Changing Careers From Retail: Learn a Trade

Changing careers is never an easy decision and for those who have spent years in retail and are considering a shift to a trade profession, the transition can seem daunting. This blog will go over why a transition from retail to the trades could be the perfect opportunity for personal and professional growth and will discuss how Access Training can help you make the leap.

Why Transition from Retail to the Trades?

Job Stability and Demand

Retail jobs heavily rely on customer behaviour and thus can often be unpredictable with seasonal fluctuations and store closures. The trades however, offer more stability due to skilled tradespeople always being in demand.

So, whether you want to become an electrician, plumber or gas engineer, industries and infrastructures will continue to grow and there will always be a demand for skilled workers who can fix, build and maintain.

Potential Pay Increase

Although retail salaries tend to be reasonable, there is a potential to more than double your earnings once you have experience in the trades. The more experience you have and the more skilled you become, the more you can charge for your services.

Rewarding Work

Working in fields like construction or electrical installation means that you are able to see the immediate impact of your work, providing a real sense of accomplishment.

Work-Life Balance

Unlike the unsociable and unpredictable hours of retail work, many trade jobs offer more standard working hours. Plus, if you’re looking to progress to working independently or supervising your own team, you can set your own hours and be as flexible with your schedule as you want.

Transferrable Skills

Although they may seem like completely different areas of expertise, some of the skills you have gained in retail are valuable and transferrable to the trades, for example:

• Customer service skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Time management skills
• Multi-tasking skills
• Attention to detail
• Teamwork and collaboration

By recognizing and leveraging these skills, you can hit the ground running and quickly find success in the trades.

Still unsure if you can make the leap? Check out this testimonial from Ross, who started our electrics course after years of working in retail:

How Do I Get Started?

At Access Training, we know that deciding to leave your current job is a big decision to make. This is why we have our team of friendly Course Advisors on hand to help you choose the course that is right for you and make the process as easy as possible.

With the right mindset, training and perseverance you can successfully make the shift to the trades and reap the rewards of job security, better earnings and a greater sense of satisfaction in your work. So if you’re ready to get started, the opportunity is there, you just need to take the first step!

Choose a Course

Learn your trade, Get qualified. Make it happen.