6 Tips for Students Interested in the Trades:
● Decide on your industry within the trades - From salaries to personal interest and career development opportunities, there’s lots of information online and your school’s career advisor may also be able to help. Research and understanding of the industry you’re interested in also helps show passion and enthusiasm.
● Work on your fitness - With many jobs in the trades industry being quite physically demanding, making sure you have the
physical strength and good health necessary to work the long hours required is essential for your safety.
● Understand health and safety measures – Whether you’re looking at becoming a plumber, bricklayer or gardener, it’s important to educate yourself on the rules and regulations for your particular trade. This can range from equipment and PPE to legal safety measures that are taken to protect you and helps show interest to future employers.
● Develop further work experience – Whether it’s a Saturday or Summer job, it can be a nice introduction and let you gain some basic experience - something that’s looked at highly from a prospective employer and separates you from other candidates.
● Speak to a qualified professional – Getting first hand insight from a professional within the industry is a great way to clearly understand the expectations of the job, as well as getting a sneak peak into the day to day of the career.
● Utilise school subjects as much as you can – Working hard on communication skills, technical skills, basic numeracy and literacy skills can greatly help you in any avenue of the trades you decide to move into. Having the skills and knowledge in these skill sets really can help make your future career easier.