How To Recognize A Good Apprenticeship Program
Is it really training or just cheap labor? In choosing an apprenticeship program, you have some basic decisions to make. Do you wish to pursue union employment or nonunion? Are you more intrigued by construction or service work? Most union-run apprenticeship programs are renowned for stressing top-notch craftsmanship. However, some may be hard to […]
Apprenticeship In The Service Trades
Most formal apprenticeship programs neglect service work. In my last article I described traditional apprenticeship programs established by contractors, unions and nonunion companies for the construction trades. Some of the plumbers, electricians and HVAC technicians who fix and maintain those systems in your home may have learned their trade through these apprenticeship programs, but […]
What Is Apprenticeship?
It combines classroom instruction with hands-on work. Apprenticeship dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe as a way for master craftsmen to pass on their knowledge and techniques to younger generations. The craftsman would employ one or more young people at minimal wages in exchange for teaching them the craft. Typically apprentices would […]
Interns Vs. Apprentices
Working for free is unheard of in the trades. You may have thought that the Emancipation Proclamation did away with slave labor in this country, but it persists in many office buildings around the country. That’s where thousands of college students spend their summers or evening hours fetching coffee, shuffling papers and doing other […]