Trade School Vs College: Pursuing Electrician Career

Introduction

At this age, students have been taught that the best option for them after high school is going to college and getting a four-year degree. This notion, commonly referred to as the 'trade school vs college' debate, has been ingrained by the school system, society, peers, and even family. However, an option that is often overlooked is vocational school, also known as trade school. One of the occupational programs offered through many trade schools is electrician training. Though there are some drawbacks, pursuing a career as an electrician can be just as fulfilling as any other profession learned in a traditional four-year university. This is attributed to the employment benefits, less stressful educational requirements, and the significantly lighter financial burden associated with trade school.

Considering Trade School and College

As soon as you graduate high school you can go straight into the workforce and get paid to learn how to do the specific job that they are trying to do. The route that is commonly taken is an apprenticeship in order to learn said job. An apprenticeship is like a secondary education except it's focused a lot more specifically on the work you’ll be doing. If you are an electrician it may be required of you to have a driver's license. Also you can join a union right after high rather than doing an apprenticeship. The cool thing about joining a union is that you will get paid to learn the trade. As the years go by and you experience more and more work in the field you can work your way up to solar photovoltaic, electrical generating, or working on lighting systems. If you work hard and have a good attitude you can really rise in power in the trade world. More money can come your way as you work your way up to the top. As you train you do have to take standardized tests and depending on the company you might have to have a specific license. The education needed to be an electrician is not like a regular college course, you will come out knowing how to do your job. (Electricians)

Job Opportunities and Challenges in Trade School

People take for granted how electricity works. You walk into a room and turn on the light switch and the light comes on. As an electrician you will find work anywhere with electricity. The workplaces are very versatile. You can work indoors, outdoors, in peoples homes or in buildings. The places are endless. If something goes wrong with an elevator or walkway you can fix things there. Any electrical lift object thing can be a task for an electrician. When working with architects they need electricians to get the power going. Nothing more is made without power aka electricians. You will always have work to do. When the refrigerator goes out someone needs to be there to fix it. If the fridge is at home, work, school, the mall, your house, or your friend's house it doesn't matter. Electricians make really good money as a benefit of going to trade school. (Arnold) The unemployment rate for Americans with a high school diploma is twice as high as those with a four-year university degree but that does not mean you have to get a bachelor's degree to get a good paying job. The number of boomers that are retiring allows a lot of open job opportunities for the younger generation to take over. For example, the U.S. is going to need a lot more people for pipe fitting, nuclear power plant operating, carpenters, welders, utility workers, and the list goes on. By the year 2028, it is estimated that there will be 3 million more job opportunities available for people who can work with their hands, like job security and a good salary. Another cool benefit to going into a trade is that you will know very quickly if the job you’re going for is right for you. You do not have to invest four or more years of your life into college and have a job that might be a bad fit. As long as you have the right qualifications you can easily go from one trade to the other. The material covered in class will specifically about the job so you will be in and out into the workforce in no time. You also get a lot of one on one time with your teacher because there are not huge classrooms full of students. (DesMarias)

Not nearly enough people are getting into the trades so many job opportunities are open. However, substantial federal aid is not always available for trade school students and is a drawback. The time to complete trade school may be two years which is good for making money right away but some employers prefer the traditional four year degree still. It could be more challenging to find a good trade school that offers the specific job you want to pursue that is near you depending on where you live. Lack of a broader knowledge is a downside because there is very little if any general courses you need to take. (Mitch)

Conclusion

In conclusion, many people and young people especially aren't even considering the trades. A four year university is not the move for everyone and if you want to have less job competition the trades are a way to go. It is a shame because a lot of money goes into and can come out of it and into your pockets.              

References

1. Electricians. (n.d.). Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm
2. Arnold, M. (n.d.). The Benefits of Becoming an Electrician. Career Igniter. Retrieved from https://www.careerigniter.com/careers/electrician/
3. DesMarias, V. (2019, April 4). Trade School vs. College: Which Is Right for You? HuffPost. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trade-school-vs-college-which-is-right-for-you_b_5a9e38e8e4b0a0ba4adbb75b
4. Mitch, C. (n.d.). Pros and Cons of Trade School. Trade-Schools.net. Retrieved from https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/pros-and-cons-of-trade-school