With the majority of high-school seniors focusing on college applications, I sat down with three industry experts to discuss trades and non-college career opportunities that they should also give consideration: Brian Brodeur (VP of Development, Onni Group), Miranda Olander (College and Career Persistence Counselor, Chicago Jesuit Academy), and Sean Glowacz (Community Development Manager, Power Construction).

Generally, students should always choose the most appealing path they already have a passion for. Even in trades, there are different fields, so they should know what they want beforehand.

In previous years, there weren’t many opportunities for high-schoolers to compare college and trades. Thankfully, the narrative is changing these days. Some schools have career conversations with students and parents early on to help kids develop their interests and achieve their career goals.

Although people now realize costly college degrees aren’t a measure of experience or a guarantee of success, trades are still viewed as a second option for people who couldn’t get into college. This is a massive misconception because in trades, only committed people with a zeal for the jobs could last in the long term.

Brian succinctly stated that in colleges, “… they teach you how to think or ask questions, but you actually don’t learn anything until you’re on the job.” In the end, anyone can be excellent in their chosen field with onsite experience, the right mentorship, and a willingness to learn.

How has the post-COVID workforce shortage changed the hiring process?

Many companies have reconfigured most positions to allow people with less experience to gain hands-on training and grow into roles. However, it is also necessary for these companies to ensure that their culture is aligned to support their staff and help them overcome hurdles that might hinder their success in each role.

How do you approach a career in the trades?

People looking to get into the trades space should affiliate themselves with organizations like Communities Empowered Through Construction or people that already have the resources and connections necessary for them to break into the industry.

It’s necessary for high school students to have conversations about their interests and career paths early. Parents, guardians, and school counselors should do their best to make these conversations happen. That way, high-school seniors can approach the ‘trade or college’ question with much more clarity and confidence.

Listen to Trade Vs. College on Da Bluprint Podcast Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music