How to Get Started in a Skilled Trade

7/27/2019 How to Get Started in a Skilled Trade

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These trades, including pipetting,

welding, HVACR, and shipbuilding,

allow workers to use their skills

to design, create, and implement

systems that literally dene

civilization.


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Ater young men and women

graduate rom high school, they

are oten expected to have an

idea owhat they want to do

proessionally. Today ewer young

people are choosing to enter the

skilled trades, preerring instead

careers in business, engineering,

medicine, and entertainment.

However, o those who take skilled

trade vocational classes in high

school, an overwhelming 77%

would consider a career in the

skilled trades. This is nearly doublethe rate o students who havent

taken those courses (39%). Aside

rom enjoying the rewarding work,

students are also attracted by the

exible hours, ree job training

ofered by some employers, and

good work benets that oten

accompany a career in the skilled

trades. These trades, including

pipetting, welding, HVACR, and

shipbuilding, allow workers to use

their skills to design, create, and

implement systems that literally

dene civilization.

Employers, however, may not see

applicants without prior experience in

the eld as the best candidates to take

on their line of work. Instead, one of

the best ways to start on a path into the

skilled trades is to enroll in a vocational

training program.

What to ExpEctin thE SkillEd tradES

While a career as a skilled tradesman

can be very rewarding, it is also hard

work. Work can take place indoors or

outdoors depending on the project

and you could be doing anything from

crawling at the foot of a boiler to

climbing up ladders or scaolding to

reach a target area. For these reasons,

anyone considering work as a skilled

technician should be able to tolerate

extreme environments and work from

uncomfortable positions. Physical

stamina is important, and you should

be able to work on your feet for long

periods of time. You will need good

eyesight as well as excellent hand

eye coordination. Finally, you should

expect to learn new skills over time. As

the elds gradually evolve, technicians

need to be able to expand their own

knowledge base in order to remain

competitive among other workers

Sometimes continued education is

sponsored by companies you work for

but if you are self-employed or between

jobs, you may have to keep yourself

current without the outside directives.

Because working condition s may be

dangerous, a working knowledge

and consistent practice of safety

procedures is essential. Manufacturing

construction, repair and maintenance

and wholesale trades are the primary

industries for skilled trade technicians


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to work in. Skilled trade technicians can work in an array of

environments, including but not limited to, factories, businesses, and

in-home visits. Seasonal challenges, which can strain pipes or heating

and cooling systems, may force these technicians to work longer or

more irregular hours during certain times of the year. Depending

on your employer, you may be asked to regularly work on evening

or weekend shifts. Emergency repairs are more common for self-

employed technicians, particularly plumbers and HVACR technicians.

Currently, there is a generational gap in the skilled trades workforce.Fewer young people choose to enter technical careers as schools

increasingly focus on college preparation. Many markets report

demand for more skilled workers as older workers retire and fewer

young recruits enter the eld to take their place. Despite this demand,

entry into the eld can be competitive, and employers may prefer for

applicants with previous training over newcomers who simply have a

passion for the trade. For this reason, some employers recommend

that individuals interested in working in a technical eld start by taking

classes at a technical or community college.

What You Would lEarn in a training program

A technical training program will not only introduce you to the eld but

will give you a practical foundation of skills you can use immediately

in entry-level positions.

WElding: Welding is the process of melting and fusing metal tocreate a permanent bond between two separate pieces. The practice

is widely used across a number of industries, including shipbuilding,

auto manufacturing, construction, and pipeline building. Over 100

dierent welding techniques have been invented. Technicians must

be able to determine which welding techniques are necessary, based

on the metals they are working with or the environmental conditions

they are working in. It is important that welding technicians have

knowledge in the following areas:

Reading blueprints

Safety procedures

Tools & equipment maintenance

Calculations for welding

Plasma, Arc, MIG, TIG, Fluxcore, and pipeline welding

pipEfitting & StEamfitting:Although steamtters and pipettersare members of distinct trades, their sk ills and tra ining often overlap.

Technicians working in these areas also have the common goal of creating

and installing systems that carry or control the ow of water, steam, gas,

or other liquids. Pipetters often work in industrial or commercial settings,

such as at power plants, to install or repair pipe systems. Steamtters

work specically with high-pressure or high-temperature pipe systems,

which are generally used to generate heat or electricity. Pipetters and

steamtters will generally have knowledge in the following areas:

Basics of construction and pipetting systems

Reading blueprints

Trade mathematics

Pipe fabrication and system installation

Pipetting troubleshooting


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How to Get Started in a Skilled Trade

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