Picking up a trade is an excellent way to make a living and carve a career path. There will always be the need for building, creating, repairing, rewiring, repainting and installing – and if you can apply your trade well enough, you can create a successful and meaningful career.

But while there are many positives to picking up the tools and becoming a tradesperson, these can often be overshadowed by the question of which trade to pursue. The good news is that you have a lot of options to choose from; you just have to narrow them down.

Use Your Skills

As with any job, going with what you are good at or what you enjoy is a sure-fire way to create and sustain a career. If you enjoy creating something, carpentry and cabinet-making may suit you. If you like working in a team, bricklaying may prove to be your best choice. If you are a people person, service-based professions such as plumber, locksmith or mechanic could be the way to go. Similarly, if you have an interest in a specific area, such as electrical or landscaping, then you’ve got something obvious to pursue. Whatever your passion or interest may be, there will be a trade for you.

Understand the Trade

Being a tradesperson usually means working long hours, sometimes in harsh or remote conditions, so it’s best to know what you’re getting yourself into. Some trades, such as bricklaying or roofing, require you to be outside all day, regardless of the temperature, while others such as electrical and plumbing may require you to fit into small or awkward places to get the job done.

Another thing to consider is the number of tools that you may need throughout your career. Some tradespeople only need a tool belt, while others may need a ute and a trailer full of gear for every job. It’s important to think about how much of a financial investment you’re willing to make for a specific trade. A good idea is to check out sites like WIA, which have information on industries and tools.

Another point to consider is the actual industry itself. While there are general laws that apply to all trades, each industry will have its own unions, government offices and various other legal requirements.

Learn from Others

One of the best ways to make a decision is to learn from others who have done it all before. Find companies who can give you work experience, or message those who work in a trade to gain their insights into what it is like being a tradesperson. The majority of trades often have specialised jobs that may require additional learning qualifications, or have jobs that can enable you to work in different locations or with people from different industries and backgrounds.

By talking to others and learning from their experiences, you can further narrow down what type of trade would be the best fit for you, and you may even come across jobs and roles that you haven’t heard of before.

Choosing a trade, just like any career, can be a daunting task. But with the right tools and the right people, the decision can be an easier one.

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