Quick Guide: Entering the Trades

Enter the Trades — A Step-by-Step Guide for High School Grads with Zero Experience

A practical, step-by-step roadmap for graduating high schoolers who want to enter a skilled trade — no connections or experience required.

Product description:

Not every path after high school runs through a college campus — and if you're graduating without an internship, a family connection in the trades, or any hands-on experience yet, you're not behind. Most people entering the trades start exactly where you are right now.

Enter the Trades breaks the process into six concrete, doable steps, so "I want to get into a trade" turns into an actual plan you can start this week.

What's inside:

Step 1: Look Up Local Unions

How to find union apprenticeship programs (IBEW, UA, IUPAT, and more) in your area, with a tracking sheet to log what you find.

Step 2: Find Deadlines, Age Requirements & the Application Process

What to check for every program — minimum age, application windows, required documents, entrance exams — plus a tracking table to stay organized.

Step 3: Look Up Trade Schools & Community Colleges

How to compare programs by length, cost, and employer partnerships, with a side-by-side comparison table.

Step 4: Call Local Businesses for Apprenticeship Opportunities

Includes an actual phone script for reaching out to local trade businesses directly — a step most guides skip entirely.

Step 5: Work Part-Time for a Supply Company

Why a part-time job at an electrical, plumbing, or hardware supply store is one of the most underrated ways to build industry knowledge and connections before your first apprenticeship.

Step 6: Talk to Professionals in the Industry

How to find people to talk to, and specific questions worth asking.

Plus:

• Extra tips on certifications (like OSHA 10), building a resume with no work history, and staying organized through the application process
• An action plan worksheet to turn the guide into concrete next steps
• A resources page with legitimate, free tools (apprenticeship.gov, My Next Move, state Department of Labor sites)

Who it's for:

High school students interested in a skilled trade career, and the parents supporting them — especially students who don't have an existing connection or head start in the industry.

Format: Instant digital download (Word doc / PDF). Print and fill out, or complete digitally. Available immediately after purchase.