This time of year, a lot of high school graduates are answering questions about what comes next for them. I always like to encourage students to consider the trades if they think it might be a good fit.

Being an electrical contractor has really worked out well for my son, Chris. He wasn't really sure what he wanted to do when he graduated from high school but found his way to an apprenticeship training program. That lead to a job where he was able to work his way up over the years — and now he runs the place. He likes that he's solving new challenges and working in new locations every day. As a father, I appreciate that he found a lasting career without spending a fortune on higher education costs.

That's a large part of the reason I really like the New Jersey Independent Electrical Contractors' apprenticeship program. Not only do students learn in a state-of-the-art, local lab, but they also earn while they learn, immediately applying the skills learned in the classroom at full-time, paid jobs that allow them to graduate debt-free.

Let that sink in. Debt free vs. the average college student who graduates with $28,950 in student debt. Starting your career without debt really puts you light years ahead of your peers.

If you're excited about working in a high-demand, well-paid career, give IEC's program a closer look at myelectriccareer.com.

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