WHY SEEK A CAREER IN THE TRADES

Seeking a career in the trades is beneficial because training is fast, it’s a people-focused career, and trade careers are always in demand. Of the 225 million adults in the United States, 42% have a college degree of some sort. But racking up debt earning a degree for a career you’re not passionate about (or won’t pay well enough to justify the debt) doesn’t make sense for anyone.

Despite what you might have been told, college isn’t for everyone and it isn’t the only way to carve out a successful and satisfying career. You don’t need to spend four years (or more) to get a degree in an oversaturated market. In fact, even if you have already finished college, you don’t even need to go back to school to pivot and start anew. There’s a career path that is always needed, pays well, and is currently in extremely high demand: a career in the trades.

Whether you choose to become an HVAC technician, an electrician, a plumber, or any other of the trades available, there are many opportunities out there. With the entire industry experiencing a major shortage of trained workers, those who choose to enter the industry are in a great position to advance quickly, build their skills, and create a highly satisfying and practical career for many years to come.

Here are just a few great reasons why you should consider starting (or changing to) a career in the trades.

Training is Fast

While most trade jobs don’t require a degree outside of high school, they generally require specialized training as well as certifications. Community colleges generally offer the workforce training and vocational programs many trade jobs require, and most of these programs can be completed in one to two years, depending on any previous college credit you may have. That’s half the time it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree, and at a fraction of the cost. That means you get to start working and earning money faster without being saddled with thousands of dollars in debt.

However, community colleges and vocational schools are not the only way to receive training and education in the trades. An increasing number of companies are offering job training, too. In fact, Gibson’s Heating & Plumbing, Inc. is offering an on-the-job training and education program designed for anyone, regardless of whether or not you have any college education or prior training in the trades! In the span of just a few months, you’ll learn everything you need to know to start your career in one of our service fields and even start working full-time upon program completion.

The best part about gaining the skills of a trade — whether through secondary education or on the job — is that you can take them wherever you go. The skills you gain can be used in your everyday life or applied at a job anywhere in the country should you need or want to move.

A People-Focused Career

Working in a trade generally means working with people. In many cases, you’re performing a skilled service for people, and that requires you to work with and interact with homeowners. This means customer service is a must, and thus the trades are a great place for those who love to meet new people, serve others, and have lots of interactions each and every day.

When you train to become a plumber or an electrician, for example, you’re going to need to enter a person’s home to fix their problem. That requires a high level of trust and communication between you and the homeowner.

Oftentimes, homeowners are calling for professional help from a tradesman during an emergency in their home. Without the help of a professional, damages to their home could become costly or even irreparable. It’s a genuinely rewarding experience to know you helped someone during their time of need!

The Trades Are Always in Demand

Demand for people skilled in trade work is nothing new. While the demand to fill positions skyrocketed during the pandemic, this need has been growing for years.

Even today, the demand continues to escalate as homes continue to age and people find themselves spending more and more time at home. However, people trained to provide these skilled services are becoming harder and harder to come by. In fact, because of an emphasis on college as one of the only ways to a rewarding career, there are fewer people trained in skilled labor.

From 2019 to 2020, community colleges (where many vocational programs take place) saw a 10% decrease in enrollment. Combined with numerous trade workers aging out and retiring, there is an obvious gap between young people entering the trades and older veterans exiting out. Combined with a sharp increase in work over the last year or so, and it’s easy to see why the demand for new workers is so high.

That demand means two things: job security and reliable pay. Every town and city in the country will always need skilled workers to complete trades jobs, and pay is on par (or, in many cases, higher) with careers that require a college degree.

Start Your Career at Gibson’s Heating & Plumbing

Are you ready to start a career in the trades industry? Gibson’s is hiring! We’re always on the lookout for talented individuals who are interested in an exciting career in the trades. And now we’ve created a way for anyone who is interested in one of our lines of work to be able to get the training and experience they need to succeed.

Our program focuses on providing a combination of both classroom education and hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art training facilities. Trainees will have the ability to get hands-on experience with the same tools that they would be using each and every day in their line of work, and they will even receive mentorship and individualized education from members of our staff in weekly ride-alongs that put them out in the field. And the best part: our program is paid, meaning you’ll not only get the training you need but you’ll be compensated for it as well!

Search our available jobs and apply with us today by calling (260) 667-9919  to start your new career.

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