Finding Your Way  – Building a Career Through the Trades

Are you standing at a crossroads, trying to decide which path to choose for your future? College may seem like the traditional next step, but have you considered finding your way in the trades? It is a path that can be equally, if not more, rewarding.

Choosing a career in trades over a traditional college degree is becoming increasingly popular. The demand for skilled workers is high, the costs of education are lower, and the earning potential is substantial. If you’re on the fence, this blog post is for you.

Exploring Trades Over College

The modern higher education system paints a grim picture for many students. Skyrocketing tuition fees and burgeoning student loan debts are the harsh realities faced by many college-goers. Not to mention the oversaturated job market waiting for college graduates.

Finding your way in the trades, on the other hand, offers a different landscape. Trade schools tend to cost significantly less than traditional colleges, and most tradespeople start earning right after graduation. The icing on the cake is that there is a high demand for skilled trade workers, which translates to job security and competitive wages.

Diving into the Variety of Potential Trade Jobs

As you begin the process of finding your way in the trades, one thing will quickly become clear: the sheer diversity of potential career paths. From skilled craftsmen who work with their hands to technical specialists who work with complex machinery, the trades encompass a broad range of professions that require diverse skill sets.

Here are just a small sample of the hundreds of trade jobs available in almost any area of the world!

Plumbers

Plumbing is a profession as old as civilization itself. Modern plumbers do more than just fix leaky pipes. They install and repair the systems that deliver clean water to our homes, dispose of waste, and provide gas to our appliances. Plumbing is a highly technical field, requiring knowledge of local codes, blueprint reading, and understanding complex plumbing systems. It’s a career that offers both mental challenges and the satisfaction of hands-on work.

Electricians

Electricians bring power to our lives. They install, maintain, and repair electrical systems in homes, businesses, and factories. From ensuring that the lights turn on at the flip of a switch to making sure life-saving hospital equipment operates correctly, electricians play a crucial role in our everyday lives. Becoming an electrician requires extensive training, both in the classroom and on the job, but it’s a trade with a high demand and good earning potential.

Carpenters

Carpentry is one of the oldest and most versatile trades. Carpenters create and build things from wood and other materials, whether it’s the frame of a house, a set of cabinets, or a piece of furniture. As a carpenter, you can specialize in a particular area, such as residential or commercial construction, finish carpentry, or custom furniture making. With an eye for detail and a knack for solving spatial puzzles, carpenters can find their way into many a building project.

Welders

Welders are the builders of the modern world. They use heat to fuse metal pieces together, creating everything from cars to skyscrapers to critical components of infrastructure. Welding is a technical trade that requires a steady hand, attention to safety, and understanding of different welding methods. With opportunities in industries ranging from automotive to aerospace, skilled welders are always in demand.

In every trade, there is potential for specialization. Plumbers can focus on residential, commercial, or industrial work, or they can specialize in areas like pipefitting or sprinkler fitting. Electricians can become experts in installing home entertainment systems, or they can work in more industrial settings like power stations. Carpenters can choose from finish carpentry, framing, or cabinet making. Welders can specialize in various welding processes, or work with specific types of metals.

Finding your way in the trades means finding the trade – and the specialty – that aligns with your interests, skills, and career goals. It’s about crafting your own path to success in an industry that values skilled workers. The potential and variety within the trades are vast, offering a rewarding career path for those willing to learn and grow.

Trades as a Stepping Stone towards Entrepreneurship

Trade skills are not just a means to a paycheck. They can be your first step towards entrepreneurship. Many successful business owners have begun their journeys as tradespeople. After honing their skills and gaining field experience, they transitioned from workers to business owners.

Take, for instance, the story of Joe, a successful plumbing company owner. After years of working as a plumber, he used his skills and industry knowledge to start his own plumbing business. Today, he employs several other plumbers and provides services to a large community. If you’re finding your way in the trades, remember that you’re also paving a potential path to entrepreneurship.

Hands-On Learning: Why Trade Jobs are Great for Kinesthetic Learners

Everyone learns differently, and trades are a perfect fit for those who learn by doing – kinesthetic learners. If you are someone who prefers getting your hands dirty over sitting in a lecture hall, trade jobs can provide the ideal learning environment for you.

Trade education emphasizes hands-on training. You’ll spend much of your time learning in real-world scenarios, applying skills as you learn them. This immersive, tactile approach to learning often leads to a deeper understanding and mastery of skills, making it one of the most rewarding aspects of finding your way in the trades.

The Spillover Effect: How Learning Trades Skills Can Improve Personal Life

As you’re finding your way in the trades, you might be surprised to discover just how much the skills you’re learning can spill over into your personal life. The expertise you acquire doesn’t just make you valuable in the workforce; it also equips you with practical skills that you can apply every day.

Applying Trades Skills in Everyday Life

Trade skills are, in essence, practical skills. As a plumber, you won’t just be fixing pipes at work; you’ll be able to handle that pesky leaky faucet at home. As an electrician, you could install your own light fixtures or troubleshoot a circuit breaker. Carpentry skills might help you build a treehouse for your kids or customize your own furniture. Welding could open up a whole new world of DIY metal projects. These skills can turn the everyday challenges of homeownership into satisfying projects, ones you can handle yourself.

Potential Cost Savings of Having Trades Skills

Besides the personal satisfaction of applying your skills, there’s a very tangible benefit to this spillover effect: cost savings. Hiring professionals for home repairs can be expensive, and costs can add up quickly. By finding your way in the trades, you’ll acquire the skills to handle many of these tasks yourself. Over the years, you might save thousands of dollars on plumbing repairs, electrical work, carpentry jobs, and more.

Building Confidence and the Feeling of Self-Sufficiency

Beyond practical applications and cost savings, there’s a less tangible but equally important benefit to learning a trade: the sense of confidence and self-sufficiency it provides. There’s something deeply satisfying about being able to solve problems and build things with your own two hands.

This confidence extends beyond the specific skills you’ve learned. As a tradesperson, you’re a problem solver by nature. You’ll approach challenges – whether on the job or in life – with a can-do attitude, knowing you have the skills and the resilience to handle whatever comes your way. The trades teach more than technical skills; they cultivate a mindset of self-reliance and resourcefulness that will serve you in every aspect of your life.

Finding your way in the trades can open more opportunities than you can imagine. It can offer a promising career path without the burden of hefty student loans. It can lead to entrepreneurship, offer a hands-on learning experience, and provide you with life-improving skills. So, if you’re at that crossroads, maybe it’s time to consider the road less traveled, and find your way in the trades.

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Ken Rusk is a blue-collar entrepreneur who has started several successful endeavors and mentored hundreds of young people in their pursuit of a satisfying career and fulfilling life. Discover how Ken’s approach to life and work can help you set and achieve your goals – all while avoiding the nearly inescapable trap of college debt. Get a copy the Wall Street Journal bestselling book, Blue Collar Cash today!