A Common Interest Form for the Trades: Download the Construction Trades app

During the junior year of high school in Minnesota, students are introduced to the Common Application, a college application that allows students to apply to more than 800 colleges and universities around the world – all by filling out just one form.

Construction Careers Foundation, a Twin Cities nonprofit recommends juniors also download the Construction Trades app, the first free mobile app for Minnesota youth interested in exploring careers in Minnesota’s construction industry and pursuing an apprenticeship. The new app is available for download on the Apple App and Google Play stores.

The best part – just like the Common Application, the Construction Trades app has a seamless interest form to local, paid union apprenticeship opportunities across the state. Better yet, the app makes the search for an apprenticeship easy by pairing a students’ selected career interests with updated career information and opportunities.

“We’ve interviewed Minnesota Union Training Center leaders and consolidated apprenticeship qualifications into one form on the app, so students experience the most seamless construction trades apprenticeship information gathering process,” said Sarah Lechowich, senior director of the Construction Careers Foundation, a Twin Cities nonprofit that oversees Construction Career Pathways, a statewide initiative to make young people throughout Minnesota more aware of careers in Minnesota’s construction industry.

The app hosts a variety of information about more than 30 different careers in Minnesota’s construction trades – from drywall carpenters to electricians to heavy equipment operators.

Many of these skilled professions offer three- to five-year apprenticeships where young people are paid to learn a specific craft (such as pipefitting). Apprenticeships through Minnesota’s building and construction trade unions also offer pensions and healthcare benefits.

“Entry requirements are different for each trade, so the Construction Trades app continues to provide students with the most updated and consolidated information approved by Minnesota Union Training Center leaders,” Lechowich said. “In September alone we posted seven different apprenticeship opportunities spanning from Rochester, to the Twin Cities and the Iron Range. No matter where you live in Minnesota, this app is made for you.”

Students also can personalize their app experience by selecting their career interests, current location (zip code) and educational background.

“By customizing the app through filling out their interests, students have a personalized career-search hub at their fingertips,” Lechowich said. “Push notifications alert youth about Minnesota construction apprenticeships that align with their selected interests and notify students of application deadlines as well as local opportunities such as open houses and career fairs.”

Students also can launch the ConstructionCareers.org website from the app to continue learning about apprenticeship requirements and sign-up for construction-related programs.