think young women make good apprentice electricians - they are hardworking, they “I clean up, and language has improved on site and in training.” John commented that being a woman (in addition to skills) can be a benefit in itself – particularly when there are women on site, for example in domestic work: needed work on its female locker room so they wanted a female electrician.” “Skycity airport appreciated having a female electrician because were mainly “Auckland women in the office.” John and Peter talked about the kind of attitude required for working in a trade: not necessarily got to be one of the boys but you can’t be too thin-skinned “You’ve neither.” of our women was asked how would she would deal with all the swearing on a big “One job and she replied OK, I promise not to swear!” – ‘that’s Focus and determination are the most beneficial attributes, they say. Benefits of being a tradeswoman Alicia appreciates that people on site show little more respect’ for her. ‘a Bernadette adds that you get given grief, just give it back”. “if Alicia says that women are still uncommon on site and she recalls a time when this became particularly obvious: I was up a ladder with my top half in the ceiling and someone came in and “Once – said bro’!” ‘hey The practical and useful nature of the job is something that Alicia and Bernadette find beneficial: like completing something and seeing it works.” “I the knowledge to fix appliances in your own home. You are independent and “Having you can do stuff without electrocuting yourself!” Doing a job that is a bit different has its benefits: the shock on people’s faces when you tell them you’re an electrician “Seeing apprentice they’re like Alicia – ‘wow’!” a lot of good humour - you can make some good friends. It’s cool to be an electrician.” Bernadette What works to attract and retain women in trades? Bernadette thinks that aspiring tradeswomen need to have the right mindset: has made it seem like it’s not a viable option - it’s possible, you just need to “Society have the mindset.”
“I think young women make good apprentice electricians - they are hardworking, they clean up, and language has improved on site and in training.” John commented that being a woman (in addition to skills) can be a benefit in itself – particularly when there are women on site, for example in domestic work: “Skycity needed work on its female locker room so they wanted a female electrician.” “Auckland airport appreciated having a female electrician because were mainly women in the office.” John and Peter talked about the kind of attitude required for working in a trade: “You’ve not necessarily got to be one of the boys but you can’t be too thin-skinned neither.” “One of our women was asked how would she would deal with all the swearing on a big job – and she replied ‘that’s OK, I promise not to swear!” Focus and determination are the most beneficial attributes, they say. Benefits of being a tradeswoman Alicia appreciates that people on site show ‘a little more respect’ for her. Bernadette adds that “if you get given grief, just give it back”. Alicia says that women are still uncommon on site and she recalls a time when this became particularly obvious: “Once I was up a ladder with my top half in the ceiling – and someone came in and said ‘hey bro’!” The practical and useful nature of the job is something that Alicia and Bernadette find beneficial: “I like completing something and seeing it works.” “Having the knowledge to fix appliances in your own home. You are independent and you can do stuff without electrocuting yourself!” Doing a job that is a bit different has its benefits: “Seeing the shock on people’s faces when you tell them you’re an electrician apprentice – they’re like ‘wow’!” Alicia a lot of good humour - you can make some good friends. It’s cool to be an electrician.” Bernadette What works to attract and retain women in trades? Bernadette thinks that aspiring tradeswomen need to have the right mindset: “Society has made it seem like it’s not a viable option - it’s possible, you just need to have the mindset.”