What’s In It For Them?

In my last blog, I pointed out that in many cases no experience is necessary for people looking at a trade career. Many employers, trade service firms in particular, place a higher value on personality than past experience. As long as you have a mechanical aptitude, they can train you in a relatively short time […]

The Trades Via A Back Door

Many people who enter the trades go in through the back door. By that I mean they had no intention of looking for a job in the trades, but a job found them. How does that happen? Well, there is a severe shortage of skilled trade workers and that causes many employers to develop their […]

Let’s Discuss Marijuana

A growing number of states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, in addition to a long list of states that have approved it for medicinal purposes. Even if you don’t indulge, it’s almost certain that you have been around people who do. One poll found that more than half of all Americans have tried marijuana, […]

College vs A Trade: You Can Do Both

Many people in the trades express admiration for the trade apprenticeship programs in Germany and some other European countries. As this article points out, whereas in Germany some 60% of young people train as apprentices in various skilled trades, the comparable number in America is only 5%. That’s a stark difference, yet upon closer examination […]

Women Are Welcome In The Trades

According to The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWC), women make up 9.1% of the construction workforce. When I first read that statistic, I thought it represented a big jump from previous data I had seen years ago. Upon closer reading, it’s not as encouraging. NAWC’s membership includes women in all facets of construction work. […]

The Physical Demands Of Trade Work

I won’t kid you, in general trade work is not as easy on the body as working behind a desk. If you cherish life as a coach potato, then the trades are not for you. Some jobs are more demanding than others. Construction jobs typically require more physical exertion than service and maintenance work. Construction […]

New Year Resolutions

It’s that time of year when so many people resolve to lose weight, stop smoking, eat healthier and so on. These are all worthy agendas. For those of you who aspire to become skilled trade workers – or are thinking of doing so – I have some suggestions for equally worthy New Year Resolutions. Pull […]

Student Debt Has Become A Crisis

I’ve written about crippling student debt several times before in this blog. Mostly I’ve tried to draw attention to the skyrocketing cost of a college education and how it can cripple former students financially for the rest of their lives. This article tackles the same subject from a different perspective – about how unpaid student […]

Student Debt: Are You Comfortable With The Consequences?

Sobering statistics: the U.S. Department of Education estimates the cost of a four-year public college averages more than $93,000. If your parents didn’t spend a lifetime saving for it on your behalf, or if you’re not eligible for scholarships, your only option might be to take out student loans. That can put a dark cloud […]

Digging Deeper Into The Real Costs Of A College Education

Is it possible that your salary after college graduation will be enough to allow you to live comfortably while still paying off your student loans? Many young people are asking that as they think about what to do about college costs. A four-year liberal arts degree from a public college can cost more than $93,000. […]