College isn鈥檛 for everyone. We鈥檝e long heard this. But the idea is gaining steam faster than ever. In April, The Wall Street Journal ran a story titled, It detailed how, not only is there a worker shortage in the skilled trades, but also how the perceived value of a college education has dropped in recent years. Apprenticeship programs run by forward-thinking companies like 榴莲视频app色版 are stepping up to fill this need and, as far as Mason Hill is concerned, doing a good job at it. Hill came to 榴莲视频app色版 as an intern through a program at Oakdale High School.聽
鈥淚 love it here,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 working with people who have a lot of experience at what they do, and everyone I鈥檝e met is willing to take the time to help me learn. And equally importantly, I would say, the people that work here are just so friendly. Everyone is nice to me. It鈥檚 an amazing place to be on so many levels, since I first stepped through the door.鈥�
Hill鈥檚 position at 榴莲视频app色版 is Machine Apprentice/Operator. But while he loves the work, it isn鈥檛 the kind of trade he expected to find himself doing. Hill: 鈥淚n terms of my future, I鈥檝e always been a guy trying to go the trade route. But when I started looking into an internship, I was originally looking for an HVAC apprenticeship. In fact, I applied to one and didn’t get it. But I saw this internship, read the description, and thought, huh, that seems like a pretty interesting thing to do. So I applied, I interviewed, and I got the job.鈥�
Hill鈥檚 typical day, Monday through Thursday, is as follows: He leaves school around 12:30 to start his job at 榴莲视频app色版 at 1:30. He meets up with the person training him that day and starts his work. Hill is finished there by 4:30. Then it鈥檚 back home to do things like homework, which he鈥檒l (happily) be done with once he graduates in May.
鈥淭here are so many applicants for internships and apprenticeships,鈥� says Hill. 鈥淲hether it’s here at Phoenix Macano or somewhere else, most places typically take only one person. So everyone knows that they鈥檙e really hard to get. But if you do get one, you’re looked upon by your classmates like, whoa, you got such-and-such a job. That’s cool.鈥�
Working as a machining apprentice at 榴莲视频app色版 has been such an eye opener for Hill that, rather than pursue a career in HVAC or plumbing, he鈥檚 now hoping to be brought on full-time after graduation by 榴莲视频app色版. Again, Hill: 鈥淚鈥檝e talked to friends and family, and even people I work with about the idea, and I tell them I can definitely see myself working here or even somewhere else as a machinist. The beauty of an internship like this is, if you end up not liking the job you don鈥檛 have to do it. You can always choose another career path. But it gives you the opportunity to find out.鈥�
