START Shows Path to Jobs in Union Trades

The START program’s new lead instructor, Robin Small-McCarthy, can barely contain her excitement for the START (Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Readiness Training) program.

The self-described “community educator” says she can’t wait to get her hands dirty on a Habitat for Humanity project, to get a better sense of what it’s like to work in the trades.

Having taught at the elementary and college levels, and more recently in a GED program, Small-McCarthy will be teaching math and language arts and providing one-on-one tutoring for START’s six-week apprenticeship readiness program.

“These guys are SO ready to learn,” she says enthusiastically. “There’s no resistance, no attitudes. They are not going to let life’s challenges beat them down anymore – and that makes teaching fun.”

How START Works

Following an orientation to the construction trades, START candidates take an aptitude test that allows the program to customize coursework and tutoring to individual needs. “The first thing we do is assess their strengths and weaknesses, so they know where they need work,” says Small-McCarthy

START also works closely with, and takes in graduates of, the Madison Apprenticeship Program (MAP) who have already had help developing their life skills, knowledge of personal finance, and job search strategies.

“They come out of MAP with a lot of self-confidence, ready to take on the world,” says START coordinator Mary Watrud.

Watrud interviews each participant early in the process to learn where their interests are and provide specific answers to their questions.

Over the six-week session, START participants get three hours of classroom instruction on Monday nights, and three more opportunities for one-on-one tutoring during times that meet their scheduling needs.

Some applicants get fast-tracked into tutoring in specific subjects they need to master in order to take an exam for a particular trade, Watrud said. And some get added help to try for more than one trade, or help to re-test to get a higher score.

START has a track record of success, with over 80% of program graduates passing exams that qualify them for a particular trade.

“This is what schooling should be, specific and individualized; what does this person need to navigate in the real world,” says Small-McCarthy. “This way they don’t get lost in the fray, or simply quit.”

In addition to classes and tutoring in reading and math, START participants also learn about OSHA hazards, blueprint reading, taking measurements, and other skills such as resume writing and interviewing. Contractors, apprentice coordinators and union business representatives from the industry are also invited in to speak.

At the end of the session, each participant takes a mock test and sits down for an exit interview to determine their next steps, says Watrud. “Graduates are also encouraged to stay in touch with the program, even after they start their apprenticeship. We’re still there to help!”

For more information on the START program, contact Mary Watrud at: (608) 628-3118.