About a decade ago, I took a furniture-building class on a whim. I fell in love with it instantly. At the time, I seriously considered going into carpentry, but I was graduating from college with six figures of student debt. I couldn't afford to chase a passion; I needed to chase a paycheck.
So, I chose tech. I climbed the ladder and eventually landed a role as a sales enablement operations strategist. On paper, it was exactly what I had aspired to: stability, good pay, and solid benefits. In reality, I felt entirely disconnected from my work.
Then came the AI boom. Over the past year, my company has pushed us to force AI into every single aspect of our workflow. The culture shifted overnight. It felt like being on a massive cruise ship executing a violent U-turn at full speed—and everyone was falling overboard. I knew I wanted out. In March, I finally jumped.
Pivoting From the Keyboard to the Trade Union
The catalyst for my next move came from an unexpected place. I was listening to a podcast where the hosts mentioned a growing push for women to enter the skilled trades. Something clicked. I thought, “You know what? Let’s give this a shot.”
Because I don't have kids and don't own a home, I was in a unique position to take a risk. I walked into the local trade union office in Las Vegas, where a rep walked me through their four-year carpentry apprenticeship programs, compensation packages, and benefits.
To get the ball rolling, I gathered my paperwork and completed a 10-hour OSHA construction safety course online for $60. But while entering the system was simple, finding an actual job proved to be an entirely different beast.
The Hustle: Hunting for a Sponsorship
To enter the apprenticeship program, you need to be sponsored by an employer. The union rep gave me a list of active construction sites and told me to go talk to the foremen directly.
As someone coming from a corporate background, this was terrifying. In my first week, I visited seven different construction sites. It required an immense amount of problem-solving. Sometimes the union list would just give the address of a massive casino, leaving me to wander around trying to find the actual construction entrance.
When I did find the right area, the foremen were always incredibly busy. I had to use every ounce of my people skills to read the room, find a breaking point in their day, and deliver a tight, 30-second elevator pitch introducing myself as a new apprentice.
At one point, I thought I had landed a sponsor, but their program hours ultimately clashed with the union's requirements. It was back to square one.
Playing the Long Game
It has been nearly a month, and I am still looking for a sponsor. My specific interest is in millwork (architectural woodwork), which is currently facing a seasonal slowdown. Because I am financially stable enough to wait, I’m holding out for a millwork placement rather than jumping into a different carpentry scope.
I’m keeping a detailed log of every foreman I meet, setting reminders to follow up with them later this year when project hiring picks back up.
A Note on Age: When I first committed to carpentry, I felt a pang of regret. I kept thinking, “I wish I had done this when I was 18.” But in hindsight, I’m incredibly grateful I waited until my 30s.
The trades are physically demanding and heavily male-dominated. It took me a decade in the corporate world to learn how to establish firm boundaries, read people, and stand up for myself. If I had entered this industry at 18, I don't think I would have survived. Furthermore, spending time in corporate America cured my curiosity—I now know with absolute certainty that the desk life isn't for me.
A New Kind of Workplace Culture
I am entirely confident in my decision to leave tech. While no union is perfect, I am incredibly excited to be part of an employment ecosystem that actually puts the worker first.
Recently, I attended my very first union meeting, and it was a massive culture shock in the best way possible. Seeing people from entirely different companies sit down together to share experiences, trade advice, and offer genuine support was overwhelming. I actually welled up. I realized I had never felt that level of structural support in my entire corporate career.
My journey in the trades is just beginning, and I still have to secure that first official job. But for the first time in a long time, I am genuinely excited for the future.