Technology medicine: as many as 425,000 high-tech jobs may go unfilled in coming years

Careers and Colleges, Jan-Feb, 2003

EDUCATION: To apprentice, candidates must have a high school diploma, basic reading and math skills, including a year of algebra. Apprenticeships take five years to complete and combine classroom lessons with on-the-job training, which pays about $8 to $9 an hour to start.

SALARY: Journeymen can earn as high as $60,000 to $70,000.

STARTING OUT: As an All-American offensive linebacker in high school, Pahukoa began his career path as a professional foot-began his career path as a professional foot-ball player. He played for the L.A. Rams (1991-94) and then with the Atlanta Falcons until 1997. He stopped playing pro ball to spend more time with his family in Washington. When his neighbor--an electrical contractor journeyman--introduced Pahukoa to the Joint Apprenticeship Training program, he jumped at the change to learn a new profession, earn a salary, and work together with construction crews building new facilities.

ON THE JOB: "The camaraderie in electrical contracting is a lot like football. Your work with a team of fellow apprentices and journeymen. I'm currently working providing all the electrical services for a water treatment plant. We provides temporary power for the builders; we install electrical piping, conduit work, wiring, and computers to control the electricity. Most recently, I was working in a scissor lift installing supports that hold wires."

REWARDS: "Every day now for two years, I have not come back from work without learning something new."

CHALLENGES: "You have to learn a lot of information so fast--you really have to keep up."

MORE INFO: The National Electrical Contractors Association/International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, www.electrifyingcareers.com

Don Rauf

AIRLINE PILOT

Rhonda Healy

AGE: 35

LOCATION: Atlanta, GA

JOB: Captain for Delta Connections

EDUCATION: A commercial pilot's license, which includes at least 250 hours of flight experience, is required. Healy attended a flight school in Florida. Many pilots come from the military or from an aeronautical engineering background.

SALARY: Regional jet pilots earn around $54,000; large commercial aircraft pilots earn about $92,000.

ON THE JOB: Pilots check their instruments and engines for proper functioning, and communicate with air traffic controllers and aviation weather forecasters to plan the safest, fastest flight. "Your workload varies, but it always entails mental preparation," says Healy. "We fly with an automated flight management system, but we have to know what's going on. It's good to have computer skills."

STARTING OUT: "I found that airlines were aggressively looking for pilots- especially women and minorities. So I saved some money and went to flight school."

REWARDS: "I feel I've done something good when I reunite people who haven't seen each other in a while."

CHALLENGES: "A lot of folks tried to discourage me [as a woman] from going into aviation. But if you have a goal, a passion in life, you can do it if you set your mind to it."

MORE INFO: The Airline Pilots Association, (202) 797-4033