Not everyone wants to go to college after high school. In fact, you might feel it’s a better life choice to skip college and instead start a career right away. But where can you start a career that will allow you to make a decent wage and develop a life-long career? The answer is the manufacturing industry.

If you’re looking to begin your career fresh out of high school, here’s why you should choose manufacturing and sign up for training programs through the Advanced Manufacturing Training Expansion Program (AMTEP).

No-Cost Training, No College Debt

A lot of high school students feel pressured to attend college out of fear that it’s the only way to get a high paying job. Unfortunately, that saddles them with college debt they’ll spend years paying off. This is even more daunting for those who feel they don’t learn as much in a traditional classroom and are apprehensive about another two to four years of school.

This is where AMTEP comes in. Our training programs are designed to provide no-cost training and job opportunities to unemployed and underemployed adults. This includes adults right out of high school looking to start a career. These courses provide hands-on experience for our students. They nurture the next generation of manufacturing professionals in a variety of fields, including CNC machining, welding, and more. 

“No-cost” and “free” might sound too good to be true. However, AMTEP is indeed no cost to you thanks to our partners in the manufacturing industry who benefit just as much from it as you do. You get hands-on training, relevant skills, and a career while they get potential employees who already know the ropes, saving them time and money on training. This means you could end up with a job offer right out of training.

Hands-On Training and Engaging Lessons

If traditional classroom learning didn’t interest you in high school, college wouldn’t be much better. That’s why our training programs are designed to be more engaging and teach the skills manufacturing employers actually need. 

Programs range from 280 to 415 hours spread out over several weeks and are designed for quick completion while also aligning to industry needs in an engaging way. Unlike in a college classroom, you’ll also experience work-based learning opportunities. You’ll meet with employers, tour a manufacturing site, and listen to guest speakers. It’s a great way to learn and gain skills if you feel that your standard classroom experience isn’t giving you what you need.

Start A Career, Not A Job

You might be wondering how a job you can get out of high school could lead to a career, even with a specialized training program. Will lead to a dead-end job or actual career path where you can advance and grow? For starters, we provide a variety of job assistance services. This includes working with experienced career counselors, developing resumes, writing cover letters, and preparing for interviews via the MAHire Career Center services. This gives you a leg up when it comes to finding a job that’s the right fit.

But you’re not just looking for a job. You want a career that will last rather than hopping from place to place. Manufacturing actually has a ton of career paths, and many opportunities to climb up the industry ladder. For example, take the machinist career path. This career path only needs a high school diploma or GED and training through AMTEP to secure an entry-level position making $34k a year. Then, just through hard work and gaining experience, you could get promoted to an Experienced Machinist making $79k per year! 

Don’t feel like your only options out of high school are college debt or dead end jobs. Sign up with AMTEP and start your manufacturing career today!