Blue Collar and Proud of It: The All-In-One Resource for Finding Freedom, Financial Success, and Security Outside the Cubicle (34 page)

Q:
I’m concerned that my son is not going to be able to support himself if he doesn’t go to college. I know people with college educations make more money.

A:
It is true that people with bachelor’s degrees make, on average, more money than those who don’t. But think about the averages. Factored into the lower pay scale are people who work at minimum wage for their whole lives. I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with this. But when you compare that with the hedge fundman-ager who is making a few million dollars a year there is just no way to compare. Instead, think about how well a prepared, trained, responsible, hardworking individual in any field can do. If you push your son into a high-paying field that he doesn’t want to be in, chances are he’s going to fail at it anyway. And if he doesn’t fail he’s likely going to be miserable. Let him head off into something he loves where he will be happier working harder and doing all that he can to get ahead.Chances are it will work out. And remember there are many, many people with bachelor’s degrees who are working in jobs that have nothing to do with their degrees. There are also people who have bachelor’s degrees who aren’t happy and aren’t making a great living. Remember, too, many of these blue-collar jobs cannot be outsourced. You don’t call India when you have a leak under your sink, and you can’t have your car shipped overseas when it needs a new part. That point alone offers some additional job security and peace of mind.

Q:
Should I pay for my daughter’s training or certification since she isn’t willing to go to college?

A:
If you were willing and able to pay for college or help pay for college, why wouldn’t you do the same with regard to technical training? We all know that some kids go to college, party too much, rarely go to class, and waste their parents’money. This isn’t acceptable, nor would it be if your daughter took advantage of your paying for her postsecondary training. But if she is committed and you are able, why not stick to your same commitment whether she is going to a university or a technical school? Maybe you could offer to pay for a portion, if you’re afraid she won’t take her responsibility seriously, and see where it goes from there. Only you know your child and her level of responsibility and your ability to afford something like that. But don’t let the name of the school change your commitment to her education and training.

Q:
I’m willing to pay for college for my daughter and won’t need any loans. I just want her to get the degree, and then if she still wants to go into the trades, that’s fine.

A:
I would ask you first: do you want that for your daughter, or do you want that for you? Granted, it’s a whole lot simpler in some parts of the country to just say, “Yup, ” when asked if your daughter is going to college. You don’t have to explain the alternative. You don’t have to make excuses or convince others that what she is doing is okay. But think about whether the degree will ultimately help your daughter. Your daughter’s self-esteem is of utmost importance as well. If she’s going to hate it, bemiserable, and not work at school, she very wellmay end up feeling bad about herself and feeling like she’s let you down as well. Think about why you are focused on the degree. If it’s something that you want (and she does not), then it isn’t going to help your daughter. And good for you for supporting what your daughter wants to do ultimately. And since you sound very generous, consider investing the money, because chances are your daughter is going to need some training or schooling down the line, and perhaps you’ll be willing to help with that when the time comes.

Q:
Our high school doesn’t offer vocational training, and I would like my children to be exposed to those courses. I know that one of my sons would benefit fromgoing into the trades, if not at least getting some real exposure to some of these fields. What can I do?

A:
Look around. Your county or district may have access to a regional career and technical education (CTE) school where your kids can take some classes. Ask your school principal or guidance counselor about this. Getting a summer job or a job on the weekends can help your children test the waters without making lifelong commitments. It’s also possible that your local community college offers courses for high schoolers. And if your son is set on a particular career, suggest to him that he try to hook up with someone in your town who might act as a mentor and teach him the ropes. Don’t give up if your school doesn’t offer much. There are definitely other ways.

Q:
My daughter would like to apply to an apprenticeship program and has thought seriously about becoming an electrician or an ironworker. I’m just concerned that she could face a lot of discrimination. Aren’t these fields for men? Is there something that is better suited for women?

A:
It’s true that there aremoremen than women in the trades. That is slowly changing, and employers are waking up to the fact that women can do this work just as well asmen.Discrimination hasn’t disappeared, that’s for sure. But industries do understand that they need to recruit women. Some of these sectors are desperate for workers, and they are thrilled to have women apply. The unions are particularly open and welcoming to women. These industries are changing. Apprenticeship programs encourage women to apply, and unions provide an excellent community and support network for females. This is women’s work, too. The jobs in the trades are family-sustaining, exciting, and full of growth potential.

I’m a Guidance Counselor and I Want to Know . . .

Q:
The students I work with are afraid of being considered failures for not going to college.How can we change this perception?

A:
Ask your students if they think the people who built their house, their cars, and their schools are failures. What about the oneswho built that TV they spend toomuch time watching? Sometimes kids have a certain image in their heads.You can help change that image by reminding themof all the ways that blue-collar workers affect their life each and every day. Remind themof the pride and the skill it takes to build roads, bridges, and skyscrapers. Hardworking, dedicated individuals are not fail- ures. As parents, teachers, and guidance counselors, we need to talk with more respect about the trades and about blue-collar jobs. These are respectable, honorable jobs that take a lot of hard work and brainpower. Some require training and certificates. We are craftspeople and masters of our industries. Builders talk about the overwhelming feelingwhen they complete a house; building a house is about creating a shelter and a sanctuary for other humans. Welding is a formof art, as is landscaping. These are all pursuits that should make us very proud of one another.

Q:
I have a student who would like to go into fishing but there aren’t many opportunities in our area. What should I suggest?

A:
Relocation is necessary for some jobs, particularly ones such as logging or fishing, but that can be a drastic step. If you have a student who is really convinced that he wants to work in fishing and lives in Nebraska, I would suggest that he find the nearest fishing community and inquire about summer jobs. Perhaps he has relatives who live near the coast where he could hunker down for a few weeks in the summer to get some seasonal work and, more important, exposure to the industry. And then let your student know that if he or she is confident enough to give it a go, move. Many people do. Tell all of your students to seek out their passions.

Q:
I support my students choosing their own path, but they are routinely telling me that they don’t want to be labeled as “stupid” for not going to college.

A:
Well, how stupid can you be if you can build a home or a car? College degrees do not make us smart, and they don’t make us rich. It’s not that easy! Being stupid is choosing to follow someone else’s dreams rather than your own. Being stupidmeans not working hard in life and not focusing on your own goals and being the best you can be. Remind all of your students that they have to be smart about their decisions and about what they choose to do. It’s stupid to go off to college without any direction or reason, all while accumulating debt. Likewise, it’s stupid to leave high school with no plan and no idea of what you’re going to do next.Your students don’t have to know what they want to do with the rest of their lives. But a smart student will have the next year mapped out and will have a plan of sorts.Remember the skilled trades— plumbing, carpentry, auto mechanics, electrical work—are necessary, vital jobs. Anyone taking a job in these industries should be proud of her or his decision. Plus, your students will have a mobile job or skill that can go anywhere. When you’ve got a trade, you’ve got it made.

Q:
I want to be able to offer industry expert advice andmentoring to some of the students at my school. How would I go about doing this?

A:
There are so many great partnerships between schools and trades and business communities happening all over the country. Itmay take some legwork on your part, but choose a fewindustries— plumbing, electrical, and carpentry, for example—and contact the best or largest company or your area industry association to find out if they would be willing to come in and talk to students about job opportunities. Perhaps they would be willing to give an overview of the trade in which they specialize. Then take it a step further and work on setting up internships or work programs with some of these companies. Many companies are desperate for skilled workers, and many are thrilled to have the opportunity to train young employees their own way. You’ll probably find that there are tradespeople very excited to share their craft or their skills and talk about their own opportunities with a younger generation. This is a nice way to set up a mentoring program as well.

Q:
Some of my students are concerned about getting stuck in a trade. What if they end up not liking it after a few months or even a few years?

A:
It’s ridiculous to expect that every student would choose a career at sixteen or seventeen or eighteen years old and never change their focus. The most important thing is to start off with some goals. Those goals can change, and you can remind your students that it’s okay to be indecisive about the rest of your life, but it’s important to be decisive about the next few months and the willingness to work hard. Changing specialties or jobs or industries is quite common, especially for someone who is just starting out. Many of the skills throughout the trades are interchangeable. Remind your students that, when they are starting out, merely being part of a job site or a team will be beneficial in the future. Having carpentry skills when you really want to be an electrician is useful. And having some experience working construction is always helpful if you’re thinking about going into masonry, for example.

Chapter 11
Your Guide to Schools, Apprenticeships, and Postsecondary Trainings Across the Country

A
s promised, this chapter offers an extensive listing of apprenticeships and trainings as well as unions, associations, and organizations that can assist with launching your blue-collar career. We don’t cover every industry, nor is every single postsecondary training opportunity listed for each career. We started with the industries that we talked about in Chapter 3, and we’ve tried to include information on apprenticeships or certification opportunities in each state, though we don’t always hit every single one. We’ve also tried to stick with those programs that are either recommended or accredited by the industry. That doesn’tmean there aren’t other great programs out there, perhaps through your local community college or even university. We’ve tried to do a lot of the work for you, but you’ll still have to put in some time and effort. Your local library and the Internet are great resources as well.

We relied on CareerVoyages (
www.careervoyages.gov
), a partnership between the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor, which is an extensive career guide. The National Center for Construction Education and Research (
www.nccer.org
), which boasts an incredible database of trade unions and contractor associations in many industries, was another resource for this chapter. Another helpful resource is
www.nationalcontractors.com
, which provides an overview of state-by-state licensing requirements formany blue-collar fields. There aremany private, in-house programs that you may find through contractors, companies, and schools. We haven’t included those since it would be nearly impossible to locate and list themall. We also looked to trade organizations that maintain guides for training programs around the country.

While this list was current and accurate at the time of publication, information changes rapidly and programs are routinely altered, added, or eliminated. Check with your nearest apprenticeship, union, or association for the most up-to-date information.

Automotive Service and Repair Technicians

W
hile there are many different routes to take to become an employed auto mechanic or service technician, the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) and National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) offer outstanding and popular certification programs. Many community colleges can prepare you for a career in automotive service or body work, and many manufacturers and dealerships offer their own specialized programs.

Manufacturer-Specific Programs

Most car manufacturers have programs that give future or prospective employees manufacturer-specific training: