Getting A Trade - What You Really Need To Kickstart Your Career - CareerAlley

Getting A Trade - What You Really Need To Kickstart Your Career - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. The last decade or so has seen so much uncertainty. Political and economic upheavals have seen many redundancies. No job is safe. Even though the construction industry has been one of the hardest hit, you might still struggle to find a plumber or an electrician. Theyre all busy. Thats right. We will always need someone with the skills, experience, and certification to take on those jobs we just cant do. So why not join their ranks and find yourself a trade? Get the right kit The first thing you need to do is ensure you have the correct equipment to get you started. A basic toolset is the very minimum youll get away with. Better quality tools will last you longer than budget instruments too. You dont have to spend a lot, but you will need to make sure your equipment is as reliable as you intend to be. A good power tool that offers versatility and dependability is worth investing in. Photo provided by Pexels Youre also going to need a lot of safety wear. Overalls or coveralls are a must. They protect your skin as well as your clothes. They should be fire retardant and offer resistance to minor chemical splashes (handy for the plumber.) Safety goggles are a must as well. Even if youre not likely to be cutting or handling fine particles, you never know what tight and unpleasant spaces you might have to work in! A hard hat is essential if you plan on working on a construction or building site. Finally, steel toe work boots like the ones at http://comfortworkboots.com are a must. This permits you to work in most environments safely. Get the right resume It doesnt matter if youre coming from another career. It doesnt matter if youre coming fresh from school. It doesnt even matter if youve never worked in this industry before. What matters is evidence of a willingness to learn new skills and read around the subject. If you have a portfolio of projects that might have some relevance, then add those details too. Have a look at http://www.creativebloq.com/pro-interview-tips-how-present-your-design-portfolio-8133808 to see how to present it. Talk about the practical tasks and projects youve been involved with, no matter how trivial. It will demonstrate a particular way of thinking and problem solving that could be attractive to a potential employer. Photo provided by Pexels Get the right contacts You might choose an apprentice route to start your career. You might choose night school and practical training before heading out on your own. You might even find a paid entry-level position with on the job training. None of it is any good to you if you dont have people already in the industry helping you out. You need someone that could possibly act as a mentor. They can give you guidance and assurance that youre doing things right. Having someone support your career from the very beginning can help you find the right job quicker. It can give you the confidence you need to work your way up the career ladder. Most importantly, it can give you the assurance you need that youre getting it right from the start. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+