What's the job of a vocational instructor?

I'm curious about what vocational instructors do. If I'm thinking of going into a trade after high school, would working with a vocational instructor be helpful? Do they teach specific skills or trades?

A vocational instructor, also sometimes referred to as a career or technical education teacher, focuses on teaching hands-on, often trade-specific skills that directly prepare students for certain careers. This can range widely depending on the field, from automotive technology, woodworking, plumbing, and electrical work, to culinary arts, cosmetology, or healthcare professions like nursing.

Vocational instructors typically have significant experience in the industry they're teaching, which allows them to provide a high degree of practical insight into the profession. They typically design and implement curriculums that mix classroom instruction with practical or laboratory work. For instance, a welding instructor might explain the theory behind different welding techniques in the classroom, and then have students practice these techniques in a shop setting.

For someone interested in pursuing a trade after high school, working with a vocational instructor would indeed be helpful. They can provide you with the necessary skills, knowledge, and confidence required to enter the trade of your interest more successfully. It would offer you a focused education based on practical skills rather than traditional academic study, hence speeding up the process of job readiness.

So, if you're certain about the trade you want to go into, vocational education under the guidance of a vocational instructor would be a very good way to gain the intense, industry-specific training you'd need. However, do consider that these programs usually offer a focused skill set for a specific career, so make sure the career is one you're interested in pursuing long-term.