Blog

When the Covid pandemic was raging during 2020-21, an unexpected phenomenon came with it that some labeled the “Great Resignation.” The number of people quitting their jobs in the U.S. reached an all-time high. Partly it was due to government funding that paid many people not to work, and that gave...

Thank you to all the schools that applied for the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grants!Please check our website on May 1st to see the list of new recipients. NEW Recruiting Resources from Explore The Trades!  Explore The Trades is your partner in building the next...

Explore The Trades attended the National HVACR Education Conference hosted by ESCO Group in Las Vegas, NV from March 25-26, 2024. This conference brought together over 1,100 HVACR educators, manufacturers, and industry professionals from all over the country. Explore The Trades’ team members Toni Bower...

While starting fresh with a trades career may sound challenging, the payoff can be immense. Jessica Bannister, an HVAC professional, spent over 10 years behind a desk before beginning her apprenticeship in 2018. Jessica grew up thinking the trades weren’t an option for women like her, and is much more...

“The Peter Principle” is the title of a book published in 1972 that, in my opinion, is one of the most insightful business books ever. It refers to the fact that many people in the business world tend to be promoted beyond their level of competence. We see it in most types of business, even...

Politeness is important when it comes to any career, especially the plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical trades. Many people besides myself have noticed a general decline in good manners in recent times. In the trades or any other job for that matter, manners or lack thereof have a way of leaving...

“Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” Applications Due This Month! Bring the plumbing or HVAC trade to YOUR school! Explore The Trades and Ferguson have partnered to bring the plumbing and HVAC trades back into classrooms across the country. Funding is available for both middle...

In today’s rapidly evolving world, technology plays a pivotal role in reshaping trade education, making it more accessible, engaging, and effective than ever before. You can also get yourself EPA Certified online whenever you want. How crazy is that? Here’s a concise overview of how technological...

I want to revisit a blog I wrote six years ago for this website. (Click here to read that article.) A key passage went as follows: “Even though I was a klutz mechanically, the mandatory shop classes taught me to handle tools better than I could before then. Even more important, they gave me a […]