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
Beware Of The Peter Principle
“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
Mind Your Manners
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
Trades Talk – March 2024
“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
5 Key Ways Tech Is Revolutionizing Trade Education
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
What I Learned From Shop Class
I want to revisit a blog I wrote six years ago for this website. 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
JJM Alkaline Technologies® Partners with Explore The Trades
– By JJM Alkaline Technologies and Explore The Trades Explore The Trades is pleased to partner with JJM Alkaline Technologies®, a leading designer and manufacturer of condensate neutralizers, as an Apprentice Level sponsor in 2024. Through this sponsorship, JJM® will support Explore The Trades’ mission
How To Sell Yourself
You may not think of yourself this way, but no matter what you do for a living, at various times you will have to be a salesperson. You may or may not ever be charged with selling products or services, but at the very least
Trades Talk – February 2024
February 2024 “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” Webinar Join Explore The Trades for a Skills Lab webinar on Wednesday, February 28th from 3-4 PM CST. Participants will have the chance to ask questions, learn about the initiative, and hear from current Skills