How to Choose the Right Trade

Can’t decide which trade to do? It’s important to choose a career path that caters for your strengths and ambitions.

Whether you’re looking for the best trades in Australia for wages, work life balance, advancement opportunities, or industry growth, there are many considerations to keep in mind when trying to answer the “what trade should I do?” question.

If you’re worried about choosing the wrong trade, these tips will help you make the right decision.  

Consider Your Strengths

Rather than being guided by employment trends or the opinions of other people, think about what you’re good at. If you enjoy practical work and hate the idea of being stuck behind a desk all day, you may be suited to a hands-on trade like carpentry or plumbing.

You could have what it takes to succeed in an engineering trade or as a site manager if you’re an analytical thinker and good at overseeing complex projects. Being skilled at whichever trade you choose will naturally make getting qualified easier, as you’ll pick up skills faster.

Think of Your Earning Potential

Different trades offer various career advancement opportunities. Whether you want to start your own business, become a contractor, or work for someone on a permanent basis, you can take your career as a tradie in a range of different directions.

If you’ve always dreamt of being in charge on a job site, you could work your way up the ranks of a company until you reach a senior role such as site manager or project manager.

You could also start your own trade company if you’ve got the business acumen. This can be a risky move, as you’ll need to manage finances and employees in addition to delivering a high standard of trade services. But if you’re smart with how you structure your company and can build a large client base, it’s possible to make a lot of money as a business owner.

Plan Your Career Trajectory

Different trades offer various career advancement opportunities. Whether you want to start your own business, become a contractor, or work for someone on a permanent basis, you can take your career as a tradie in a range of different directions.

If you’ve always dreamt of being in charge on a job site, you could work your way up the ranks of a company until you reach a senior role such as site manager or project manager.

You could also start your own trade company if you’ve got the business acumen. This can be a risky move, as you’ll need to manage finances and employees in addition to delivering a high standard of trade services. But if you’re smart with how you structure your company and can build a large client base, you can make a lot of money as a business owner.

Deciding on a trade can be daunting but following a career pathway that suits your personality will make your happier and more motivated in whichever job you choose. To make choosing a trade easier, learn more about what’s involved with getting qualified on our Information for Apprenticeships and Trainees page. For additional insights into how trades have evolved in Australia, check out our article: How Trades Have Changed in Australia.

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