What is success? Young people are redefining the word as they experiment and evolve through important life stages. Today, success isn’t tied to one’s age or riches, but rather identity and independence. Those categorized as Gen Z define themselves by their achievements while considering their hobbies important to their sense of self. With college expenses increasing and 58% of young adults unable to afford their lifestyle without parental support, success may feel unattainable.
Trade schools offer the opportunity to combine passions, skills, and balance to help pave a path towards success. No two paths towards success look the same, what will your path be?
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How To Become Successful
Nearly half of college graduates say student debt wasn’t worth their degree
Younger Generations Redefine Success
- What Is Most Important To Your Identity?
- Most adults say it’s their family and upbringing
- Boomers: 46%
- Gen X: 40%
- Millennials: 40%
- BUT, Gen Z finds identity elsewhere
- 43% define themselves by their achievements, in school and their career
- Most adults say it’s their family and upbringing
- When Do You Reach Adulthood?
- Today’s young adults don’t think growing up is just about their age
- Less than 1 in 3 young adults think traditional milestones signal adulthood
- Owning a home
- Getting married
- Having children
- What milestones marks the beginning of adulthood?
- Financial independence: 75%
- Full time employment: 61%
- Moving out of parents’ home: 42%
- What Does Success Look Like?
- 42% of Gen Z have clear goals for the next 5 years
- By age 30, Gen Zers plan to
- Finish their education: 66%
- Start a career: 66%
- Gain financial independence: 55%
- Follow their dreams: 55%
- 58% of young adults can’t afford their lifestyle without parental support
Despite defining success based on financial independence, only 19% of young adults consider being rich a marker of success
Trade School Myths*
41% of young Americans would choose a trade school over college 一 Why? Learning a trade leads to better career opportunities and higher earning potential
- Myth: 9 in 10 adults think trade school doesn’t lead to a high-paying job
- Average annual salary for trade school graduates: $65,000
- Entry level annual salary
- Trade school: $35,000
- Bachelor’s degree: $47,000
- After 10 years, the pay gap narrows to only $1,347 per year
- Entry level annual salary
- Average annual salary for trade school graduates: $65,000
- Myth: 8 in 10 adults think trade school graduates don’t have good job security
- 4 of the 5 fastest growing careers in the U.S. don’t require a degree
- Trade school graduates experience lower unemployment rate than college graduates
- Trade school: 4.0% unemployment
- College grads: 8.5% unemployment
- Myth: 4 in 5 adults think trade school graduate don’t get hired quickly
- As Boomers reach retirement, skilled trade jobs are hard to fill
- 80% of contractors are struggling to find skilled workers
- Including plumbing, roofing, HVAC, electrical and more
- 60% of metal workers say labor shortages are their biggest concern
- Other manufacturing shortages include CNC operators, industrial maintenance techs, and skilled welders
- 30% of hospitals have trouble filling positions
- Including lab techs, imaging techs, LPNs, and CNAs
- 80% of contractors are struggling to find skilled workers
- As Boomers reach retirement, skilled trade jobs are hard to fill
- Myth: 2 in 3 adults think trade schools and college grads are equally in debt
- While trade school graduates start out making less, they enter the workforce 2 years earlier, and with minimal debt
- Trade school program: $33,000
- Average debt: $10,000
- Bachelor’s degree: $127,000
- Average debt: $30,000
- Trade school program: $33,000
- While trade school graduates start out making less, they enter the workforce 2 years earlier, and with minimal debt
After student loan payments, college grads are actually making LESS than trade school grads
“Stop chasing the money and start chasing the passion.” ー Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos
How To Achieve Success
Young adults want jobs that combine security, good pay, and passion 一 80% say their current position isn’t meaningful enough
- Define Your Success
- Get a promotion: A better title and corner office doesn’t always come with a big pay raise, but if you’re paid well already, a little recognition goes a long way
- Find work/life balance: Shorter hours are rarely offered to management ー flexible scheduling and avoiding overtime may be worth more than the extra pay
- Make more money: Crippling student debt? Extravagant lifestyle? If these are your primary goals, be prepared to work long hours and take on extra projects
- Become an expert: Learning new skills can lead to more work, more authority and higher pay ー making you a valuable asset to any employer
“The more you learn, the more you earn” 一 Warren Buffet
- Don’t Fear Failure
- “Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” 一 Winston Churchill
- Accept constructive criticism: Remember that your skills can change and grow, how well you do something now doesn’t define your identity
- Reflect on your success: What are your current skills? What skills need some work? How does what you’re doing now help you get your dream job?
- Waste Time Wisely
- 42% of Gen Zers consider hobbies important to their sense of self ー more than any other generation
- Hobbies can do more than fill your spare time
- Build Job Skills: Formal learning isn’t the only way to get better at your job
- Exercise: Builds mindfulness, focus, and awareness
- Music: Develops self-discipline, experimentation, and listening skills
- Carpentry: Practices math, mechanics, and critical thinking
- Increase Your Confidence: Regardless of career choice, confidence will help you reach your goals
- Acting: Improves speaking skills, confidence, and memorization
- Gaming: Increases self-esteem and winning help you feel successful
- Travel: Teaches you to navigate unfamiliar circumstances
- 42% of Gen Zers consider hobbies important to their sense of self ー more than any other generation
What will your path to success look like?
Sources:
- https://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/7-hobbies-that-build-real-and-lasting-confidence
- https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c517/5a9619f304bdd7c7dcf2add6f767697403ac.pdf
- https://www.freshu.io/natasha-beauchesne/11-hobbies-to-take-up-that-build-useful-skills
- https://jeffjbutler.com/2019/04/10/millennials-and-generation-z-how-do-they-achieve-success-in-the-workplace
- https://www.inc.com/jayson-demers/51-quotes-to-inspire-success-in-your-life-and-business.html
- https://www.thesimpledollar.com/why-you-should-consider-trade-school-instead-of-college
- https://studentloanhero.com/student-loan-debt-statistics
- https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/West_Paradox-of-Worker-Shortages.pdf
- https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/articles/an-industry-in-crisis
- https://www.agc.org/sites/default/files/Files/Communications/2018_Workforce_Survey_National.pdf
- https://www.valuecolleges.com/university-community-college-trade-school
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/fastest-growing.htm
- https://www.air.org/news/press-release/associate-s-degrees-and-certificates-can-be-path-middle-class-new-report-colorado
- https://www.forconstructionpros.com/rental/article/21077727/bigrentzcom-survey-what-do-young-americans-really-think-about-trade-school
- https://www.barna.com/research/is-gen-z-the-most-success-oriented-generation
- https://mlaem.fs.ml.com/content/dam/ML/Registration/merr9555_EarlyAdulthoodStudy_v05a_pages.pdf
- https://www.barna.com/research/is-gen-z-the-most-success-oriented-generation
- https://www.gobankingrates.com/saving-money/education/americans-regret-college-survey