5 Reasons Why People of All Ages Are Flocking to Trade Schools
Perhaps you’re looking to make a career change, turn a hobby into a full-time career, or become a specialist in a vocation you love. Maybe you want to own your own business and don’t have all of the necessary skill sets. Or, perhaps you’re just bored with life after retirement?
If that’s the case, you may want to consider a trade school.
Trade schools also allow mid-career people and seniors to start classes specific to the skills they are looking to gain. And these aren’t the only reasons more people are choosing trade schools.
Here are five reasons trade school is becoming increasingly popular with people of all ages.
Start Anytime
Trade schools offer multiple start dates throughout the year and also offer rolling admissions. This means you don’t need to wait until either the spring or fall semester to start your degree program. With classes that are as short as ten weeks long, it’s also easier to jump in and start your degree with little to no wait time.
Meet Like Minded-People
When attending a trade school, you’ll notice right away that the class sizes are smaller. In a smaller classroom, you can get more individualized attention from the instructor to better develop your skill set. These classes are also filled with others who are interested in the same subject as you. This makes it easy for you to form a group of like-minded peers who are interested in the same things as you are.
Get Specialized
Many jobs are going unfilled today because of a mismatch between the skills employers are looking for, and the skill sets job seekers have to offer. To remedy that, many trade schools have built strong relationships with employers and provide specialized programs tailored to meet employers’ needs. In some cases, employers work with trade school administrators to develop the curriculum needed to meet current employment needs. This is especially true in high-demand fields such as business, technology, and healthcare.
A Wide Variety of Choices
You may be under the impression that trade schools only offer courses in such things as carpentry, auto mechanics, and welding. While that may have been true, the range of courses in today’s trade schools has been greatly expanded. Some of these courses are:
• Computer Specialist
• Mobile Game Apps
• HVAC Specialist
• Cabinet Maker
• Medical Billing & Coding
• Web Developer
• Dental Hygienist
• Radiation Therapist
• Nuclear Medicine Technologist
• Pilot
• Fashion Designer
The above list is only a small sampling of courses offered. Chances are excellent that if you have a particular interest, you want to pursue, you’ll find a trade school that offers related courses.
Always Be In Demand
Most of the skills learned in trade school never go out of style, and the jobs cannot be outsourced to other countries. Take auto mechanics, for example. It’s inconceivable to think about shipping an automobile to a foreign country for repairs. Additionally, employers are finding that skilled labor positions are some of the hardest to fill, so they’re going to great lengths to ensure valuable workers are retained.
And a bonus reason…
Retain a Sharp Intellect
The Alzheimer’s Association notes a study on seniors who remain intellectually engaged “may avoid dementia by going back to school.” The brain is like a muscle that must be used to maintain flexibility and strength.
At the very least, people who continue to learn in retirement are among the most content and happy. Embracing new challenges provides the opportunity to engage with others and stimulate intellectual curiosity.
Find A School Near You
Interested in the possibilities? If attending a trade school sounds like the right option for you, you owe it to yourself to do some additional research. Look into various trade schools, the courses they offer, and their cost. Think about the skills you want to acquire and learn. Then you’ll have the information you need to make the decision that’s best for you.
