College is for sure not your only option and trade school is an exceptional path that can also lead to a successful career.
Trade school or university the hidden pros of vocational school
College is for sure not your only option and trade school is an exceptional path that can also lead to a successful career.
In this article, we’ll learn about why high schools don’t want you to learn about trade school, and why starting your career or changing your career with trade school could be a great option for you.
“High schools are judged on how many of their students go to college and that doesn’t include trade school”
They do not want to encourage their students to pursue skilled trades like becoming a mechanic, dental hygienist, plumber, web developer, electrician and more. These are all exceptional careers that are in high demand and trade school is a very acceptable option for a successful career. In a way it feels like school is failing us because they are forcing us into only one option.
“To be honest I didn’t go to trade school. My school did a fantastic job of downplaying trade school and making college seem like the only option.”
But here are three reasons why trade school could be a great option for you if you’re looking to start your career or if you’re looking to restart your career in a new field.
The skills are in demand
Many trade school jobs are totally in demand and they seem to be recession proof as well. These jobs will never be taken overseas, you simply can’t outsource nursing or electrical work so there is a level of job security and protection.
Hand on learning
If you don’t do well in a lecture hall just sitting there learning by having someone talk to you, then maybe you’ll do better with hands-on training. Some people just learn better by doing vs hearing and if that’s you, trade school might be a better option. If you think you don’t like learning it might be because you’re not learning in the right way. Traditional school focuses on one type of learning.
More flexibility
Trade schools programs typically take less time, anywhere from a few months to two years or so. Not only are programs usually shorter, they are more flexible in terms of class schedule. There are usually several different time slot options for evening classes, morning classes and even some online options as well. Additionally, trade school is usually much more cost effective which can have huge positive impacts on your earnings down the line.
When it comes to financial commitment, you really need to think about your ideal career. If you want to become a doctor it’s going to make sense to spend a lot of money on your career. But if you’re 100% sure you want to become a web developer, you don’t need to waste your money on an expensive 4 year college.
“I personally have my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees but when people ask me about them I always tell them how much they cost. It was the right choice for me – but that s%*t ain’t cheap!”
She also says,
“I didn’t really think about the financial commitment when I went to school and unfortunately now I have a really big hot steaming pile of debt.”
She recommends really considering trade school because it can be a much more flexible and financially forgiving career path to take. However, let’s look at some things that will help us understand some of the downsides of the trades.
College is a time for discovery and it allows you to find yourself and test out a bunch of different options. You’ll take classes of all different kinds that will allow you to discover what you might really want from life.
Trade school is really only for people who know exactly what they want to do. This is not about self discovery. If you launch too quickly into a career path that is not actually a right fit for you, it can be a dead end. But don’t see that as a negative, look at it as an opportunity to figure out exactly what you really do want to do.
How do you find the right trade for you?
Talk to people who have done the programs you’re interested in. Connect with people who have the jobs that you want and get their opinions. There is no better way to discover your path than talking to the people who have the life that you want, or who have experienced the things you are curious about.