Trade Businesses Are Hot Investments
A couple of days ago, the Wall Street Journal ran a front-page article that is loaded with meaning for people in the trades. It described a trend of private equity investors buying up residential plumbing, HVAC and electrical companies. Some of these investors may have experience in the trades, but others don’t. They simply know […]
Smart Homes Need Smart Technicians
I remember way back as a child visiting some homes that still had iceboxes rather than refrigerators and milk delivered by a milkman. Similarly, I bet many of you reading this grew up in homes without many of the modern conveniences we now take for granted. Many “smart homes” of today are equipped with technology […]
Getting Hired With A Criminal Record
In my last blog I addressed some issues about landing a trade job despite so-called skeletons in your closet. Those bones might include things like DUIs, drug convictions or other misdemeanors. For less serious crimes, job opportunities will be limited in the trades but not completely out of the question. A felony conviction for any […]
Do You Have Skeletons In Your Closet?
Before hiring anyone, most trade employers will do a background check that includes criminal history, driving records and past employment. If they’re diligent, they will also attempt to contact the people you list as references to see what they say about you. If you have a clean background, have never been in significant trouble, and […]
Prepare To Answer These Questions
You’ve filled out your job application. If you fit the role, your would-be employer will ask to meet you for at least one and sometimes multiple face-to-face interview sessions. Whether you are a highly paid executive or a novice seeking to become a trade apprentice, how you handle this part of the process goes a […]
Soar With The Eagles
If and when you enter a trade, you will meet a variety of new people both as co-workers and mentors. As in any occupation, they are likely to be a mixture of personalities and attributes. Some may be hard-working, others not. Some will be outgoing, others introverted, and so on. Some will likely share certain […]
Be Open to New Ideas
As an old-timer myself, I have a lot of respect for experienced trade workers. The old saying, “practice makes perfect,” applies to many walks of life. I’m sure you’d rather be operated on by a surgeon who has performed a procedure hundreds of times rather than one doing it for the first time. Likewise, most […]
Skipping College
My background as a writer compels me to spend a lot of time on the flip side as a reader. Mornings almost always start out with a two-hour reading session, mostly of news publications. (I’m retired, so I have the time.) More and more, my morning readings come across information detailing the rewards of trade […]
Twitter Wisdom
I’m sure most of you have heard of what used to be called “Twitter” (now labeled “X” under Elon Musk’s ownership). It’s a social media entity where people can share opinions/photos/videos about anything under the sun. Some of you may have participated by “tweeting” something along the way. I have a Twitter account that I […]
10 Good Reasons To Explore The Trades
The average cost of a trade education is around $33,000, while acquiring a bachelor’s degree has been pegged at $127,000. What’s more, in many cases a trade education can be had for free through formal and informal apprenticeship training programs. Around 40% of college students drop out before obtaining a degree, often wasting tens of […]