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For the past few decades, college was seen as the winning choice for anyone who wanted to make a good living. But recently that old wisdom is increasingly under scrutiny. Evidence suggests some college degrees don’t actually pay off, in the sense they will help you get a high-paying, satisfying job, even as the ongoing student loan debt crisis has changed many people’s views of higher education. Consequently, annual enrollments have dropped by some four million students over the past decade.
Whether you’re a young person trying to decide on their next step or someone who just wants to improve their income situation, eventually someone will advise you to “get into the trades.” And this is pretty good advice, in the abstract—a lot of jobs in the trades pay pretty well, most don’t require an expensive degree, and there’s pretty much always a lot of demand. But what’s often ignored after this sage advice is dispensed is the follow-up question: How, exactly, does one “get into the trades”?
Follow your interests
If you’re considering a career change or just starting off your working life, you have an opportunity to find something you enjoy doing instead of simply slaving away for a paycheck. No matter how much money you make, spending decades doing something you hate is going to suck, so take a moment to consider what you actually like to do.
We tend to think of “the trades” as a pretty narrow niche—plumbers, electricians—but it’s a very broad category. Working in a professional kitchen is a trade, as is styling hair, working as a mortician, nurse, EMT worker, mechanic, or even as a graphic designer. In short, there are a huge number of career paths within the trades category. So choose something that you’re excited about—and well-suited for.
Attend a trade school
A trade school (sometimes called a vocational or technical school) is what it sounds like: A school where you can learn the skills of a trade. These are typically short programs (less than four years), and you can usually get federal student loans to pay for them if you need to. Aside from standalone trade schools like Apex Technical School in New York, many community colleges have robust trade programs too.
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The advantages of going to a trade school are in the hands-on training they provide, as well as access to equipment and tools and services like career counseling, licensing help, and exam prep. When choosing a trade school, make sure it is licensed and accredited (you can check that here). In order to take licensing exams in many trades, your school has to be licensed, so that’s key. Keep in mind that taking out loans for a trade school is just as risky as taking out loans for a four-year college, even if you’re likely to be spending less money and attending school for much less time.
Find an apprenticeship or internship
One of the great things about the trades is that you don’t have to go to school for many of them, because you can acquire all the skills and knowledge you need through hands-on field work. If you’re a student, you can look for internships with local companies that will offer you plenty of experience and opportunities to learn a trade. These might be unpaid positions, so they’re best suited for people who don’t need to make a living immediately.
If you’re older or can’t go the internship route, there are plenty of opportunities for apprenticeship. Apprenticeships generally don’t require any skills or certificates—or even experience. As an apprentice you will pick up the trade from a skilled professional, and typically get paid a wage while you do so. Apprentices start at the bottom, of course, but most of these programs have very defined advancement policies and typically conclude with you being fully licensed in that trade. There are a lot of resources for finding apprenticeships, but the U.S. government maintains apprenticeship.gov where you can search for an apprenticeship in your area that matches your interests.
Other resources
Finally, if you’re interested in a construction-related career—which covers a wide range of trades, including masonry, property management, welding, and roofing—The Home Depot maintains the Path To Pro program. Path To Pro offers free online training in these fields, and once you have completed a course you have access to a jobs network where you can search for work opportunities in your area based on your new skills. It’s important to note that the program doesn’t offer any licensing—it just trains you in the basic skills you can use to get an “earn and learn” apprentice-style job, where you can learn the skills and background you’ll need to build a career.
Getting into the trades is absolutely a viable option for anyone who needs a career and is leery of the traditional college track to getting one. Trades jobs pay well, have great security, and can be a fulfilling way to earn a living—if you can get into one.
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