Bailey Steele
Apprentice
Ironworkers Local 25
Detroit, MI USA
“You’ve just got to jump right in. You can’t be scared.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationBailey Steele
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
I was born and raised in Michigan.
At 18 years old, I was working at Taco Bell and didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life—I just knew that college wasn’t for me.
I met a woman who told me about the Women Who Weld program—I decided to participate in their one-day welding workshop and loved it from the start!
After Women Who Weld, I hesitated for a few months because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to jump into welding as a full-blown career, but I eventually decided to move forward with it.
I spent nine months welding automotive racks and became very skilled but started thinking I wanted more.
I learned about the Ironworkers trade union from a coworker and decided to apply.
I’m currently working as a welding apprentice in the Ironworkers Local 25 Apprenticeship Training Program union and I love it!
Education
High School
Vocational
Intensive Welding Training Program
Women Who Weld
Intensive Welding Training Program
Women Who Weld
Career
Apprentice
I build anything to do with steel or iron.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Engineering
Technology
Building Things
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for everyone
If you think you might want to try something, just jump right into it. Don't be afraid. If you let yourself be too afraid, you'll spend your whole life doing nothing. Just try it!
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"I'm not sure if I should move forward with welding. This is going to be a full career. I don't know if I should commit."
Interviewed By
Skill Shift
Skills and training to help you find your place in the future of work
