Welcome Back Jobs of Yesteryear!

I always thought that college was supposed to prepare a person to join the workforce. When did college become a place that prepares a person for getting experience? Who in their right minds wants to spend 4 years of their life learning and many thousands of dollars just so they can be told, “Sorry, you need more experience.” Somewhere along the line, the mentality of the academic world has become consistent with one of my favorite quotes: “Always remember that you're unique... just like everybody else.”

Because of this, however, something surprising has happened. A shift is slowly building in today's economy. The trade jobs of yesteryear are actually gaining more of a rise in the modern workforce. One would think that with technology abounding more and more, jobs like carpentry and plumbing would lose their appeal. But in fact we find the opposite. Trade schools in our modern age are becoming like a fresh breath of air in an otherwise stagnant, musty atmosphere. Just imagine it with me for a moment. Going to school for a mere two years and stepping straight into the workforce. Wait, no unpaid internships? No experience oriented programs that resonate vaguely with the words: “indentured servitude?”

The trade jobs of yesteryear (Welding, Auto Mechanics, Plumbing, Electricians) have gotten somewhat of a bad rap in times past. With the advent of computers and the internet in our modern age, trade jobs seem to almost have an air of stupidity associated with them, like a backward step on the evolutionary chain of society. In other words, in our modern society, there's a clear attitude that trade jobs should never be a person's first choice. But now, surprisingly, things are starting to change. Trade schools actually offer viable training for the working world, not training towards eventual indentured servitude. I, personally, think it's about time.

It's always been one of my dreams to build my own house somewhere out in the recesses of the San Diego countryside. Beyond actually having a house, one of the most exciting things about that goal is the opportunity to learn many of the trades. To try my hand at plumbing, electrical work, foundation pouring, and carpentry will be more than a little challenging, but also very rewarding. And though I will only gain a cursory knowledge of the trades required in construction and will most likely hire professionals to work with me, the idea of one day learning those time tested trades is a welcomed thought.

John Ratzenberger (played Cliff Clavin in the TV show Cheers) is a big advocate of encouraging children to learn about and be proud of the fabrication and manufacturing professions. Among other accomplishments he founded “Nuts, Bolts, and Thingamajigs” the Foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International. This foundation educates and encourages children and to explore the professions in the fabricating and manufacturing fields. Here is a link to his site. http://www.fma-foundation.org/nbtf/

It may be that the pendulum is about to swing back in the favor of trade jobs. With so much of our industry now in foreign hands, and with the constant problems we have with Chinese-made goods, good old-fashioned American manufacturing might gain a little momentum and respect. The trades might actually become the first choice in the minds of the youth of tomorrow. Wouldn't that be an interesting thing? It might, in fact, be the only hope for getting back the industrial roots this country was founded upon. One day, we might actually be able to give our children toys again that aren't coated in lead paint. I look forward to it.

Kyle Glass, Author and Marketing professional
Servana