Start Building Your References
Most employers, whether in the trades or any other field, will likely ask job applicants for references. These would be people who are familiar with your work at past jobs and/or who will testify about your character. Nobody wants to hire someone who’s lazy, a bumbler or troublemaker. A reference gives employers a third-party glimpse […]
Keep Your Eyes Peeled For Recruitment Bonuses
That’s what some skilled trade employers have resorted to in trying to resolve severe staffing shortages in construction and some service sectors. This article describes efforts by construction companies in Canada to offer cash rewards not only to workers, but also to anyone who successfully refers a skilled trade worker to them. Some employers are […]
What Do You Want To Do With Your Life?
Don’t feel bad if you don’t know the answer to that question. I didn’t figure it out until well into my 20s. Some people take even longer. Some people are known to switch careers in their 30s or 40s. Since you’re reading this, you are at least thinking about the direction you might go. Obviously, […]
The Blossoming of Service Work
I first began observing and writing about the trades more than 40 years ago. Changes during that span have been dramatic, encompassing many new technologies, tools and techniques. This is especially true for residential service firms – the companies you call to fix or install mechanical and electrical systems in your homes. When I first […]
College Degrees Continue To Lose Their Luster
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal caught my attention. It described laws enacted in 10 states during the past year to do away with the requirement of a college degree for government jobs. Georgia, Florida, Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, North Caroline, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah and Virginia now are able to fill state […]
Trades Talk – June 2023
June 2023 Visit Explore The Trades at SkillsUSA! The National Leadership and Skills Conference will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA from June 19th to June 23rd. Explore The Trades will be located at booth 129 at the TECHSPO. Stop by for FREE classroom resources and learn more about our new […]
20 Reasons To Explore The Trades
1. More than one in six skilled tradespeople end up owning their own business and another 20% become partners in a business. 2. 30% of small business owners have no more than a high school diploma. 3. Construction is the most popular profession for people who own their own businesses. 4. The average cost to […]
Trade Jobs Are Secure Jobs
Included among my daily reading is a large amount of business and economic news from the Economist, Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and other credible publications. One article from the WSJ a few days ago struck me as relevant to those of you contemplating trade careers. It had to do with a rise in layoffs at […]
Trades Talk – December 2022
At Explore The Trades, we’re passionate about plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical, and bridging the technical talent gap to these trades. In This Issue: It’s the Season of Giving NEW Customer Service and Dispatch Webpage Over 1,100 Classrooms Have Received Poster Kits! It’s the Season of Giving Thank you to all our donors who supported […]
Employers Rethink Need For College Degrees
That was the headline of an article in the Wall Street Journal a few days ago that grabbed my attention. It is yet more evidence for a theme that I have hammered home in this blog, which is, college degrees have been devalued even while their cost has skyrocketed. Various studies have shown that more […]