For some people, the choice of what career path to take is simple and straightforward. They knew what they wanted to be from the time they could understand what a career actually was. For millions of others, the choice is not so easy. We look around, investigate, try out, and begin things for what seems like forever without every really finding something that clicks.
In many cases, this problem stems from a lack of understanding or knowledge about what career paths are really out there. Some high schools do a good job of letting students explore all options, but an unfortunate number is still stuck in the “College=Success” mindset.
For students where college does not appeal to, this can be a stumbling block. They are put at a disadvantage by never being made aware of the other options that are out there. There are in-demand careers available that do not require a college education! In fact, in many states, more than half of the employed workers are considered “blue-collar”.
Understanding the Trades Industry
Years ago, there were really only two career paths for Americans; farmers or tradesmen. Either was respectable, and each was considered a career. Other occupations like lawyer, doctor, or banker were among the minority. The industrial revolution and other technological leaps balanced the scale a bit, but tradesmen have always made up at least half of America’s workforce.
Somewhere in the last 20 years, Americans began to ignore the trades. It was as if, since technology was becoming more universal and there were more opportunities opening up that required a college education, they simply forgot about the manual or skilled trades. That did not mean that jobs in the skilled trades disappeared or were replaced; technology and business simply created new categories of jobs.
It is time to remind the youth of America that there is more than one way to make a living and that it is just as fruitful, respectable, and profitable as the college route. Deciding to take a career path into the skilled trades and becoming an electrician, carpenter, roofer or welder is a viable option for the emerging generation of workers.
Growing Opportunities for Tradesmen
There is a lot of opportunity for hard-working young people in the world of tradesmen. Technology may not have supplanted the trades, but it has affected them. High-tech tools and technologies are being used every day to make the work of mechanics, machinists, carpenters, and masons more efficient and sometimes is even changing the way they do things.
Technology has also created work for many skilled tradesmen as there is a growing need for technicians who can properly install, set-up, and maintain the high-tech facilities and equipment that many other people take for granted.
New Castle School of Trades encourages all young people out there who have never considered work in the skilled trades as a viable career to rethink their position. Forget what others have told you and look into it for yourself.
One thing is for sure, a career path is better than wandering aimlessly. You may be making okay money now and think that you don’t need a “real career,” but think again. At most unskilled jobs an individual will run out of growth opportunities and their salary will plateau. As a tradesman, one will have a marketable skill that can get them working with hundreds of private companies, unions, or even as their own boss running a contracting business.
The time for ignoring the skilled trades as a career path is over. Take control of your own thoughts and actions and make yourself accountable for the future of your career and life. New Castle School of Trades is dedicated to providing practical hands-on training that prepares our students for real careers.