You started trade school with the end in mind. To get hired as tradesman, and start your career as a plumber, HVAC tech, or electrician. However, many of your friends have told you how difficult it is to find a job after graduation.
This is shocking news to you. You think to yourself, “How can it be so hard to find a job in an industry that is short handed by over 30,000 skilled service people?” In this post, I’ll show you the answers you need to get hired.
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A Graduation Certificate DOES NOT Guarantee Qualification
Graduating from a trades school does not mean you’re a qualified tradesperson.
All trade schools are different. Some schools have an amazing reputation of graduating skilled service-people, while other trade schools have the opposite reputation.
Don’t take this the wrong way, because I’m not insulting your investment of time, energy, and money. You should be proud of your accomplishment, but you need to recognize that a graduation certificate doesn’t mean you’re ready to have your own service truck.
A graduation certificate means you put in the energy and effort to graduate from a particular trade school.
A Graduation Certificate DOES NOT Guarantee High Income
Before you agreed to start trade school, you were probably told about the high income opportunities the trades offer. Well, that’s true. A skilled tradesman can earn a great living practicing his craft.
However, you were probably not told that it may take time to get to those top levels.
The first interview is often a shock for the new graduate. You may be expecting to be offered a dream job right on the spot. And instead, you are offered an entry level position making not much more than minimum wage.
Don’t be disappointed. I’m going to help you get that high paying job.
3 Keys to Increasing Your Hireability
I’m going to break down what companies are looking for from new trade school graduates. For the sake of this article, I’m going to focus on the Residential Plumbing, HVAC, and Electrical Trades.
#1 – Intern
An internship will get you into your dream company practically 100% of the time.
Here’s how to get that internship
- Make a list of the Top 5 Service Companies you’d like to work with.
- Call each company, and ask to speak to the service manager.
- Then say the following.
Hello. My name is Todd Liles. I’ll be graduating from trade school in 6 months, and I’d like to volunteer my Saturday’s to your company as an intern. I’m happy to work for free as I learn my trade. May I come in and visit with you?
This approach is rarely used in the trades, and that’s a shame. Few companies would say “no” to you.
Most companies will be really impressed that you cared enough to actually sharpen your skills while in school. [By the way, I worked my Saturdays as an intern for 6 months while I learned.] This is hands-down, your biggest secret to getting hired.
#2 – Your background check
Your background is going to weigh heavily on your ability to get hired in the residential service trades as a plumber, HVAC Tech, or Electrician.
I’m not judging, but you need to know the facts. And the facts are that most premier residential service companies are not going to hire tradespeople with the following information in their recent background: CLICK HERE: The New Standard for Employment
- Criminal convictions
- A history of drug abuse
- Low credit, indicating bad financial choices
- Bad driving record
If you have these things in your background, then I recommend the following:
- Don’t hide it. Be upfront, because it will be found out in time.
- Communicate the course of corrections you have taken. If this is in your recent past, then communicate that with your potential employer.
- Get help. If you are struggling with these things now, then seek the help of professionals that can guide you.
#3 – Increase your sales skills
Everyone is in sales. And your ability to sell yourself is a direct reflection of your ability to influence people.
Some people think of sales skills as something you are born with, i.e, you either have sales skills are you don’t.
Thank goodness this isn’t true. Sales skills are something that you learn.
As the great Zig Ziglar said,
I have seen babies born all over the world. Some are born boys. Some are born girls. And I have seen boys and girls grow up to be salespeople. But, I’ve never seen a boy or girl born a salesperson!
And you can learn it too!
Your future employers are going to want you to have sales skills. You will be expected to fix the technical problems, and convince the homeowner to let you do it!
You need to accept this truth today, “It doesn’t matter if you can fix anything, if you can’t sell nothing.”
This will require persuasion skills that you must master.
Here is a short list of books / audio recording that I recommend that you listen to and read:
- Zig Ziglar: Goal Setting and See You At The Top
- Tom Hopkins: Master the Art of Selling
- Jeffrey Gitomer: The Sales Bible
- Todd Liles: Obliterate the 5 Objections from Your Workweek (CLICK HERE and get it for free.)
These are all great books, and will serve you well for life.
You deserve to have an amazing career as a tradesperson. We need you, and there is so much opportunity waiting for you here. Use the 3 keys of Internship, Background Clearing, and Sales Skills to go get your dream job!
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