When it comes to preparing for a career, most high school graduates pursue a four-year college degree. But an often over-looked and lucrative way to learn a skill is through an apprenticeship.
Geared toward training to become a highly-skilled worker, an apprenticeship will give you on-the-job training and at the same time pay you a salary as you get your education.
“Apprenticeships are for people who want to do what are essentially technical, hands on, kinds of jobs and who are willing to invest in very long training,” says Anthony Carnevale, the Director and Research Professor of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. “It often takes more to get through an apprenticeship than a four year degree but it almost guarantees you high wages and employment.”
1. Apprenticeship popularity in U.S. lags behind Europe
Apprenticeships have been around for ages and are popular in Europe. In the U.S., apprenticeships aren’t as popular, largely because it takes a commitment on the part of the employers. After all, they have to be willing to allow someone to get on the job training as well as give them the time off to pursue any classroom time that’s required. As a result, apprenticeships are often found in professions where there is a need for a specific skill set and/or there is a shortage of workers.
Take the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) as one example of a place to become an apprentice. The vast majority of its members have gone through the program, which typically runs four years and is a combination of on-the-job and classroom training. Members operate and maintain heavy construction equipment, such as bulldozers, backhoes and cranes. Stationary engineers in the union take care of boilers, generators and heating and cooling systems.
Carpentry, engineering, plumbing, electrical, telecommunications and construction are other common areas to find apprenticeships in. The green industry has also turned to them to create a pool of skilled workers.
2. It’s not only for the younger generations
While traditionally the people pursuing apprenticeships are just out of high school, the 2008 recession changed that trend. IUOE’s National Training Fund Director Jeff Vincent says people in their 50′s who lost their job and are looking for new skills are applying for these apprenticeships alongside 20 and 30 year olds. “We are seeing some people coming in with a little more education,” says Vincent. “Still it’s not the majority by any stretch.” According to John Ladd, administrator, Office of Apprenticeship, U.S. Department of Labor the average age of an apprentice is 28 years old, but the government is aiming to increase awareness among high school graduate age men and women. There’s also a push to give veterans more access to apprenticeships.
3. With apprenticeships, you earn while your learn
You won’t be rich right off the bat with an apprenticeship. However, you will get paid while you learn, and its more than just a stipend. “In most cases it’s fairly decent,” says Vincent of your wages during training. For example, if the hourly pay for a trained professional is $30/hour, an apprentice may start out at $15. Commitment is a main ingredient when starting an apprenticeship. It’s not a six month program where you make six figures by the end. The base minimum is one year, but Ladd says many are multiple year programs. “These are middle-skill to high-skill range occupations,” says Ladd. “Higher skill set require a longer term of training.”
An apprenticeship can also give you a real world idea of what your life will be like if you pursue the profession you are learning. You may like the idea of being a crane operator, but actually getting up at 4:30 a.m., driving 50 miles to a job site and working in inclement weather may not be what you envisioned, says Vincent. “The whole deal is your seeing what you are doing for the rest of your career,” he says.
Ultimately, what makes an apprenticeship so attractive is the payoff once you do pay your dues. “It’s as every bit as valuable as college,” says Carnevale. “Apprenticeships pay more than most college graduates earn.” What’s more, Vincent says experienced skilled workers can ultimately easily make six figures.
4. Competition can be fierce with apprenticeships
When it comes to finding apprenticeships, Ladd says to approach it like you would any other job search. That means networking and searching online for programs that will be a fit for you. The Department of Labor has a list of apprenticeship programs at https://ift.tt/1zSCPH5. Mynextmove.org, also operated by the government, has a plethora of information about different professions including apprenticeships.
Even though many people favor a college education, landing an apprenticeship is still highly competitive. Who you know will give you and edge but that’s not to say you can’t get in on your own merit. It is going to take some aptitude for the job you will be doing. “It tends to be hard and getting harder if only because there’s a demand for math skills and communications skills,” says Vincent. “We’re looking for bright kids who want a high-scale blue collar job.”
4 Things You Didn’t Know About Apprenticeships is a post from: Glassdoor Blog
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