Have you ever felt like you were meant for something more? Are you ready for a rewarding career that can make use of your skills and talents? If so, it might be time to consider a trade career. A trade career can provide a rewarding job with excellent pay and benefits, and the best part is that you don’t have to spend years in college to get the qualifications you need. If you’re ready to unlock your potential, here are eight tips to help you find the perfect trade career for you.
Identify Your Skills and Interests
Before you decide to pursue a certain trade, you’ll want to spend some time identifying the skills and interests you have. This will help you narrow down the many career options in the trade field, as well as help you better understand the career path you’d like to take. If you love to fix things or take things apart and put them back together again, you might be interested in becoming a technician.
If you’re interested in problem-solving and learning new skills, you might be better suited as a certified trade representative. The more you know about yourself, the more opportunities you’ll have to find a career that is a great fit for you. You might also want to consider asking your family and friends for their input. They might be able to give you some helpful insight about certain interests and skills that you might not have considered on your own.
Research Job Options
Once you have identified the skills and interests you have, it’s time to research job options. The best way to do this is to use job boards and sites like Indeed.com and SimplyHired.com. These sites will allow you to search for thousands of job listings by industry and location, as well as provide salary and employment trends for a particular occupation.
You can also search for job openings by using keywords related to the skills and interests you identified above. For example, if you’re interested in becoming an HVAC technician, you might enter “HVAC technician” into the search bar. You’ll get a broad range of jobs, but you can also sort the listings by the type of company the job posting is with.
Connect with People in the Trade
Once you have a general idea of the types of careers that fall under your skills and interests, you can start to connect with people in the trade. A great way to do this is to join professional associations, networking groups, and other organizations that relate to your chosen trade. You can also look for career-specific groups on social media platforms. If you’re interested in becoming a technician, you might start following groups related to electronics repair, computer repair, and so on.
These groups can provide you with a wealth of information about the profession and serve as a great place to make connections with people in the trade. In addition to career-specific groups, you can also look for general interest groups on social media. These types of groups can be especially helpful for aspiring professionals in the field, as they provide a place to share ideas and interact with others who share your interests.
Take the Right Training Courses
At some point, you’ll want to start taking training courses related to your chosen trade. However, you should be careful to not rush into this. Many trades require that you first take a certain amount of on-the-job training before you can take a formal course. If you plan on taking this route, make sure you fully understand the job requirements, provide time off for training, and make sure you have the financial resources to cover the costs.
If you’re interested in becoming a technician, you might consider taking a course on wiring diagrams, computer repair, or something related to the business aspect of the profession. This can help you better understand the business aspect of the trade and better integrate it into the workplace.
Consider Apprenticeships
Some trades also offer apprenticeships, which are a great alternative to taking a formal course. An apprenticeship is usually a two-part program in which you’re paired with a mentor who can help you reach your goals. Apprenticeships are usually sponsored by a trade organization, and you’ll typically work under the supervision of a qualified professional in your chosen trade.
There are two types of apprenticeships: on-the-job and classroom-based. With an on-the-job apprenticeship, you’ll typically spend between six months and a year learning the trade, while a classroom-based apprenticeship will last between twelve months and two years.
Network With Employers and Colleagues
If you’re interested in finding out about job opportunities in the trade, you can try reaching out to employers and other professionals in your chosen trade. Several industry-specific social media sites can help you connect with people in the trade, as well as provide you with a place to make inquiries and post job openings. You can also reach out to your local business association and trade organization. Many of these groups offer career services, as well as networking events where you can meet potential employers and colleagues.
Market Yourself for the Job
Once you’ve found a job, you’ll want to make sure that you market yourself as best you can. You can do this by creating a killer resume, sending a strong cover letter, and attending networking events related to the job. You can also try using social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to make yourself more visible. Remember that a strong social media presence is essential for job seekers, as employers tend to look for social media accounts when hiring.
Transition Into a Trade Career
If you’ve been considering a trade career for a while, it can be helpful to think about the transition from your current job to your chosen trade. You may want to consider using your current employer for some degree of mentorship or take advantage of a program that helps employees transition into a new career. Many employers would also be happy to mentor you in the hopes that you might eventually return to the company in a different role. If you’re struggling to make the transition, it can be helpful to talk to your human resources department and find out if they have any resources that can help you make the transition.
Conclusion
Finding the right career can be challenging, but with a little bit of effort, it can be much easier than you think. The first step is identifying the skills and interests you have, as well as researching job options. Once you’ve done that, you can start connecting with people in the trade and taking the right training courses. Finally, you can market yourself for the job and transition into a trade career.
