The 13th addition to the critically acclaimed It Happened to Me series is designed to help young adults explore career options and find jobs by providing specific details about apprenticeship programs in their desired field. There are more than 800 apprenticeable jobs in the United States (e.g. painters, paper hangers, wall finishers, glaziers, sign and display workers, plumbers, gasfitters, welders, roofers, bricklayers, carpenters, cooks, stage technicians, health care workers, and military opportunities). Written for teenagers who are not interested in going directly to college, this book covers opportunities that are currently active in the United States, and provides an overview of the work involved in each job category, the job outlook, salary, and expected growth in that area through 2012. Each section concludes with an extensive resource list of contact names, addresses, and websites of places to go to find out more information about the job of interest.

Chapters also include interviews with young people who are currently working in apprenticeship programs. Teens will learn how this young person found the apprenticeship, how he or she enjoys the work, and how the classroom portion of the apprenticeship is handled.

For young people who are interested in learning on the job, for those who are looking for an alternative to the traditional four-year college degree, who can't afford college, who want to be trained in a specific trade and enjoy learning in a hands-on environment, or who want to "earn while they learn," this book provides a solid basis to explore and research potential careers and to make informed decisions about whether an apprenticeship is the right career move.