Do you want to know more about how to take advantage of the growing trade jobs movement? If so read on...
It's no secret that today’s economy was not what it once was, especially for the ones desiring to build their career or earn their degree. Luckily, trade schools and career colleges are on the rise. They could even hold a threat to standard four-year universities, due to their low tuition cost, smaller class sizes, less than two-year commitments, job placement security, and their hands-on learning.
When you think about trades, it is typical to think of the common construction job, welding, or HVAC. Upcoming trades that have growing industries are in the telecommunications space and the wind turbine technician space. There are Mechanical trades, Electrical Trades, and Medical Trades, all highly needed in society. If you are someone who can master a technician's way of thinking, and working with your hands comes more naturally, then a trade school may be right for you.
Earn Your Degree In 2 Years Or Less
A typical four year university student doesn’t just give four years into their college career, says USA Today. Only 19% of students graduate on time and even at flagship research public universities, the on-time graduation rate is only 36%. Only 50 of the more than 580 public four-year institutions have graduation rates above 50%.
Why is this you may wonder? Some could argue that the student is paying for the college experience and not necessarily the education. Another reason is the changing of majors, transferring of colleges, or even not having a clear career path set out.
Future careers need to be tangible. Trade schools train students in specific professions or trades in less than 2 years. Most programs are fast-tracked with gaining a certification or license at the end. These institutions often provide faster alternatives to traditional college and can lead to well-paying careers. They also specialize in hands-on training that is unique to trade jobs.
Another advantage of attending a trades/career college is that you get real hands-on experience, rather than having to sign up for an unpaid internship. With certifications, the student must participate in practicals and a specific amount of training. This will also separate the wheat from the chaff. For example, when performing the actual trade in the practical and turns out it is not a fit, at least that student got the experience they needed to understand what they truly want, and vice versa.
For the majority of Career Colleges, in order to be accredited by the state, a certain percentage of graduates must be placed in the industry they went to school for.
This means there are successful Career Services Teams equipped with each trades school/career college that directly aids each individual student in landing job interviews for trusted companies. Networking, job fairs, and meet and greets are all involved with trade schools.
Due to the shorter duration of a trade school program, tuition costs can be significantly lower. There are fewer classes to attend, therefore fewer classes to pay for. The average semester cost of a university is anywhere from $9,000 - $17,000, according to Business Insider. That is just one out of 4 payments for one year of education. A career or trade college route is roughly a 16th of that cost. They also provide scholarships, and grants like any other university.
If you want to gain real, hands-on experience while having a team of professionals behind you helping you land a job, and fast-track your college education that is actually affordable in today's economy, then a trade is right for you. Consider a trade in a booming industry. For more information, please visit our page.