Never underestimate the career potential of a trade. For decades now, high schools have been trying to push all students towards getting a four-year liberal arts college degree. They never got the memo that white collar jobs with serious earning potential are now all deeply skills-based, if not technical in nature.
For those of us on the autism spectrum, a four-year liberal arts degree can be disastrous, because even if when you graduate, you have zero marketable skills that employers are looking to fill for good-paying office jobs these days, plus you’re at a systemic disadvantage in terms of interview skills (more on that some other time). So, you’ll be left working grunt jobs without any means of paying back your massive student loan. Been there; no fun.
One way to avoid that problem is by picking of a trade. It’s a two-way win; your student loan burden will be much less, and your earning potential will be much greater than those with a B.A. This article shows that there are many great trade jobs out there that pay well, have a great future, and are skills-based.
The latter alone is several times all the more important for those of us “on the spectrum”, since it’s tons easier for us to demonstrate skills during a job interview instead of answer so many nebulous questions from an interviewer reading off the same cue card as she would read to people outside of the spectrum.
Moreover, many trades can play to our strengths as part of being on the spectrum. They often involve repetitive tasks (at which we excel), as well as technical knowledge (another strength), and attention to detail (we love details!).
Trades are underrated, especially now when employers are willing to pay premiums to fill them. The bottom line is, if you like helping make/build things and want a good-paying job, a trade might be the job for you. You’ll have a job that pays well and will have something tangible to show for your work at the end of each day. What’s not to love?
Yes, the work will be hard at times, but hard work builds character, and is a key component that helps us all learn and grow together. Embrace it!