99% of the advice I can give would apply just as well to anyone - not just a lady!
I believe that there IS a role in the trade for women. Not 'girls,' not 'dikes,' not 'princesses.' Just your ordinary person who happens to be female.
Unfortunately, the trades get a fair share of forever adolescents. Most of these weed themselves out after a few years - the little kiddies just can't stick with anything. Unfortunately, they can make a job a noghtmare for everyone else.
A lot can depend upon the foreman. Some seem to make an art of mis-management, and their crews are hell to work with. At least, in a program, the directors know this, act as a check, and can place you in another crew.
Let's get away from 'electric work' for a second. Ever learn to play a musical instrument? You seem to spend forever playing the same notes over and over, going from one silly drill to another ... then, suddenly, you have learned enough little bits to actually be able to learn to make music!
The first two years of the trade are surely like that. It seems that all you do is dig, bend pipe, and pull wire. Always crawlimg, climbing, lifting, squeezing. You also get to do all sorts of "non-electric" work ... drywall repair, roof repair, tree pruning, cement finishing, jackhammering, etc. Don't despair.
You get to do this stuff for a few basic reasons:
- It needs to get done;
- You need to learn how to do it;
- You simply don't yet know enough to do other stuff; and,
- You need to learn certain attitudes, like persistance, and paying atention to detail.
Preparation? ANY construction skills you can bring will be gladly accepted. A little framing, drywall / texture work, etc will help you .... not only how to do something, but to learn what a job site is all about.
Another major thing you can do is to first take a job at an electrical supply house. This will both introduce you to the folks in the trade, as well give you a chance to learn the names of all the bits and pieces. (And you thought only witches used batwings? Electricians do - to secure pipe to ceiling wires).
Getting into a program is key. Keep plugging away. Apply to multiple programs, if you can. The Re-apply- at every opportunity. You WILL hear "NO" a LOT. Continue with your community college work.
And don't rule out work in related trades. Industrial Maintenance Electrician. Telephone Company splicer. CATV installer. Alarm installer. Datacom. Satellite TV. Central vacuums.
And -prob the best idea of all- drop by the chat room some night. We'd love to talk with you.
