How To Get Into A Skilled Trade - CareerAlley

How To Get Into A Skilled Trade - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. A skilled trade career can be very rewarding, with great potential for professional development and a solid salary. If youre interested in pursuing a career in a trade like welding, carpentry, masonry or auto mechanics, there are some great ways to prepare to enter these challenging fields. Image free for commercial use The Right Attitude Many people see studying for a trade as an alternative to college. In fact, a trade is a skilled option that is more than equal to more traditional academic studies. No matter how many PHDs you have, if the boiler breaks down, the smartest person is the person who can fix it, regardless of qualifications. A skilled trade career can be very rewarding, with great potential for professional development and a solid salary. Tweet This Its important to take on a trade with the right attitude to your learning. You should be choosing this as a career option because you want to learn a skill and earn through this skill, not because you think it will be easier than a college course. Trades can be very challenging jobs, and you will need to be prepared to work under difficult conditions occasionally. In most skilled trades, you will need to be physically fit, and willing to work in less than ideal environments. Work may be outside in the cold and rain, or it might be in cramped, dirty spaces. You need to be ready to work with your hands, even when it may be uncomfortable. Youll need good communication skills to work with customers and be able to handle difficult customers in a professional manner. Safety Knowledge One of the biggest challenges of skilled trades is that they can be dangerous if you dont know what youre doing. Its important to take the proper safety training for the career youre considering, so you can keep safe while on the job. Depending on the trade you choose, different safety knowledge is required. For example, roofers will need to know how to work safely at a height. Plumbers and electricians, and several other trades should take confined space training, as you might find yourself working in very cramped conditions at times. Electricians will, of course, need to know how to work safely and reduce the likelihood of injury or property damage. Secure An Apprenticeship One of the best ways to get into a skilled trade is to learn while on the job. There is a certain amount of academic style learning in most trades, but practical skills are easiest to earn by doing them. If you can, find a local tradesman who is willing to take on an apprentice. Vocational training provides very specific skills versus many four-year college programs which offer general knowledge but may not provide transferable skills. Vocational training programs are hands-on programs taught by industry professionals. Many programs lead to apprenticeship or internship opportunities. Kick-Start Your Career with Vocational Training Working with someone already in the field is a great way to learn. Youll pick up essential job skills, and also learn things you wont learn from books, like communicating with customers, overcoming problems that come up during a job and construction site etiquette. Once youve finished your training, youll also have already built some contacts in the industry, and will have some feedback from customers behind you to help you find that first job out on your own What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to identify and land your dream job. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search