Everyone who is interested in exploring a career in the trades can find a place! Anjanet Banuelos Bolanos is a member of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA) and started her career as a construction worker and laborer when she was in her early 30s, as a single mother of three children. There are over 100 different specialties as a laborer, and Anjanet explains the pros and cons of working in the trades to Mindy and Rishika. Anjanet encourages students interested in the trades to explore these opportunities and consider joining a union.
There are plenty of careers out there for students who are interested in working with their hands and learning on the job rather than looking into colleges and getting a higher degree. Mindy and Rishika spoke with John Tillotson, an instructor with Oregon Sheet Metal Institute, about his personal career path in the trades. He talks about his experiences in carpentry and sheet metal, and encourages students interested in learning more about the trades to reach out to local trade unions and training centers to learn more.