If you are pregnant, planning to have a family, or find yourself the main support for one or more children, choosing a profitable career path becomes a priority. However, time might seem to be your enemy. One way to streamline your route to a worthwhile job is through an apprenticeship.
At a basic level, being an apprentice means learning while on the job. Although sometimes involving classroom experience and cooperation with a college, the training mostly stresses hands-on proficiency. A real advantage of an apprenticeship is earning money while acquiring skills, so you can get a paycheck and advance your career at the same time.
Some apprenticeships may be specific to a company with an aim to promote successful apprentices within the firm, like chef’s training for a hotel chain. Others offer credentials that are industry-wide, such as carpenters and electricians. The time involved can vary from occupation to occupation. Don’t be put off by the number of hours. A full-time job is about 2,000 hours per year. That means an 8,000-hour apprenticeship would be about four years, and remember that you are working and making money the entire time. There are also part-time training opportunities, such as pharmacy technicians and optician trainees, that can be found on some job search websites.
For local opportunities, you can go to glassdoor and enter “apprenticeships” and your location. They list both registered and non-registered apprenticeships. To be registered, a program must follow guidelines set by the Department of Labor and state agencies working together, such as certain safety standards. Registered programs also ensure portable credentials, so completion of an apprenticeship in one state would then be recognized in another. A non-registered apprenticeship might better suit you, but look at any program closely before investing your time and effort:
- Are there any education or experience requirements?
- How long will it take?
- What is the median wage?
- Is it a growing field with of plenty of opportunities?
Individual states also have websites with information about the apprenticeship process and what is available statewide. Search for the state in which you are interested and add apprenticeship program. You can also go to the Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship USA’s list. Another source for local opportunities is careeronestop, sponsored by the Department of Labor.
No matter what you choose, there will be an application process and possibly skills tests, but the paid training and occupational results make the effort worthwhile.
By Cheryl Blake