King bell
VIP Contributor
You can make money from your hand skill, also called a trade. The most common form of this is through an apprenticeship. In this system, you are paid to learn a craft, and you provide labor in return. You'll get on-the-job training with experienced tradespeople and their tools. This type of work usually requires some sort of formal training in addition to your on-the-job experience, which is the main barrier for people considering becoming a craftsman or artisan. But don't let that discourage you: despite the amount of time it takes to become qualified as an expert at one specific trade, the hours can be much steadier than those available in many professions that require more schooling or experience up front (such as medicine or law). You can find apprenticeships where you live, or you can make your own way by traveling and learning skills as you go.
If you're an academic type who prefers to stay in school and learn skills on the side, consider starting or joining a co-op program. These programs don't always take the place of an apprenticeship but they can offer valuable supplementary knowledge. Some are even run by professional associations in order to help their members keep abreast of current developments in their fields.
If you're an academic type who prefers to stay in school and learn skills on the side, consider starting or joining a co-op program. These programs don't always take the place of an apprenticeship but they can offer valuable supplementary knowledge. Some are even run by professional associations in order to help their members keep abreast of current developments in their fields.
