AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW SKILL BUILDERS PROGRAM
How The New Skill Builders Can Help You
The New Skill Builders is a 13-week program designed to introduce qualified applicants to the construction industry. We will help prepare you for rigorous apprenticeship examinations (i.e. academic review), teach you how to complete many types of construction projects, connect you with key construction industry contacts, and help you prepare for the physical rigors of the job. Once you complete the 13-week program, we will even buy you a set of tools. Stipends are also available for graduates who enter unpaid pre-apprentice programs. We don't give stipends to graduates entering paid apprenticeships because they won't need it (we'll get to that in a second).
How Much Does It Cost?
There is no cost for you to participate in the New Skill Builders. But there are a few limitations:
- We have 3 New Skill Builders cycles per year.
- Space is limited to 30-40 applicants per cycle.
- You must be qualified to participate.
What Kind Of Jobs Are Available?
As a New Skill Builders graduate, you will have many potential job opportunities available, depending upon when apprenticeship programs offer examinations, your interest in various apprenticeship opportunities, and your ability to gain admission into the program. While we can't guarantee that you'll gain admission into an apprentice program, we can guarantee that you'll be ready to apply. You'll just have to want it.
A good sample of careers in the construction industry can be found here.
So How Much Can I Make?
It's a long road to entering the construction industry. But it's a road you can travel with a little help from us and LOTS of dedication from yourself. It also helps to know that your dedication will pay off in real money. The real money can come from two types of opportunities: pre-apprentice programs; and apprentice programs.
Pre-apprentice programs are prepatory programs provided by many unions that are designed to prepare candidates for a full-fledged apprenticeship within that union. They are usually short in time (1 year or less), and by the end, you'll be ready apply to that union's apprenticeship program. The down-side is that pre-apprentice programs are unpaid - thus making them difficult to complete if you have other obligations. However, we'll help you there...if you graduate the New Skill Builders program and enter a pre-apprentice program, we'll pay you a weekly stipend to help you get make ends meet.
Apprentice programs, on the other hand, are multi-year educational programs where you'll both work in you trade as well as engage in study related to your trade. In addition, you'll be paid to learn and work! You'll also be known as an apprentice, and the amount you earn is based upon how much journeymen (people who complete the apprenticeship program and work in the trade) earn.
Generally speaking, you'll earn about a percentage of the journeyman's salary during your first year, and that amount increases each year of apprenticeship until you reach your final apprenticeship year. By that time, you'll be earning 75% or more of the journeyman's salary. Once you graduate the apprenticeship program, you'll reach journeymen status...You'll be licensed to work in your trade, and you'll make the full salary.
The following are some sample salaries...
We're Looking For A Few Good Men & Women!
We hope you're interested in learning more about the New Skill Builders Program, because we're looking for a few good men and women! If you are indeed interested, please review the links to the left of this page for more information. If you have any questions, just give us a call at 773-548-8601 or shoot us an email.
