It’s almost a relic of the past.

When we are talking about the traditional man image there is that blue-collar worker. That guy in the blue jeans and white vest who is all man but while we are certainly in a more modern generation where being on the lookout for a “new you” is part and parcel of the modern man’s journey should we all get some sort of blue-collar experience? Is this some sort of rite of passage for every man to go through? And will this teach us anything?

LEARNING ABOUT OUR ELDERS

It’s something that can be quite enlightening. Some people don’t like the idea of knuckling down and doing some hard work but we’ve got to think about what the generations that came before us had to go through. Whether they were working in oil fields or in factories, there wasn’t the same sort of health and safety as we do now. Nowadays there’s a lot of red tape, and if you wanted to get the experience of what your elders went through it is impossible. We certainly have the safety equipment and clothing, and if you look at www.froutlet.com Rasco clothing for oil field and utility workers you can see just how well catered these once dangerous industries are. But putting on a pair of overalls and getting to work on something can in some ways connected to our parents and grandparents who had to build things with their own two hands. We don’t have that experience because everything has been built for us!-

IT IS A GATEWAY TO A LUCRATIVE CAREER

But what if you would like to get involved in something like the construction industry or working in a factory? It’s honest work but it’s also the gateway to a lucrative career. If you want someone who’s been struggling for a career choice it’s not just about being a low-paid blue-collar worker. In fact, if you look at www.thebalancesmb.com construction worker jobs can be incredibly lucrative. You can work your way up to foreman or become a contractor. And in fact, there’s a big drive for people to start their career in the construction industry. There are options for men and women and they are trying to get away from the idea that it is low-paid, unglamorous work.

REALIZING THAT WE DON’T DO “HARD WORK” ANYMORE

When we look at the blue-collar jobs of the 21st century they all relate to phones and computers. There is something quite noble about getting out a drill or putting a hard hat on and getting to work. And perhaps we’ve not got that same drive as our parents or grandparents did. We certainly live more sedentary lives and from a health perspective, getting out onto building sites or being on our feet is a perfect way to get a good idea of our fitness level. And as we may be nimble with our fingers perhaps we can start to take on a little project at home to make us get back into that idea of using our hands as a way to achieve something. It certainly sounds like a stereotypical impression of a male but whether it’s a man or a woman we can all benefit from the lessons manual labor has to teach us.