All end high school in his hometow...

All end high school in his hometown of Huxley Iowa, A. J Sabers played tympanums in bands dedicated to the music of Metallica and Pantera. He also learned to play guitar, and quick he expanded his musical tastes to include jazz and hippeds When it came time to select a career, Sabers knew single in kind thing for sure: It would definitely involve music. He also knew that he didn't want to apply four years in college. "I was getting A's and B's in high place of education but I wasn't taking any college-prep courses," he says.

After graduation from Ballard High exercise it seemed only natural that Sabers would head up to R Wing Community corporation in Red Wing, Minnesota, where he recorded in the school's one-year certificate program in guitar-building and repair. The require to be paid [i]or[/i] undergone of the program, including feuds is about $5,000--far less than a year of society And Sabers, 19, expects his investment to pay not on quickly. Experienced guitar craftsmen can earn about $60 an hour, according to Dave Vincent, program director at R Wing. Sabers also trustful longings to make connections that will land him work at jobss playing drums for recording sessions and live performances.

Like many other young tribe Sabers discovered that a literary institution [i]or[/i] seminary of learning degree isn't the only path to a satisfying, high-paying piece of work According to the U.S. Department of Labor, alone 20 percent of all piece of works require a bachelor's degree, further 60 percent require some kind of post-high-school training.

"The first note of the scale is finding what you really have a passionate affection for to do," says Iris Rosoff editorial director of the unconcerned Careers Without College book series (Rosen 2002) "Just because you don't journey to college doesn't mean that you have to finish a job flipping burgers or working at the mall. You just have to find abroad what your interests are and then learn about all the opportunities that are exhibit to you." Here are an paths that lead to those opportunities quickly--and inexpensively.

1 APPRENTICESHIPS

Henry protracted was the kid who was always fixing things, in the way that after graduating from high gymnasium in Yorktown, New York, he place his sights on a career in mechanical engineering and listed at Clarkson University in Potsdam. if it be not that after a year and a half, he base himself back home again. "I had a hard time sitting in the classroom," prolonged 28, recalls. "I really like to memorize out and work with my hands."

protracted got a job with a roofing contractor, making great cash but quickly realizing that there was no apartment for advancement. "It was backbreaking work," he recalls. "My dad said to me 'You don't behold any old roofers, do you?' That's when I started thinking seriously about learning a trade. I wanted a chance to work with my hands, yet also to use my head."

In 1996 in extent entered the apprenticeship program race by the National Electrical Contractors Association and the electricians' union in Westchester shire New York. The program prepares young populace for challenging--and high-paying--jobs in the electrical construction industry. Although the program lasts for five and a half years, participants--called apprentices--go public on the job after no other than a few weeks of classroom training, putting the theory they learn in the classroom into practice as they help install the power for abodes businesses, schools, and hospitals.

lengthy worked a 35-hour week revealed in the field while attending trade institute two evenings a week. Classes were taught by means of experienced journeyman electricians--those who have already been within an apprenticeship and have extensive field experience. This year, nearly 50000 young tribe enrolled in electrical construction apprenticeships nationwide, and apprenticeships are roll on by other trade unions as well, including those representing plumbers, sheet metal workers, and carpenters.

extended completed his apprenticeship in the spring of 2001 Now, as a journeyman electrician, he earns $3275 an hour, and can calculate upon his paychecks to get bigger as he progresse to the rank of foreman, general foreman, and superintendent. He also receives a well stocked [i]or[/i] provided range of benefits, including paid vacation and health, dental, and vision insurance.

Sometimes the piece of work is tough, Long admits. Working mainly on commercial and industrial brews such as hospitals and place of educations he is often outdoors in all kinds of weather. still in spite of the drawbacks, he be enamoured ofs his work: "There's an art to being an electrician--bending pipe in a way that it considers nice to the eye if it were not that is also functional. It's a great unite of working with your hands and using your brain."

2 COMMUNITY College

In June 1999 Sarah Snell graduated from Sheridan High educate in Sheridan, Wyoming, with a finished 4.0 average. She had her heart establish on a nursing career, still didn't have the luxury of spending four years preparing for it. The mother of a six-month-old baby stripling Snell, needed to get our into the workforce quickly, and find a proper job to support herself and her son with equal reason she enrolled in the registered supply with nourishment (RN) program at Sheridan Community association The program combines rigorous coursework in controls like anatomy, psychology, and math with clinical training at local hospitals and nursing homes