In an era of rapid technological volatility, the definition of a “good job” is undergoing a radical shift. High-earning professionals now face the unsettling reality of mid-career layoffs, even in industries once considered untouchable. This was the catalyst for Zen Stewart, a 34-year-old in Raleigh, North Carolina. After being displaced from roles she thought were secure, Stewart sought to de-risk her professional life by pivoting to a career that was fundamentally “AI-proof.”
Her search led her to the electrical trade—a field that offers high-demand technical skills, creative problem-solving, and a protective layer of union benefits. Now earning $43,000 a year as an electrician in training, Stewart’s move highlights how skilled labor can provide a level of career agency that the corporate world often lacks.
Here are the five most impactful lessons from her transition into the trades.
1. The “Golden Ticket” of Union Portability
One of the most tactical moves in Stewart’s pivot was her decision to pursue the union path. In the trades, a union journeyman’s license is widely regarded as a “golden ticket” because it provides a level of labor portability that is unheard of in most white-collar sectors.
Once an electrician earns this credential, they can “sign the books” at union halls across the United States. This allows a worker to chase demand and mitigate local market fluctuations. For instance, a journeyman can choose to take a call in a high-wage state like New York to maximize their earnings. This flexibility is compounded by the “per diem”—an allowance for living expenses that ensures the base wage remains pure profit or savings.
“They call it the golden ticket, because once you get that, you could work anywhere in the U.S. So if there’s a job in New York, I could sign the books for that… you could earn a lot more if you do decide to travel, because you get paid the wage of the journeymen in the state that you take the call in. Plus you get per diem.”
Beyond the pay, the union offers a protective infrastructure—specifically health benefits and job-site support—that non-union roles often lack, creating a more stable foundation for a career switcher.
2. The “Earn While You Learn” Reality
Unlike the traditional “debt trap” of higher education, the trades offer a superior ROI through an immediate “earn while you learn” model. However, there is no “cushion” for those entering the field.
Stewart’s first day was a trial by fire.
She wasn’t in a classroom.
She wasn’t shadowing from the ground.
She was on a ladder.
She was installing “bang-ons” for conduit.
She was being paid to produce from hour one.
While this sink-or-swim environment can be jarring, it is an immense strategic advantage. By removing the insulation of traditional theory-based learning, the trades build technical competence and confidence at a pace no university can match.
3. Navigating the Male-Dominated “Proof of Competence”
Entering a male-dominated job site requires more than just physical stamina; it requires psychological resolve. Stewart acknowledges that as a woman, there is an inherent pressure to prove her capability more frequently than her male peers.
Her strategy for navigating this environment is one of absolute self-reliance. Whether it is lifting heavy material or bending conduit—a physically demanding task that is the hallmark of the electrical trade—she insists on doing the work herself. By refusing to step aside when the work gets difficult, she establishes her authority and earns her place on the crew.
“I knew in my core that something else was out there for me. I didn’t know what it was at that moment, but I was like, again, I don’t want to keep wasting money on something that I knew wasn’t exactly for me.”
This internal drive allowed her to bypass the “helper” phase quickly and focus on the technical mastery required to advance toward her license.
4. The Visual Satisfaction of Commercial Creation
Modern office work often leaves employees feeling like a cog in an abstract machine, but commercial electrical work provides immediate, tangible results. Stewart’s daily routine involves the intricate process of running conduit, pulling wire, and setting fixtures.
There is a specific technical satisfaction in the “dirt to light” process. She describes the rewarding nature of arriving at a raw, dirt-filled construction site and staying with the project until the lights are flicked on. The work requires disciplined precision—such as the specific order for splicing wires: ground first, then neutral, then hot. This combination of physical labor and logical problem-solving provides a level of fulfillment that “desk jobs” rarely replicate.
5. Why Social Media is the New Trade School Research
For those looking to mitigate the risk of a career pivot, Stewart suggests using social media as a primary research tool. Because the electrical field is segmented into various sectors—residential, commercial, and industrial—the day-to-day reality varies wildly.
She recommends using YouTube to find “day-in-the-life” content to understand the physical and technical demands before committing. Stewart herself uses content creation to provide transparency, even recording herself going up in a lift to show the reality of working at heights. Her core message is simple: do not let a “lack of experience” be a barrier to entry. In the current labor market, your willingness to take the first step and “power through” is more valuable than any degree.
A Final Thought on Career Agency
Zen Stewart is currently preparing for her aptitude test and interview, the final hurdles before officially becoming a union journeyman. Her journey from the insecurity of “good jobs” to the high-demand world of the trades is a testament to the power of taking control of your own professional security.
As AI continues to disrupt the white-collar workforce, it is time to ask a difficult question: Is your career truly safe from automation, or is it time to look toward a field where your value is tied to your own hands? In the trades, your ceiling is defined by nothing but your own drive and focus.
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