At some point in your life, you’ll probably want to change careers—even if you love what you’re doing right now. People change jobs an average of 11.7 times during their career, according to DOL statistics as reported by The Balance Careers, with big-picture career changes happening periodically over the course of their lives.
If you’re looking for something new, you might consider going back to college and getting a degree in a more advanced field. But don’t neglect the possibility of getting involved in a trade.
The Advantages of Trades
Trade jobs, like electricians and plumbers, require training and on-the-job experience, but oftentimes don’t require a college degree. There are several advantages to choosing trade school over a traditional college path:
- Diversity of jobs. First, you should know there are a multitude of different trade jobs available. There are broad fields you can decide between, like joining, construction or being an electrician. If you were to enroll in one of the top UK electrical courses (or one elsewhere more relevant) you could then go on after this and decide to work in one specific niche as an electrician, whether this is HVAC work or home electrics or even more specialized projects. This is advantageous because it lets you pick the best possible role for your interests, goals, and needs. You can review the working conditions, salaries, typical responsibilities, and working environments for hundreds of different jobs, and optimize your career path to favor the ones you like most.
- Training time. You’ll also enjoy the benefits of relatively quick training and education time. Depending on what trade you choose, according to IMBC, you can often be prepared for a new career within a year. Some roles, especially those with higher health and safety concerns, may require you to work as an apprentice or at a lower level for a few years, but you’ll still be making money during this period. No matter what, it’s probably quicker than getting a new degree.
- Demand and availability. Trade jobs are somewhat future-proof, meaning you’ll have more job security than you would with a different kind of career. There’s also a major shortage of skilled people in the trades; there are more than 30 million jobs in the United States that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Millions of those are open positions, with managers desperate to bring new people into the fold. After getting the necessary training and experience, you can count on getting a job relatively quickly (at least compared to other fields).
- Pay. Skilled trades also have good pay. Depending on how much experience you have and what specific field you’re in, you could feasibly make more money than you could with a degree. For example, the average electrician makes $24.28 per hour, with HVAC technicians making $29.33 per hour, corresponding to something like $50,000 to $60,000 a year on average. As you gain more experience and broaden your skills, you’ll have the potential to make even more, with practically no upper limit.
- Opportunities for advancement. There are plenty of opportunities for advancement and development in trade jobs, as well. Depending on your specific field and your long-term goals, you have a wide range of options to choose from. For example, you may become certified to train other people in your field, taking on an apprentice and improving their skillset. You could become a supervisor or coordinator, managing a team of other skilled professionals to tackle big-picture jobs. Or you could start a business of your own, using your own professional expertise and insights to create a strong business foundation. Your future is entirely up to you.
- Hands-on work. Most people like to glamorize the typical white-collar job, loving the idea of sitting down and working with your mind. But most trades require you to work with your hands, and get your hands dirty on a daily basis, and for many people, this is even more rewarding. You won’t have to worry about the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle, and you might find the work enriching more than tiring.
Choosing the Right Trade
If you decide to pursue a trade, one of the hardest decisions you’ll face is which field to pursue. There are many factors you’ll need to consider, including the average pay rates, the relative safety of the position, job availability, and of course, your personal interest. Consider talking to people who already hold these positions, and getting their take on them. Take your time with this decision and keep your options open.
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This is such a smart piece and so relevant. Jobs are on the rise and trade jobs can pay well and the education/training can work so much better for people for whom a college education might not be an option. And for people who haven’t had luck using their college degrees, trade jobs can be a great alternate path.