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By: Katie Sullivan, Director of Marketing at Corley Plumbing Air Electric

Seven years ago, I started in inside sales at a plumbing and electric company wondering, "How can I possibly grow in this ‘job’?" I didn't even want to interview. Thankfully someone persistently kept this opportunity in front of me. My plan was to stay for a few months until I could find something 'better.' Within days of being at Corley, I recognized I was someplace special.

I believe we want to make a difference with our lives, and I can say with all sincerity that this ‘job’ is what has allowed me to do that both personally and professionally. My personal and professional development are inextricably linked to this 'job'. I doubt I would have had the professional experiences were it not for this plumbing company. As you can probably tell by now, I use quotations around job, because this ‘job’ is so much more than that.

If I could offer one piece of advice it would be this: Don’t let your perceptions allow you to pass up what could be a life changing opportunity. My views of the trades and traditional education have changed completely over these years. I now use my passion to advocate for the trades and apprenticeships, something that was never on my radar.

I see thousands of positions go unfilled across the country because people don’t want to work for a plumbing or heating and cooling company. However, these companies need accountants, marketers, logistics, HR, and yes, tradesmen. There is a perception that trades jobs are dirty and dangerous, or that they require little skill or thinking and offer virtually no career advancement. Pop culture depicts workers as bumbling, poor, stupid, lazy, sleazy, and rude. All of this has created a culture where vocational programs, including programs at our Greenville County School’s Career Centers, see decreased matriculation and struggle to remain open.

These stereotypes couldn’t be farther from the truth. The trades offer financial and job security without crippling student loan debt. There is no denying that tradesmen work hard, but they are professionals. They keep our communities safe, comfortable, and sanitary. Tradesmen are the reason we can charge our phones, flush our toilets, and stay cool in humid SC summers. Our entire infrastructure is the result of skilled tradesmen.

So how do we change a community mindset about the trades? First, let’s start by respecting the work that these men and women do to keep us safe and comfortable. When you see a service truck, stop and say, “thank you.” Admire and recognize the work they are doing in our community. Second, encourage children to explore the trades. It might not be their career path, but allow it to be an option. Teach them to appreciate the training and education that goes into learning a skill.

The skilled trades deficit developed over decades. While I hope to see this gap shrink during my career, I know it will only happen if we start today to imagine the possibilities the skilled trades offer.