For those interested in a pathway outside the heavy debt burden of university, apprenticeships and VET pathways offer greater benefits than one might imagine.

Guest Blog by Harriet Grummet

The vast majority of students who graduated from my private high school went straight into uni degrees. One of my friends described it as the “natural pathway” to take after finishing school: a Bachelors's degree, maybe a Masters, then into the workforce. But why should a debt burden of $30k and graduation into a highly competitive workforce be the “natural pathway”? Careers in trade are often neglected by career counsellors, to the detriment of students who would likely thrive in hands-on apprenticeships, free from debt.

Even more enticing is the fact that those in apprenticeships are essentially paid to learn. Sure, the starting rate is around $12 an hour, but the rates quickly increase as the apprenticeship progresses. Getting paid to learn means you don’t have to find a part-time job on top of your studies, unlike those in uni degrees. 

A Career in Trade is More Lucrative Than You May Think

Undertaking a career in trade is also more lucrative than you may think: some electricians can earn up to $91,000 a year straight of their apprenticeship. This is compared to the median annual salary of $54,000 for new bachelor degree graduates in their first full-time job, according to Graduate Careers Australia. 

Plus, employment rates for those going into trade tend to be far higher than those for university graduates. In 2014, 84.1 percent of trade and apprenticeship graduates found work, whereas only 68.8 per cent of their university counterparts were employed full-time.

Don’t Let Your High School Score Be The Deciding Factor of Your Career

Finally, try not to let your academic skills or gender influence your decision about whether you take up a pathway in trade and apprenticeships. Even if your ATAR is 90+, you don’t have to enter a uni degree just for the sake of it. University may well be the best decision for you, but so might a trade pathway! 

Similarly, don’t be put off by the stereotype that tradies are mostly men. There are heaps of female tradies out there (just ask @melbournechippychick!) and cool initiatives to encourage more women to enter trades (check out BUSYAtWork if you’re in Queensland). 

Here’s an infographic with some of the most popular VET courses in New South Wales - see if a career in trade could work for you!