Picking the right career is a huge decision to make in your life. This decision could impact your happiness, finances, and possibilities open to you later down the line. Finding your calling in life is one of the pursuits that people spend their entire lives striving for. You want something more than just a job. It has to feel like you’re really doing something important. While there are several career choices you can make, you might be considering something in the trades and are interested in the hands-on side of the work world.
Trade jobs are numerous and varied in their responsibilities. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, metal fabricators, and HVAC technicians are some of the more popular career choices for trades workers. These careers hold a lot of value not just because of the salary potential, but also because they offer a lot of value in the work being incredibly useful for society. Trade jobs often get a bad reputation because parents want their kids to go to school and get office jobs instead, but the trades are always in demand. Finding the right career in the trades might be exactly what you need, and here are the choices you have to make.
Electrician
Electricians are one of the most important trades today because of our society’s commitment to electricity as our primary power source for just about everything. Whether it’s to power a microwave or light an entire city, without electricians, we’d be living a much different life than we are now. Working on power outages to restore power, feeding and connecting new power supplies and sources, and rewiring buildings and homes to ensure they are safe are among the many responsibilities of an electrician on a daily basis. Helping provide the primary source of power for hundreds and thousands of people, knowing you’re making a difference, and looking proudly at your work is a major draw for those who want to get into this field of work.
Plumber
Not as glamorous as some other careers out there, plumbers are usually overlooked when it comes to their importance. How often has a leak happened in someone’s home, and they are at a loss on what to do to fix it? That’s where a plumber comes in handy. This job can get messy sometimes because you’d be dealing with water and possibly some less than desirable stuff, and considering there’s drainage and toilet waste involved. Even with these possible concerns, plumbers can make a very respectable annual salary, which can offset even the most disgusting of jobs. Plumbers come in all shapes and sizes, too. From commercial to residential, the duties change, and there are tons of room for change. Plumbing, like many trades, also comes with the added bonus of opening up the world of potentially starting and running your own business. Likewise, plumbers are always in need.
HVAC Technician
HVAC, which stands for, “heating, ventilation, and air conditioning,” is a trade that involves the installation and maintenance of a home or building’s air properties. By combining the central air conditioning, furnace heating, and ventilation of a home, you can help turn someone’s home into a much more efficient and comfortable place to live. HVAC technicians have become more important in the past 10 years because many new homes are starting to opt for better, energy-saving ways to heat, cool, and ventilate living spaces. These technicians are responsible for turning a home or building into a much more livable place due to the improvement to those areas of its ventilation, heating, and air conditioning. HVAC work is also a fairly safe trade to get into because there’s less work around dangerous compounds or tools. Residential work is considerably more relaxing than many shops, which is why it suits some people’s desire for a less stressful trade career.
Construction
When people think of trades, construction is one of the first things that pop into their minds, and for a good reason. Construction has always been a fundamental need for the world because we need new buildings more now than ever. With a growing population, advancements in architecture and engineering, and cities evolving in style, construction is key to achieving these changes in a productive manner. Constructing new buildings is no easy task, and that’s why construction workers are some of the toughest tradespeople out there. Whether it’s industrial, commercial, or residential, there’s always something that needs to get done. Construction jobs take place outdoors, which might be something that appeals to you if you enjoy being in the fresh air. They also offer a lot of flexibility in responsibilities. Concrete pouring, demolition, woodworking, metal fabrication, and many more jobs within the job are a part of this trade, so there’s always something to do.
Welding
Welding, and the craft of metalwork, is a trade that’s also adapting because of new advancements in engineering. As with most trades, there’s a lot of pride to have in looking at something and knowing you had a part in crafting it, and welding is certainly in that category. Repairing damaged materials or crafting something new entirely is just part of this trade’s appeal, and it goes beyond that as Craftsman IND shows just how far welding can go when it comes to the potential for a career or business. Most people imagine small welding shops or garages, but welding has the potential for some incredible projects. This trade goes hand in hand with construction and the industrial because metalwork is so crucial to the process of building or maintaining foundations and the like. Welding can be a grueling career in the trades, but it’s certainly worth it for those that can handle the heat day in and day out and want to feel accomplished in creating something new.
Carpentry
Carpentry is almost as old as our human civilization because of the accessibility of the materials involved. Wood, nails, and screws are really the only pieces you need. Obviously, we’ve evolved beyond just these three simple ingredients, but they still remain the basics for carpentry work, which makes it fun for some. The simplicity of it all is deceiving as joints, hammers, saws, measuring squares and tape, levels, sanders, trimmers, and so much more has made carpentry into what it is today. The amount of equipment needed today is certainly a lot more extensive than before, but this has made the job much easier as well. Being able to craft homemade projects as a qualified carpenter allows you to renovate your own home with ease, which is a big bonus for those considering carpentry as a potential lifelong trade career. Math, especially geometry, is a skill that’s going to be key to surviving as a carpenter because it involves precise measurements for cuts, weight distribution, and volume.
Mechanic
Although almost all trades are practical at home, mechanics can take pride knowing they will likely never, or rarely, pay for repairs on something. Most mechanics are involved in the automotive industry as there’s always a need for a handy person who can fix a vehicle. Even small engine repair is a mechanic trade that can be done at home as well. In any case, mechanics provide a service that’s incredibly important for daily life. Our world is dictated by automotive as our primary source of transportation, so it goes without saying that their expertise is needed to keep engines running for society to function properly. Being able to fix your own car at home with the right equipment is going to make your wallet happy as well, so not only would your career serve a huge benefit to others, but also to yourself. What more could you want from a fulfilling career?
There’s an astounding amount of jobs out there, but what people want is more than just a job. They want a career. Finding that calling in life that we’re passionate about that can also pay the bills is what many of us are still seeking out, and it can take some time before you find it. The last thing you want to do is limit what you think you want to do. For many, the trades aren’t something they even considered because they have been told to find something in an office.
The unfortunate reality is how many people ignore how lucrative and rewarding careers in the trades can be. These careers are hands-on and certainly tough, not without some risks as well, but they can provide something that many fields lack – purpose. Being able to work at something that gives you purpose isn’t to be taken for granted, and the trades are for people who want to get dirty and use their hands to make it happen. Whether you’ve been considering the trades as a career path for you or not, these potential lifelong pursuits are something to look into.