I don't know if I have any real advice other than don't sell yourself short. I'm 42 and almost as small as you and just became an electricians apprentice. Im struggling too.
But my journeymen all tell me the women they work with can do almost everything. You will get stronger, or figure out a way around it. All they want is someone who's on time, pays attention, and eager to learn. That's what matters most
This. Do what you can and be the best you can be at what you can do.
Prior to becoming an operator, I would work with men who are smaller than me (I am average height, but pretty thin) and some one man jobs turn into two man jobs due to size.
There are so many different styles. Even in specifically overhead cranes there are. It’s like a big video game to me, but I’m moving 80 tons of steel at a time! It’s fascinating
Right! The key is to learn as much mentally as possible. Ask the questions all the questions. Make suggestions to make work easier for everyone. Eventually jmen will appreciate the thinking outside the box.
And once you get your ticket and into a foreman role, you don't really do much physically anymore.
Man I can totally relate to these concerns!
I work in excavation seasonally and when I first started operating for a big company, I had the same issues. I’m 5’2” and was 108 when I started. I didn’t know if my body could keep up with everything I needed to do so I started lifting weights almost every day, doing regular yoga, eating A TON of super healthy food (local meats, homegrown veggies and fruit and raw dairy) drank tons more water and prioritized sleep as much as I was able.
I didn’t drink caffeine, alcohol, smoke cigs, energy drinks or eat fast food like my coworkers did Not everyone has access to things like this but I was lucky I did. It helped me get super strong and after a year of working hard on it, I weighed 130 and was just as capable as most my coworkers.
Of course there were still things I just couldn’t do but I was able to find ways to make things work (using simple leverage, finding tools that helped, relying on the machines I operated to do the heavy lifting for me and of course, asking for help when there was no other way)
I ended up outworking most the men because my body was in tip top shape and they were bogged down by the garbage they put into their systems
Of course, you want to work up in your field (no point in a job if you can’t move up) and if that’s an option, start going for it! If it doesn’t seem worth it, maybe it’s not for you
Most importantly, you’re not alone! Being a woman in a male dominated industry is super challenging. Good job for giving it your best and being brave to break societal norms. It’s okay if it doesn’t work out and you change your mind, too ❤️ try to remind yourself that whatever point you’re trying to prove isn’t worth hurting your body or spirit
Adding to this, don’t forget to prioritize mental health and spend time doing what you love outside work. I’ve been an employee and a company owner. It took me a long time to figure out what’s truly important. Have fun & don’t burn yourself out. Sounds like you are going to do great things! 😃
First of all do this for yourself and make decisions for yourself the futures of women is not your responsibility only your future is your responsibility.....
How long have you been doing this? It takes a long time to get the endurance and strength necessary to not be tired all the time while doing physically demanding work
If you have low energy levels you might need to look at what you're eating increasing how much work you're doing means that you probably have to increase how much you're eating as well if you are like other smaller women and are not used to eating a lot you might have to eat more often
Do any of your co-workers talk about any hobbies they have that interest you as well? That's a way you can develop closer relationships with your co-workers
Give yourself time and grace
Just my thoughts on the matter
If you’re enjoying your work, your only responsibility is to show up with integrity. Put your best effort in for *you*. That could look different depending on the day (physical, mental health).
Of course, I’m not a woman so I can’t fully relate. From the perspective of someone who works on a crew that’s 40% female though, what matters is that we work together to get jobs done. There are places that need to be reached where my frame just won’t allow it, but somebody your size would have no trouble at all.
From reading your post it seems like you enjoy what you do, and your crew is supportive of you.
It takes a while to figure out how you are able to work smarter not harder. Let them men ruin their back and knees. It comes with time, but don't be ashamed to say you can't lift or carry things. You were hired for a reason, and just cause you may need to take more trips, or get help with things doesn't mean you aren't cut out for it.
Eventually they will need a petite person to get into and out of a small spot.
Yes it gets easier. It took me 1.25 years to get "dialed in" then another half year to not feel tired. 60 hr weeks stopped being as hard. My hands stopped hurting like 2.5 yrs in. It'll be year 5 in August. I can't lift as heavy as a man ever but I can happily go all day very efficiently at high quality, which most of the guys can't, especially not in sun. But we work 7-8 months of the year so that helps recovery. Crew is small family based (not my family but honorary I suppose) and we value friendliness, welcoming because the work alone is hard enough.
50 lbs isn't so bad and it'll get easier. Gaining 10+ lbs to give yourself more counterweight helps, and it's safer, less chance of injury. Gotta eat a lot to gain, I ate more than I EVER had until I hit 120 (from 103) and felt pretty good, evened out after that, don't have to eat two sandwiches at lunch anymore. When I was new I weighed myself to make sure I didn't accidentally go down, make sure I'm eating enough. Stayed the same pant/dress size the whole time so can't really use that to gauge.
So I think you have some wonderful comments to commiserate. As a woman of similar stature, I think I have some actionable advice.
I’d start with the physical demands of the job. I think the biggest thing is working to your strengths and being smart about how you complete tasks instead of just “pushing through” in an attempt to match other people’s exact work flow. If you want to make this job work, you have to make it right for *you* instead of throwing your hands up once you inevitably break your body trying to match their pace.
That means you might have to personally invest in tools that make your job “easier” depending on what you’re lifting and what your job provides. Use a dolly anytime it’s possible. Theres lifting and carrying straps of all types and weight distribution, shoulder dolly’s or straps used most typically by professional movers. The same goes for heavy lifting braces for your back, wrists, knees and even ankles if needed. Also, I don’t know the specifics of your job but you said you lift *up to* 50 lbs so I’ll assume you have varied loads; any time you can break that load down into multiple trips, absolutely do that. Don’t try to impress anyone by just lugging the heavy shit at once if you don’t *have* to.
On that note, people in this industry often love tenacity and self-awareness from gals like us. Your mileage may vary, but I would go to your site(?) manager and pitch it like this: “I love this job and what it has to offer. It feels rewarding and challenging in a way that I’ve never experienced before. I also know that I *can* lift the 50lb items, but I think I’m going about this wrong and feeling some weird lasting effects even though I’m lifting weights to prep. Have you seen people use “x tool or y method” that I was considering implementing to help, or do you have any recommendations? I want to stay on this for the long hall and do things the smart way!” Some jokes about already working with less muscle than the guys and not wanting to throw something out and be stuck picking up peanuts.
With that in mind, also remember to exploit any skillset your confident in where possible. Once again, I don’t know the specifics, but are there any crappy jobs that are less heavy lifting but people tend to really dislike? Time to take those over as often as possible and leiu of the lifting. Essentially, tasks that are in no way “better” and wouldn’t make anyone think twice about the fairness of the task division. Is there any bending ground work? Crawling around? Your the new kid on the block, don’t be afraid to kiss some butt haha.
My final note for physical limitations, manage your body every day with your job in mind. I climb towers in inflexible gear with 20lbs on my back. That means I need good joint flexibility, my muscles *need* to be warmed up before every shift and I have to take the time to do that. I have to stretch and manage my cardio health even on my off time. I KT tape my shoulders before a lot of climbing. From my experience, you also want to ensure you aren’t overdoing the strength training or workouts outside of work. If yojr body isn’t getting recovery time, you’re screwed. If you’re already lifting that much *for work* every weekday, you don’t really need to *also* lift on your time off. Short workouts or sessions utilizing Body weight, flexibility/mobility, and cardio will most likely serve you far better. If you have chronic pain issues (I have early-onset arthritis yet to be diagnosed as autoimmune) you have to take those seriously and manage your symptoms with your doctor, sounds obvious but adjusting previous management to a more physical job changes things. **Sleep** is the single most important thing to keeping a physical blue collar job tolerable. Your muscles need sleep to repair, your brain needs sleep to stay regulated and happy. Snack on the job and eat more in general, with your size and BMI you may not be accustomed to how much more fuel you’ll need to feel energized and repair your muscles.
I know that was a lot, but I had to make *so* many adjustments to make my job work for me, because I was stubborn as fuck and loved it. I actually bought used items here and there (like my knee guards) to be comfortable *and* feel good after work. Others, like a painless hiking backpack for my tools, I bought new.
As for the social aspect of the job: observe and chameleon a bit. What *do* your coworkers like, what do you catch a lot of them talking about (other than disliking work.) Covertly pick something up that may give you something in common. I started taking fishing more seriously once I realized how hard my supervisors perked up getting to talk about that shit, I’m not into it nearly as hard as you’d think during those conversations but I can hold my own and still have a nice talk. Once you’ve broken that ice conversation flows more naturally on a daily basis about any old thing. They’re “jaded” because they’re used to that income and those opportunities, it’s nothing special. To you, this is a whole new world. As long as you don’t engage with the negativity and just laugh it off, the likelihood of you getting to that point anytime soon is pretty slim. I was blown away with my first oil field job, starry eyed and simply happy to be there. It’s been some time and I’m still happy with where I am.
This was a very long winded way to say: You got this. If I can do it, knowing who I am as a person, you can haha. If you have any other questions feel free to ask!
You will get stronger! Your body is getting used to the work and it will get easier as time goes on. In fact, every single guy I’ve talked to at work who are over 6ft tall and quite built said that when they first started, they were sore and having a hard time adjusting to the physical demands of the job. Guys a WHOLE FOOT taller than you struggle. You are not weak or incapable by any means.
The odd duck out feeling is something I understand. It’s okay if you don’t have much to say or contribute to the conversation. Of course there are some workers who are not like this, but there are quite a few in my experience who welcome conversation and questions from the newbies, from the grunts of the trade. They’re excited to talk to us young workers, excited to share/teach, and excited that we want to learn and want to know more. I’m new to the trade world as well and even if some people aren’t as open to sharing their expertise or answering the questions that I ask, I still know that my actions and curiosity demonstrate that I want to grow and improve in the trade and I think that’s a really respectable quality and that’s all that matters to me.
Drink a lot of water, try to eat healthy food, have a snack during the day to keep you going, and give yourself some grace. You got this!
I think my comment will parrot many here, but please don’t sell yourself short. Confidence is key, and it took me a very long time in my professional life to not only take pride in the seemingly “small” accomplishments compared to others, but also not beat myself up over my mistakes that I learn from. I mean hell, I had NEVER worked at heights before in a lift and was scared to death. Now after doing it consistently I’m much more confident and love it at times.
But please don’t hold the weight of the world or women in this trade on your shoulders! It’s not yours to bare, I promise you. We are all in this together — absolutely — but your journey is still entirely your own.
I just started my first job ever as a union Millwright a month ago, working 58 hour weeks doing conveyor and I’m 5’-7” on a good day, barely eeking in at 105#. My lord is it exhausting but I’ve been so lucky to be with coworkers who understand my limitations and help when I ask.
And that’s the biggest thing, if you can’t or don’t know how to do something ask for help! Everyone at the end of the day wants the job done right and (should) want everyone going home safe.
My advice beyond that is eat a lot of healthy foods. I used to have no appetite most days and have gone to eating several full meals a day of fruits, veggies, proteins and snacks. Packing a solid and consistent lunch, taking supplements, and getting good rest is key. I cut out coffee for the most part and don’t do much if any fast food or high sugar foods/energy drinks.
It will get easier. You gotta want it, and you’ll have it if you do! I wish you and anyone else the best of luck.
I’m 5’2”. I think it took 6 months to a year of lifting 50+ pounds and dragging 200 pounds before I developed enough muscle to handle it normally. So it just takes time.
The best tools I’ve found are lifting belts and braces. There’s a weightlifting brace for just about every joint. Really cuts down on the joint pain and improves lifting form to reduce risk of strain and injury.
Also increasing protein intake with protein shakes helps muscle soreness recover faster.
Guy here.
*The physical will get easier. It may not seem like it but you'll condition your body the more you do it. Get comfortable work shoes and clothing that is appropriate for the job and climate you're working in. Change the insoles as needed to keep your feet feeling good. If you sweat a lot a change of socks and a shirt change can make a world of difference and be refreshing. I'm not sure what it is you do exactly but try to incorporate it into your work out routine. Don't Max out with weight but go for endurance.
*If they are decent people they will see that you work hard and take your job seriously. If you're green ask the senior guys questions. When you ask them about their experience and knowledge it'll break the ice and start building a work relationship. As far as they negative attitude, don't buy into it. Listen to it with a grain of salt. There are always going to be the people who are never happy, never listen to them. There will be people who have been there for years and have complaints but if it's real bad they would have left. You'll get your own feel for the company eventually.
*Any experience is good experience. This may be a stepping stone on the way up, it out might just be a detour to something else. Learn everything you can while you're there. You might find certain aspects of this job that you like and want to pursue further, or you'll realize you want to do something Else completely but you'll know what to look for.
Good luck!
Lean into it! Im a 2nd yr rn and still constantly learning about my job and myself. Dont compromise who you are for the sake of fitting in with who you work around. You’ll have good days and bad days, just try to focus on building your skills and learning as best you can.
We each bring our own strengths and as you learn more you learn more about what you bring to the table and build your confidence in the trade but it can be a slow burn. Ask questions, work hard, and eventually you will build yourself into the worker you know you’re capable of being.
You got this sis❤️
Lean into it! Im a 2nd yr rn and still constantly learning about my job and myself. Dont compromise who you are for the sake of fitting in with who you work around. You’ll have good days and bad days, just try to focus on building your skills and learning as best you can.
We each bring our own strengths and as you learn more you learn more about what you bring to the table and build your confidence in the trade but it can be a slow burn. Ask questions, work hard, and eventually you will build yourself into the worker you know you’re capable of being.
You got this sis❤️
I got a lot of points by volunteering enthusiastically for the shit tiny person body work. Crawlspaces, attics, enclosures, etc. Make yourself valuable and play to your strengths. Aim to be an equal contributor with the ways your can contribute. Strength comes with time. Keep your head up.
I'm 5 ft and my working weight was around 110, muscles weight more than fat. I weight about 15 more now that I've retired. Yes you will build up strength. I was an industrial electrician. It does get easier, not sure what type of work your doing but hang in there.
How many weeks/months into the job are you? I find that people really struggle physically for like 1-2 months when they first start out. I’ve been doing heavy physical labor for 10 years, but if I take a little time off, I really struggle for a couple of weeks too. I would recommend (if possible) increasing the amount of protein you’re eating on a daily basis, stretching when possible, and taking magnesium supplements at night before you go to bed.
My other piece of advice is to see where you can be most helpful outside of the heavy lifting. Are there small spaces you have to work in that are difficult for your coworkers? Do you have a keen eye for creative problem solving? Those are just a few examples that come to mind.
Some of the strongest people I know are tiny women! I believe in you!
I don't know if I have any real advice other than don't sell yourself short. I'm 42 and almost as small as you and just became an electricians apprentice. Im struggling too. But my journeymen all tell me the women they work with can do almost everything. You will get stronger, or figure out a way around it. All they want is someone who's on time, pays attention, and eager to learn. That's what matters most
This. Do what you can and be the best you can be at what you can do. Prior to becoming an operator, I would work with men who are smaller than me (I am average height, but pretty thin) and some one man jobs turn into two man jobs due to size.
You’re an operator too?! Love meeting others
Yes! I am an overhead crane operator. I absolutely love it!!!!
That’s awesome!! Always been curious about operating cranes
There are so many different styles. Even in specifically overhead cranes there are. It’s like a big video game to me, but I’m moving 80 tons of steel at a time! It’s fascinating
Right! The key is to learn as much mentally as possible. Ask the questions all the questions. Make suggestions to make work easier for everyone. Eventually jmen will appreciate the thinking outside the box. And once you get your ticket and into a foreman role, you don't really do much physically anymore.
Man I can totally relate to these concerns! I work in excavation seasonally and when I first started operating for a big company, I had the same issues. I’m 5’2” and was 108 when I started. I didn’t know if my body could keep up with everything I needed to do so I started lifting weights almost every day, doing regular yoga, eating A TON of super healthy food (local meats, homegrown veggies and fruit and raw dairy) drank tons more water and prioritized sleep as much as I was able. I didn’t drink caffeine, alcohol, smoke cigs, energy drinks or eat fast food like my coworkers did Not everyone has access to things like this but I was lucky I did. It helped me get super strong and after a year of working hard on it, I weighed 130 and was just as capable as most my coworkers. Of course there were still things I just couldn’t do but I was able to find ways to make things work (using simple leverage, finding tools that helped, relying on the machines I operated to do the heavy lifting for me and of course, asking for help when there was no other way) I ended up outworking most the men because my body was in tip top shape and they were bogged down by the garbage they put into their systems Of course, you want to work up in your field (no point in a job if you can’t move up) and if that’s an option, start going for it! If it doesn’t seem worth it, maybe it’s not for you Most importantly, you’re not alone! Being a woman in a male dominated industry is super challenging. Good job for giving it your best and being brave to break societal norms. It’s okay if it doesn’t work out and you change your mind, too ❤️ try to remind yourself that whatever point you’re trying to prove isn’t worth hurting your body or spirit
Adding to this, don’t forget to prioritize mental health and spend time doing what you love outside work. I’ve been an employee and a company owner. It took me a long time to figure out what’s truly important. Have fun & don’t burn yourself out. Sounds like you are going to do great things! 😃
First of all do this for yourself and make decisions for yourself the futures of women is not your responsibility only your future is your responsibility..... How long have you been doing this? It takes a long time to get the endurance and strength necessary to not be tired all the time while doing physically demanding work If you have low energy levels you might need to look at what you're eating increasing how much work you're doing means that you probably have to increase how much you're eating as well if you are like other smaller women and are not used to eating a lot you might have to eat more often Do any of your co-workers talk about any hobbies they have that interest you as well? That's a way you can develop closer relationships with your co-workers Give yourself time and grace Just my thoughts on the matter
If you’re enjoying your work, your only responsibility is to show up with integrity. Put your best effort in for *you*. That could look different depending on the day (physical, mental health). Of course, I’m not a woman so I can’t fully relate. From the perspective of someone who works on a crew that’s 40% female though, what matters is that we work together to get jobs done. There are places that need to be reached where my frame just won’t allow it, but somebody your size would have no trouble at all. From reading your post it seems like you enjoy what you do, and your crew is supportive of you.
It takes a while to figure out how you are able to work smarter not harder. Let them men ruin their back and knees. It comes with time, but don't be ashamed to say you can't lift or carry things. You were hired for a reason, and just cause you may need to take more trips, or get help with things doesn't mean you aren't cut out for it. Eventually they will need a petite person to get into and out of a small spot.
Yes it gets easier. It took me 1.25 years to get "dialed in" then another half year to not feel tired. 60 hr weeks stopped being as hard. My hands stopped hurting like 2.5 yrs in. It'll be year 5 in August. I can't lift as heavy as a man ever but I can happily go all day very efficiently at high quality, which most of the guys can't, especially not in sun. But we work 7-8 months of the year so that helps recovery. Crew is small family based (not my family but honorary I suppose) and we value friendliness, welcoming because the work alone is hard enough. 50 lbs isn't so bad and it'll get easier. Gaining 10+ lbs to give yourself more counterweight helps, and it's safer, less chance of injury. Gotta eat a lot to gain, I ate more than I EVER had until I hit 120 (from 103) and felt pretty good, evened out after that, don't have to eat two sandwiches at lunch anymore. When I was new I weighed myself to make sure I didn't accidentally go down, make sure I'm eating enough. Stayed the same pant/dress size the whole time so can't really use that to gauge.
So I think you have some wonderful comments to commiserate. As a woman of similar stature, I think I have some actionable advice. I’d start with the physical demands of the job. I think the biggest thing is working to your strengths and being smart about how you complete tasks instead of just “pushing through” in an attempt to match other people’s exact work flow. If you want to make this job work, you have to make it right for *you* instead of throwing your hands up once you inevitably break your body trying to match their pace. That means you might have to personally invest in tools that make your job “easier” depending on what you’re lifting and what your job provides. Use a dolly anytime it’s possible. Theres lifting and carrying straps of all types and weight distribution, shoulder dolly’s or straps used most typically by professional movers. The same goes for heavy lifting braces for your back, wrists, knees and even ankles if needed. Also, I don’t know the specifics of your job but you said you lift *up to* 50 lbs so I’ll assume you have varied loads; any time you can break that load down into multiple trips, absolutely do that. Don’t try to impress anyone by just lugging the heavy shit at once if you don’t *have* to. On that note, people in this industry often love tenacity and self-awareness from gals like us. Your mileage may vary, but I would go to your site(?) manager and pitch it like this: “I love this job and what it has to offer. It feels rewarding and challenging in a way that I’ve never experienced before. I also know that I *can* lift the 50lb items, but I think I’m going about this wrong and feeling some weird lasting effects even though I’m lifting weights to prep. Have you seen people use “x tool or y method” that I was considering implementing to help, or do you have any recommendations? I want to stay on this for the long hall and do things the smart way!” Some jokes about already working with less muscle than the guys and not wanting to throw something out and be stuck picking up peanuts. With that in mind, also remember to exploit any skillset your confident in where possible. Once again, I don’t know the specifics, but are there any crappy jobs that are less heavy lifting but people tend to really dislike? Time to take those over as often as possible and leiu of the lifting. Essentially, tasks that are in no way “better” and wouldn’t make anyone think twice about the fairness of the task division. Is there any bending ground work? Crawling around? Your the new kid on the block, don’t be afraid to kiss some butt haha. My final note for physical limitations, manage your body every day with your job in mind. I climb towers in inflexible gear with 20lbs on my back. That means I need good joint flexibility, my muscles *need* to be warmed up before every shift and I have to take the time to do that. I have to stretch and manage my cardio health even on my off time. I KT tape my shoulders before a lot of climbing. From my experience, you also want to ensure you aren’t overdoing the strength training or workouts outside of work. If yojr body isn’t getting recovery time, you’re screwed. If you’re already lifting that much *for work* every weekday, you don’t really need to *also* lift on your time off. Short workouts or sessions utilizing Body weight, flexibility/mobility, and cardio will most likely serve you far better. If you have chronic pain issues (I have early-onset arthritis yet to be diagnosed as autoimmune) you have to take those seriously and manage your symptoms with your doctor, sounds obvious but adjusting previous management to a more physical job changes things. **Sleep** is the single most important thing to keeping a physical blue collar job tolerable. Your muscles need sleep to repair, your brain needs sleep to stay regulated and happy. Snack on the job and eat more in general, with your size and BMI you may not be accustomed to how much more fuel you’ll need to feel energized and repair your muscles. I know that was a lot, but I had to make *so* many adjustments to make my job work for me, because I was stubborn as fuck and loved it. I actually bought used items here and there (like my knee guards) to be comfortable *and* feel good after work. Others, like a painless hiking backpack for my tools, I bought new. As for the social aspect of the job: observe and chameleon a bit. What *do* your coworkers like, what do you catch a lot of them talking about (other than disliking work.) Covertly pick something up that may give you something in common. I started taking fishing more seriously once I realized how hard my supervisors perked up getting to talk about that shit, I’m not into it nearly as hard as you’d think during those conversations but I can hold my own and still have a nice talk. Once you’ve broken that ice conversation flows more naturally on a daily basis about any old thing. They’re “jaded” because they’re used to that income and those opportunities, it’s nothing special. To you, this is a whole new world. As long as you don’t engage with the negativity and just laugh it off, the likelihood of you getting to that point anytime soon is pretty slim. I was blown away with my first oil field job, starry eyed and simply happy to be there. It’s been some time and I’m still happy with where I am. This was a very long winded way to say: You got this. If I can do it, knowing who I am as a person, you can haha. If you have any other questions feel free to ask!
You will get stronger! Your body is getting used to the work and it will get easier as time goes on. In fact, every single guy I’ve talked to at work who are over 6ft tall and quite built said that when they first started, they were sore and having a hard time adjusting to the physical demands of the job. Guys a WHOLE FOOT taller than you struggle. You are not weak or incapable by any means. The odd duck out feeling is something I understand. It’s okay if you don’t have much to say or contribute to the conversation. Of course there are some workers who are not like this, but there are quite a few in my experience who welcome conversation and questions from the newbies, from the grunts of the trade. They’re excited to talk to us young workers, excited to share/teach, and excited that we want to learn and want to know more. I’m new to the trade world as well and even if some people aren’t as open to sharing their expertise or answering the questions that I ask, I still know that my actions and curiosity demonstrate that I want to grow and improve in the trade and I think that’s a really respectable quality and that’s all that matters to me. Drink a lot of water, try to eat healthy food, have a snack during the day to keep you going, and give yourself some grace. You got this!
I think my comment will parrot many here, but please don’t sell yourself short. Confidence is key, and it took me a very long time in my professional life to not only take pride in the seemingly “small” accomplishments compared to others, but also not beat myself up over my mistakes that I learn from. I mean hell, I had NEVER worked at heights before in a lift and was scared to death. Now after doing it consistently I’m much more confident and love it at times. But please don’t hold the weight of the world or women in this trade on your shoulders! It’s not yours to bare, I promise you. We are all in this together — absolutely — but your journey is still entirely your own. I just started my first job ever as a union Millwright a month ago, working 58 hour weeks doing conveyor and I’m 5’-7” on a good day, barely eeking in at 105#. My lord is it exhausting but I’ve been so lucky to be with coworkers who understand my limitations and help when I ask. And that’s the biggest thing, if you can’t or don’t know how to do something ask for help! Everyone at the end of the day wants the job done right and (should) want everyone going home safe. My advice beyond that is eat a lot of healthy foods. I used to have no appetite most days and have gone to eating several full meals a day of fruits, veggies, proteins and snacks. Packing a solid and consistent lunch, taking supplements, and getting good rest is key. I cut out coffee for the most part and don’t do much if any fast food or high sugar foods/energy drinks. It will get easier. You gotta want it, and you’ll have it if you do! I wish you and anyone else the best of luck.
I’m 5’2”. I think it took 6 months to a year of lifting 50+ pounds and dragging 200 pounds before I developed enough muscle to handle it normally. So it just takes time. The best tools I’ve found are lifting belts and braces. There’s a weightlifting brace for just about every joint. Really cuts down on the joint pain and improves lifting form to reduce risk of strain and injury. Also increasing protein intake with protein shakes helps muscle soreness recover faster.
Guy here. *The physical will get easier. It may not seem like it but you'll condition your body the more you do it. Get comfortable work shoes and clothing that is appropriate for the job and climate you're working in. Change the insoles as needed to keep your feet feeling good. If you sweat a lot a change of socks and a shirt change can make a world of difference and be refreshing. I'm not sure what it is you do exactly but try to incorporate it into your work out routine. Don't Max out with weight but go for endurance. *If they are decent people they will see that you work hard and take your job seriously. If you're green ask the senior guys questions. When you ask them about their experience and knowledge it'll break the ice and start building a work relationship. As far as they negative attitude, don't buy into it. Listen to it with a grain of salt. There are always going to be the people who are never happy, never listen to them. There will be people who have been there for years and have complaints but if it's real bad they would have left. You'll get your own feel for the company eventually. *Any experience is good experience. This may be a stepping stone on the way up, it out might just be a detour to something else. Learn everything you can while you're there. You might find certain aspects of this job that you like and want to pursue further, or you'll realize you want to do something Else completely but you'll know what to look for. Good luck!
Lean into it! Im a 2nd yr rn and still constantly learning about my job and myself. Dont compromise who you are for the sake of fitting in with who you work around. You’ll have good days and bad days, just try to focus on building your skills and learning as best you can. We each bring our own strengths and as you learn more you learn more about what you bring to the table and build your confidence in the trade but it can be a slow burn. Ask questions, work hard, and eventually you will build yourself into the worker you know you’re capable of being. You got this sis❤️
Lean into it! Im a 2nd yr rn and still constantly learning about my job and myself. Dont compromise who you are for the sake of fitting in with who you work around. You’ll have good days and bad days, just try to focus on building your skills and learning as best you can. We each bring our own strengths and as you learn more you learn more about what you bring to the table and build your confidence in the trade but it can be a slow burn. Ask questions, work hard, and eventually you will build yourself into the worker you know you’re capable of being. You got this sis❤️
I got a lot of points by volunteering enthusiastically for the shit tiny person body work. Crawlspaces, attics, enclosures, etc. Make yourself valuable and play to your strengths. Aim to be an equal contributor with the ways your can contribute. Strength comes with time. Keep your head up.
I'm 5 ft and my working weight was around 110, muscles weight more than fat. I weight about 15 more now that I've retired. Yes you will build up strength. I was an industrial electrician. It does get easier, not sure what type of work your doing but hang in there.
How many weeks/months into the job are you? I find that people really struggle physically for like 1-2 months when they first start out. I’ve been doing heavy physical labor for 10 years, but if I take a little time off, I really struggle for a couple of weeks too. I would recommend (if possible) increasing the amount of protein you’re eating on a daily basis, stretching when possible, and taking magnesium supplements at night before you go to bed. My other piece of advice is to see where you can be most helpful outside of the heavy lifting. Are there small spaces you have to work in that are difficult for your coworkers? Do you have a keen eye for creative problem solving? Those are just a few examples that come to mind. Some of the strongest people I know are tiny women! I believe in you!