{"id":45318,"date":"2015-01-12T17:42:48","date_gmt":"2015-01-12T23:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/?p=45318"},"modified":"2023-07-02T14:20:56","modified_gmt":"2023-07-02T19:20:56","slug":"reviving-blue-collar-work-how-to-start-a-career-in-the-trades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/money-wealth\/career\/reviving-blue-collar-work-how-to-start-a-career-in-the-trades\/","title":{"rendered":"Reviving Blue Collar Work: How to Start a Career in the Trades"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Vintage<\/p>\n

Sometimes I wonder what life would be like without the Internet. Firstly, I\u2019d be out of a job. And after writing this series on reviving the trades<\/a>, I romantically think about how fun it might be to become an electrician. The problem, when I think of this hypothetical scenario, is that I know nothing <\/em>about electricity. I know how to read a power meter (perhaps there\u2019s an AoM article about that in the future!), how to change a simple lighting fixture<\/a>, and how to flip my breaker switches. I don\u2019t know anything about currents, wiring, where my electricity actually comes from, etc. I\u2019m obviously not qualified enough to just apply with the local electrician in town and expect to be hired. So if I actually wanted to pursue the dream of becoming an electrician, what steps would I need to take to become a tradesman?<\/p>\n

Maybe you\u2019ve had more serious thoughts about learning a trade, but you don\u2019t know where to begin either. You may be a high schooler trying to figure out what to do with your life. Or you could be a nice middle-aged fella who\u2019s been in a cubicle his whole life and wants to do something different. No matter the circumstance, let this article serve as your guide to starting a new career in the trades.<\/p>\n

To get some help understanding the world of tradesmen and unions, I spoke with some experts in the field, including folks from Emily Griffith Technical College and Pickens Technical College here in Denver; I also spoke with the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers — the electrician\u2019s union) and North America\u2019s Building Trades Unions, which is a combo governing body and lobbying organization for 14 different building\/construction-related trades.<\/p>\n

First, Start at Home<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re thinking about the trades, take up a hobby<\/a> (or a chore). Many blue collar jobs are actually things you can at least start out doing as hobbies\/chores\/household projects in the comfort of your own home or garage. Want to be a carpenter? You better know the basics of woodworking and how to operate power tools. Fancy yourself as a construction worker? Learn how to put up a wall in your unfinished basement. Do you see being a mechanic in your future? Tinker with your car, learn how to change your own oil<\/a> . . . you get the picture.<\/p>\n

You can learn the basics of anything online. While the trades require more hands-on skills than a lot of other jobs, there are textbooks and YouTube tutorials on any trade you may want to pursue. While not necessarily a must, knowing the basics of your trade will definitely give you an advantage when you start at a tech school.<\/p>\n

Dipping your toes into the waters of trade work will also help you figure out if working with your hands is something you find satisfying, have a competence for, and want to pursue further.<\/p>\n

The Path to Becoming a Tradesman<\/span><\/h3>\n

Although it may look a little different depending on the trade and even the state you\u2019re working in, there is a general path to trades work that we can take a look at:<\/p>\n

1. Have a high school diploma.<\/h3>\n

First, you need to graduate high school or have earned your GED. Without a high school diploma, there are very few jobs one can hold outside of retail and food service. Also important, although it may not seem like it, is taking the SAT or ACT. While those scores won\u2019t be used for your entrance into a 4-year college, they can and will be looked at when applying for apprenticeships (more on that a little later). Particularly, math and science scores will be assessed, and although it probably won\u2019t make or break your acceptance into a program, it could elevate you above other candidates in competitive fields and get you better apprenticeships.<\/p>\n

\"Vintage

If you’re lucky enough to attend a high school that offers shop class, take advantage of that opportunity. It will help you determine if you enjoy working with your hands, and give you a foundational knowledge of DIY work. Even if you don’t end up going into the trades, it’ll make you more handy as a grown man!<\/p><\/div>\n

Just because you\u2019re looking at blue collar work doesn\u2019t mean you can slack off in high school. This rings especially true in dense metropolitan areas, where unions will have lines out the door for apprenticeship applications. You can bet in those instances that higher GPAs and test scores will set you apart.<\/p>\n

2. Receive formal training in your field.<\/h3>\n

\"Vintage<\/p>\n

After graduating high school, most tradesmen will attend some sort of schooling for a year or two, be it a community college or technical school. Community college is in many ways just a pared down version of a 4-year liberal arts school. You\u2019ll get training in a specific field, but also often be required to take classes that aren\u2019t related to your area of study in order to earn an associate degree. Community college will also cost more, as you’re getting those additional credits. With a technical school (also sometimes called trade school or vocational school), your training is dedicated entirely to your field of study. This often makes technical school a shorter program, and you\u2019re only earning a certificate rather than a degree. In many cases that doesn\u2019t matter with trade work, but it might be beneficial to get that associate degree for the sake of having a well-rounded education. It really just depends on your goals, educational desires, and budget as an individual.<\/p>\n

While formal training like this may not be required for apprenticeships, these beginner\u2019s courses will give you a leg up on other candidates (as mentioned above, especially in urban areas). In the plumbing world, for instance, you\u2019d learn about water supply and drainage systems, as well as the basics of piping, fittings, valves, etc. If I was looking to become an electrician, I\u2019d learn about currents, power grids, and how not to die by electric shock.<\/p>\n

In more rural areas, or in places where there is a shortage of workers — such as the Gulf Coast<\/a> — you may be able to go right from high school to an apprenticeship program. It may also be the case that an apprenticeship has a relationship with a local school, and you\u2019d earn your associate degree through getting your work experience.<\/p>\n

So while there are exceptions, this class work is highly recommended by employers and by unions and will get you better apprenticeships, which leads to the next and most important step for the aspiring tradesman…<\/p>\n

3. The apprenticeship.<\/h3>\n

\"Vintage<\/p>\n

Apprenticeships are most often run by a local union chapter, but could possibly also be run by non-union contractors. The non-union variety are few and far between, so do your due diligence about the quality of the program if going that route (more on unions below). You can call your state’s labor department or even local tech schools to get more info about non-union certification\/apprenticeships.<\/p>\n

The apprenticeship phase of your trade career is 4-5 years of paid on-the-job training, as well as continued classroom work (which may or may not be paid). You\u2019ll apply via a written application, as well as take an aptitude test (you can see why some formal schooling would be helpful). In most cases you\u2019d be working under a Master tradesman, who would then sign off on your hours worked, allowing you to move into the next phase of your career.<\/p>\n

During the apprenticeship, you can expect to start out getting paid about half of what you\u2019ll make as a certified tradesman, and each year you\u2019ll earn little bit more. In year one, this is often between $10 and $20 per hour. Not only is that a decent wage for someone just starting out in a career, these are years when many young men are attending a four-year college, and paying<\/em> five figures a year to do so.<\/p>\n

Listen to our podcast with Mike Rowe about the trades:<\/em><\/h3>\n