21 articles found · Page 1 of 2
A practical, honest guide for people with a criminal record entering the skilled trades — which trades have welcoming pathways, which still have hard licensing barriers, and the named federal and union programs (Pathway Home, RESTART, IBEW 2nd Call) built to help.
A data-driven guide for women considering the skilled trades — which trades offer the best pay parity, where the fastest growth is, what funding and pre-apprenticeship support exists specifically for women, and how to find women-friendly programs.
A realistic, data-driven guide for adults in their 40s switching into the skilled trades — covering the 20-to-25-year runway math, which trades work best, the mortgage/kids/partner trade-offs, and the financial bridge during apprenticeship.
A practical guide for military veterans transitioning to civilian careers in the skilled trades — covering MOS-to-trade crosswalks, union veteran pre-apprenticeship programs (VEEP, UA VIP, Helmets to Hardhats), the financial math of stacking GI Bill benefits with apprentice wages, and the honest tradeoffs of rank-to-apprentice adjustment.
A strengths-based career guide for adults with ADHD or strong kinesthetic learning preferences considering the skilled trades — covering which trades reward novelty-seeking, urgency, and physical engagement, and which demand the kind of sustained detail focus that may be a poor fit.
A practical guide to skilled trade careers you can enter with zero student debt — covering registered apprenticeships that pay during training, employer-sponsored programs, military-to-civilian SkillBridge pathways, and state free-tuition programs that cover technical college tuition in full.
What every apprenticeship guide skips: the real timeline from application to indenture, why one Local takes you in three months and another makes you wait three years, and what acceptance actually looks like trade by trade.
A specific guide to the IBEW/NECA Inside Wireman apprenticeship: how the application works at Local level, how the aptitude test and interview score combine, and why some Locals indenture you in months while others make you wait years.
How to pass the apprenticeship aptitude tests: NJATC, Bennett, Ramsay, Wonderlic. What's on each, how scoring works, and an 8-week study plan.
How to write a skilled-trade résumé that gets read — what to put in your Certifications & Licenses section, how to list OJT hours, why specific tool names beat generic descriptions, and the cover-letter structure JATCs actually respond to.
Elevator installer career: $106,580 BLS median, NEIEP apprenticeship path, state-by-state pay, and why this niche trade quietly pays so well in 2026.
A practical guide for adults 50 and older considering a career in the skilled trades — covering which trades suit mature workers, the financial calculus of a shorter career runway, health insurance during training, and how life experience becomes a genuine advantage on the job site.
Trade school debt vs college: time-to-employment, ROI, and which trades earn most with least debt. Data-backed comparison for 2026 career planners.
A step-by-step guide to building a trade career portfolio — what to include, how to go digital, and why 72% of employers now prioritize skills-based hiring over degrees.
The skilled trades shortage hit 349,000 workers in 2026 (BLS). What it means for pay, hiring, and why entering trades now is a once-in-a-generation chance.
A practical step-by-step guide to starting a carpentry career with no experience — covering requirements, training paths, what apprenticeship actually looks like year by year, and what you earn along the way.
Career changers in their 30s and 40s: which trades pay best, transferable skills that count, honest trade-offs, and how to make the financial leap.
A practical guide for veterans and service members on using GI Bill benefits for trade school and apprenticeships — covering Post-9/11 vs. Montgomery, housing allowances, VA-approved school lookup, and which trades align best with military experience.
A data-driven guide for women considering a trade career — where the real opportunities are, which trades are growing fastest, what scholarships exist specifically for women, and which organizations can help you get there.
How to pay for trade school in 2026: Pell Grants, apprenticeships, VA benefits, employer tuition assistance, and state-by-state aid — full funding guide.