos of their work and endorsements from people they have worked alongside. Employers can create company profiles, post jobs and search for workers with relevant experience.

“Everyone in this industry has a small circle of people they reach out to when they need work or need workers. I have seen good, reliable workers sit for months with no work simply because their network was too small. The goal with CrewedUp is to turn the industry into more of a community by connecting those networks together,” said Mason.

For communities around the Peace Region where many residents work in construction, oil and gas, trucking, mining, forestry and heavy equipment operation, the platform could provide another way for workers and employers to connect.

Mason said he built the platform after seeing skilled workers struggle to find steady employment despite having strong experience and work ethic. "I have seen really good workers sit with no work, not because they lack skill or experience, but because their network was too small or they didn't know who was hiring," he said.

The platform has already started gaining attention. A recent post about CrewedUp in a Canadian mining Facebook group generated more than 2,300 reactions and over 300 shares, helping the platform surpass 200 user signups. Mason said approximately 20 employers are already using the platform and several jobs have been posted.

Mason believes technology can help bring those connections together in one place while giving workers more control over how they present their skills and experience.

He hopes to continue growing CrewedUp in Northern British Columbia, the Peace Region and Alberta where trades and resource industries remain a major part of the economy.

Whether it catches on remains to be seen, but Mason believes there is room for a platform built specifically for the people who keep Canada's resource industries moving.