Hi,

I've taken the pre-apprenticeship training for electrical, but I've taken it by correspondence (the local college had a two-and-a-half-year waitlist) and am now having trouble breaking into the trade -- due to lack of hands-on experience and general concern that me being a woman will create difficult work politics. It won't -- I'm not some raging PC activist, and I'm here to work, not to sweat the small stuff. My partner is a construction worker, I've heard/seen it all.

I've applied not only for apprenticeships but also for "helper" positions, and even proposed a temporary job-shadow situation (working for free) in order to gain experience but have been turned down time and again. Big companies, small companies... HOW can I get some field experience? I've done some basic household wiring, but what else can I do to get my foot in the door?

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks!