It’s Time to Shed Light on Careers That Change Lives
As more and more baby boomers enter retirement, the skills gap is widening within all of the trades. From manufacturing to construction and electrical, employers are struggling to recruit skilled talent and appeal to younger generations.
Everyone in the trades can see this is happening. But why? We believe it’s largely due to cultural shifts in what are now considered successful careers. And from where we stand, this is such a shame! Our owner, Nate Anderson, has traveled down several career paths and can say that there is nothing more fulfilling than solving real problems for real people. Not to mention the fact that you can build a very comfortable life by working with your hands!
You Make a Living, But You Also Make a Difference
There was a time when the trades were highly valued and it was considered a marvelous thing to have skilled hands. But somewhere along the way, society began telling the younger generations that other career paths were more lucrative and satisfying. This is perplexing because some of the most meaningful work is found in the trades. Each day, we get to see the results of our work right in front of us. We get to walk away knowing we’re making a real difference in people’s lives by keeping them safe and comfortable. Call us crazy, but we can’t really think of better and more fulfilling work than that!
Here are some other reasons we encourage younger professionals to consider entering the trades:
- No student debt. On the contrary, you can actually be paid to learn through apprenticeships, such as the one we offer. Trade publication IndustryWeek featured a survey conducted by Klein Tools, a hand tool manufacturer that collected information from more than 800 electricians. According to the survey, more than half of millennial electricians entered the industry when they were 25 or under, with 77 percent entering as apprentices.
- Incredible job security due to high demand. Until everything is run by robots (which certainly won’t be in our lifetime!), there will always be a need for electricians, plumbers, construction workers and other trades workers. You’ll never need to worry about finding work, which can’t be said about other industries.
- Lucrative pay and clear growth potential. If you’re committed to learning and honing your craft, you can make a very nice living in the trades. There is also clear progression, where you can start as an apprentice and work all the way up to becoming a Master electrician.
- Variety. No two days in the trades are ever entirely the same. From the people you meet to the work you do, there is a ton of variety. You’ll work hard, but you’ll never be bored!
- Active and healthy lifestyle. They say that sitting is the new smoking. This is something you never need to worry about in the trades. You spend most of your time on your feet and the day goes by quickly. There’s no such thing as sitting at a desk staring at the clock!
- Work-life balance. In so many other industries, your work goes home with you. What’s great about being in the trades is that once you’re off the clock, you can focus on other things. We’d argue it’s one of the best industries in terms of work-life balance because it’s much easier to separate the two.
- Strong sense of accomplishment. Unlike other industries where much of the work is done virtually through a computer, when you’re in the trades, you’re solving problems tangibly in real time. According to the Klein Tools survey, 52 percent of millennial electricians entered the field because they enjoy the problem-solving and technical aspects of the field. We aren’t in the business of making people rich. We’re in the business of making people’s lives safer and better. And to us, that carries a whole lot more meaning.
We Offer Apprenticeship Opportunities Right in the Neighborhood
It would be pointless to say the trades are a promising career path if we didn’t offer a way to get into one.
Here at The Neighborhood Electrician, we hire apprentice electricians who are committed to learning the craft. We aren’t as worried about specific skills as we are about a strong sense of healthy ambition and a desire to learn and grow. Just as it is valuable for young professionals to learn on the job, it is equally valuable to us because we get to help shape the next generation of skilled trade workers. Apart from just passing along skills and advice, we truly enjoy working with our apprentices and sharing plenty of laughs on the job. What can we say? They keep us young!
If you have an interest in joining the trades and seeing what we’re all about, we invite you to contact us about any open positions and opportunities.