Journeyman License – What Is It?
The skilled trades have numerous opportunities for growth and development, and one of those milestones is the journeyman license. Plumbing, electrical and HVAC professionals can all earn their journeyman license with the right amount of expertise and dedication. Do you have what it takes to become a journeyman? Let’s find out. What is a Journeyman […]
Customer Experience in the Trades
When people have to hire an electrician, plumber or HVAC technician, it can feel stressful. After all, they are trusting your company to come into their home and fix an important issue. They want the experience to go smoothly and to feel satisfied after you leave. Here are some ways to demonstrate customer service excellence […]
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 […]
Best Practices for Ensuring Workplace Safety in the Trades
Workplace safety is crucial in any field, especially in the trades. Jobs in electrical, plumbing and HVAC are all incredibly rewarding, but injuries can occur in these fields without proper vigilance. Here are some essential workplace safety tips to keep you healthy and productive in the trades. Stay in (Relatively) Good Shape You don’t need […]
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 […]
Why Gen Z is Ditching College for the Trades
Generation X and Millennials largely agreed on the path to adulthood – graduate high school, attend college, rack up student debt and attempt to pay it off by slaving away at an office job. Increasingly, we’ve seen a different approach among Gen Z. One of the defining Gen Z traits is not settling for the […]
Trades Talk – May 2024
May 2024 Recipients of the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” Grants Announced 12 Schools to Receive Support to Create and Update Plumbing & HVAC Labs The “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grants were announced on May 1, 2024, in celebration of National Skilled Trades Day. Twelve schools are […]
10 Tips for Starting a New Job
Congratulations. You convinced someone to hire you as a trainee. It’s your first day on the job and you know little about what you will be doing. But you want to make a good impression. Here’s how, in 10 simple steps. Be prepared. Learn as much about the company and co-workers as you possibly can. […]
Starting From Square 1: Building a Career in the Trades
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 happy and fulfilled after making […]