I switched from corporate marketing to industrial electrical work at 36. I...

I switched from corporate marketing to industrial electrical work at 36. I was burned out on endless meetings and spreadsheet manipulation. I had always been handy, fixing things around the house, so I looked into trade school programs. The transition took about 2 years total. I spent the first 6 months taking night classes at a community college while working my marketing job. Then I quit and did a paid apprenticeship for 18 months, making about half what I used to. But honestly, the debt relief was real. I came out with zero student loans because the program was cheap, and I was earning money during the apprenticeship.

A few things I learned that might help. First, do not underestimate the value of your soft skills. In the trades, a lot of guys are great with their hands but terrible with clients or paperwork. My marketing background made me the go-to person for writing bids and talking to homeowners. I started my own small electrical business three years later and I am booked solid because I can actually communicate. Second, be realistic about the physical toll. I am 45 now and my knees are not what they used to be. I would not recommend a labor-intensive trade if you are not prepared for that.

Also, ignore the people who tell you are too old. In the trades, 35 is young. Most master electricians I work with started in their 30s or 40s after other careers. The apprenticeship program had guys up to 55 in it.

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Gonzales Paris @parisgonzales4478

Man, this hit home. I’m 38 and been toying with leaving my desk job for something hands-on… the part about soft skills being a secret weapon really clicked for me. I’ve always been the one who can talk to anyone but can barely change a lightbulb lol. How was the learning curve for the actual electrical theory? That’s what scares me most tbh.
15 days ago

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