Apprenticeship News Archives

5 Tools You Need In The Back of Your Truck

Tools don’t just get a job done, they solve problems! We craftsmen know how they enable us to get ourselves out of sticky situations and help other people you meet on the journey. As you’re traveling down the road, here are our five must-have tools to keep in your truck tool box: Multitool Don’t buy … Continue reading

5 Classic Gifts For Craftsmen

Looking for a good gift for the craftsman in your life? New gadgets and tools are always fun gifts to open! Trust us though, when choosing the right one, you should know that they’d rather have a high end classic that they can use again and again. Their talent makes them passionate about what they … Continue reading

Scholarships Available in the Trades

Most of us craftsmen know how Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe has been raising concerns about how much money is spent in a traditional 4-year college degree. The US Student Loan Debt has been climbing to new heights, now over 1.5 trillion dollars, which will likely take decades to pay off. This is especially concerning … Continue reading

How Craftsmen Use Their Tools on Thanksgiving

Tools aren’t just good on a job site – they’re super handy in the kitchen too. But not just for kitchen remodels – you can use them to prepare your meals. There’s no better day for this than on Thanksgiving! Here are some ways that we’ve seen craftsmen using their power tools for turkey time: … Continue reading

Resources For Women Interested In The Trades

There’s such an urgent need for skilled workers in the trades, this is a great time for women to enter the field. In fact, a career in the trades will often pay more than most office jobs that women traditionally have been hired for, and the pay gap is much more narrow than most industries!. … Continue reading

Screws 101

In the past, nails were used more often as fasteners, but screws – along with drivers and drills – have improved so much in the last few decades. There is such a wide variety of applications and finishes, they can now can be used for almost any application. We all know the miracle of a … Continue reading

Great YouTube Channels for Craftsmen

There are some really fantastic YouTube videos online that give incredibly useful building project examples and tips from talented craftsmen. Whether you’re searching for some guidance, or just want to be entertained, these are some channels to peek at: The Essential Craftsman Scott Wadsworth from Roseburg Oregon hosts videos related to blacksmithing, general construction, … Continue reading

How Education is Changing and Affecting The Trades

More and more students are starting to consider work in the trades again, rather than going to college for traditional blue collar work after graduation. That’s because the labor gap has helped make the trades a more competitive career path. And if you’re a fan of Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs, you know that he’s … Continue reading

How to Negotiate a Better Job Offer in the Trades

Negotiating a better offer in the trades can be tricky, especially if it’s a union job. The key is to really understand why you’re going back to renegotiate. Just because you know that trade labor is in high demand, doesn’t mean that they’ll pay you more just because you want more money. They have their … Continue reading

5 Great Summer Tool Hacks

There’s a ton of great ways to use your tools creatively! Thank goodness, because sometimes you need to modify a tool or use it in the way it wasn’t exactly intended in order to get the job done. Here’s some of our favorite ways to cleverly use your tools this summer: Hole in the Ground … Continue reading

Why Style Matters

The first impression you make is almost 100% based on your appearance. It’s not because people are shallow, but simply because they don’t know you yet! They can’t judge you on character until they’ve had a chance to interact with you and get to know you more. Until then, style is how you communicate with … Continue reading

Do You Prefer Temporary or Permanent Placement?

As you know, Madden helps all kinds of craftsmen find good work, Whether you’re a millwright, mechanic, carpenter, engineers, machinist, or welder, we’ve got access to permanent, temp to permanent, and temporary assignments. And, with the new Madden Apprenticeship Program, we’ve got opportunities for apprentice placement too. This gives our employer clients lots of options … Continue reading

Why Women Should Consider The Trades

Nationwide, only about 7% of the trades are made up of women, and in Portland, OR, it’s only slightly higher at 9%. Many women haven’t traditionally considered a job in the trades, largely because there’s not a lot of examples in popular culture that depict female construction workers, truck drivers, and other blue collar jobs. … Continue reading

Show Your Confidence With Body Language

Showing that you’re confident and comfortable with yourself is one of the best skills in life, whether you’re looking for a job, date, or success of any kind. Confidence really does start on the inside, so start by being self-aware and unafraid to simply be the man that you are. However, body language can help … Continue reading

5 Reasons Why You Want To Be A Craftsman

If you’ve been working in an office and dreaming of getting your hands dirty, you’re not alone! Even though white collar work has been pushed hard in schools over the last 20 years, more workers are realizing that blue collar jobs are just as rewarding. If you’ve been wondering about starting or changing to a … Continue reading