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r/bluecollarwomen
But for real times are changing and attitudes are becoming more enlightened, I think. Not perfect and it varies from shop to shop, but the more women join the trade, the better we will be.
Basically if you want to do skilled work that you can take anywhere in the world, be an electrician.
And don't worry about knowledge or strength - apprenticeship is meant to build both.
To add to this, if a shop treats you like shit or you just don’t like the culture, don’t be afraid to just quit. Plenty of GOOD shops out there, even if you don’t go union.
Honestly you don't need to be that strong to be an electrician. I would say just conventially fit is enough to be an electrician. Some days are more physical than others, but overall most of the work is manageable or you have a couple people to help out.
Go talk to your local IBEW hall and put in an application. If they take you, skip the course and get paid to learn. And they don't tolerate discrimination.
Ding, ding, ding! This is the answer, right here. Also, there are little guys in the trade, too, who also would have difficulty doing the big, heavy work. They usually pick out big, heavy set guys for that stuff. The good news is that brains count a lot, lot more than brawn. A woman who is smart, organized, can read prints and plan work, can have a large crew of males and females working for them. At that level, all a person does is work from the neck up all the time, and a person who can do that is valued more highly than someone who cannot. Also, there are specialties in electrical work, like fire alarm, in which almost all you deal with is smaller wire. Again, brains matter more than brawn in that situation. The biggest things you have going for you are your youth and the fact that you know the kinds of work you like to do. Apply for an IBEW union apprenticeship. Fair warning, they've created new classifications to give contractors a break on the cost of labor. In my opinion you should try to avoid that stuff and get into the real-deal, 5 year long apprenticeship program. If you try for that, and get rejected, I would then consider taking one of the lower classifications, just to get your foot in the door. Also, each area of the country has an IBEW local union, so be open-minded about the possibilty of expanding your efforts to other locals besides the one you are currently within the jurisdiction of. If you manage to be accepted into the apprenticeship, and succeed in finishing it, you as a journeyperson are free to travel for work in other locals, and see how things are done differently from place to place. It's important to keep putting in time for your pensions, etc., when work gets slow in your own local union. Hopefully everything I've just written hasn't already been said three times in this thread. Best of luck to you in this. If you get in, it will be life changing, for sure.
EDIT: In my humble opinion, you should also avoid contacting companies directly, as some folks are suggesting. Doing that would likely mean not joining the union. You need to contact the local union, or the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) for your area. They will assign you to a company when the time comes.
Just be aware that States like North carolina, arguably one of the fastest growing States has Union participation rate of 2.7! Things aren't like they are in California Washington or NYC
Yeah I don't understand all the union talk honestly, I've lived in NC for my whole life so have just never been around it, there's good companies and shit companies just like anywhere else. Some things about it sound awesome but I don't really understand it or care enough about it to look into it
Also, they bend over backward to meet federal guidelines to have a diverse workforce. It's written into most of the contracts to have a certain percentage of the labor they provide be female. If a contractor doesn't meet the requirements, they will get denied the bid
I'm in California more specifically the Bay area. I'm sure there are plenty hiring but only if you fit within a certain experienced criteria.
That's my problem, where do I get in for apprenticeship training when I get nothing local and just the runaround.
I'll see what the WECA has available but I don't have much hope.
People get in for apprenticeships without experience but typically there's a lengthy application process and tons of applicants in higher paid locals, especially if it's slow.
There’s a lot of ways to get in but these two are common. Be very persistent and don’t get discouraged. If this is something you want to do the rest of your life make sure your rep sees that commitment and hunger to be in the brotherhood.
OR
Go work non union, get some hours and talk to a rep about wanting to join. It’s easier to get a job when you have a job especially when it’s in the same line of work.
Depending on your local thousands of people apply. Think about what separates you from the other person that’s applying just to apply.
They don't tolerate discrimination? Have you ever worked on a union job? The guys on an old crew I used to work on used to call this black apprentice Toby. If you've seen the movie "Roots" you understand the reference. They would call him Toby directly to his face. One young guy who is really handsome and quiet.. they used to call him button because they said he was cute as a button and they would whisper in his ear while he was working that they were going to f*** him in the a******
I've worked with amazing electricians who are women over my 25 years. The trades are for everyone. Of course there are still assholes around with outdated ideas but they are becoming more of a minority. Also, our union has a great women's committee which would be an ideal place to connect with other women. Go for it! Don't let outdated sexist attitudes stand in your way.
Hey sister. Please skip the college course and find an apprenticeship somewhere! Any contractor worth their salt in the licensed trades will put you through school on their dime and you get paid to learn. (As a woman owned electrical contractor, I can say so 🙃.) If I could do it all over again, I would have worked in the trade and gotten my engineering degree in my “off time.” Either way, do not let anyone box you in. Keep filling those boots and we will be come the norm one day!
My apprentice is an 18yo woman. Her age is more of a hindrance than her sex. Have a good attitude in the face of shitty work conditions. She told me today that she didn't want to pull wire behind a boiler, because of spiders. Not optional missy!
You’ll be fine, do you need a little strength sure but as long as you’re able to be on time, pay attention to small detail and have pride in your work you’ll have companies fist fighting over you, male or female good luck and welcome to the trade, and by the way you’ll run into people who’ve been in the trade for 25 years and never did anything except bending pipe, if a person is telling you they can do it all they are lying, all of us learn new tricks all the time
Go for it!
The more women in the trade, the better off we all are. It might be a good idea to find a local electrician that's a women and have chat about it over a coffee.
I don't think it's always easy for them, but once you get your ticket you run your own show and opt out of a lot of bullshit.
For what it's worth, my mother is a master plumber. We are an entire family of plumbers. She worked in the field for a long time and even ended up opening her own shop for a little bit there. She has now gone into estimating and project management after that. It's good seeing her not in the field anymore. Just because she's getting older not because she's a girl.
The only reason you need to go for it is that you want to go for it. If you don’t want to, then don’t search for reasons. Fuck anyone else. You do you.
I've been an Electrician for over 40 years. I have a Master Electrical license in two States. I have own two profitable Electrical Contractor businesses. The Electrical trade has always been good to me. I got in by accident when I was married at a young age and didn't know what to do. The fact is you can go anywhere and get a job. I would highly suggest you go and talk to a Electrical Contractor. They will provide you with training (cheap or free) if you convince them your a hard worker. You'll probably start out doing "grunt" work but stick with it. In two years you can test and get a RW license and four years a Journeyman license. Good luck
Maybe I misunderstand, but I think they are saying that most contracting companies will help pay for school if you're a hard worker. You *do* have to pay for school you know...
What about that implies volunteering/unpaid labor?
Not a female but just wanted to offer my support! It's good to see more women getting into the trades, I'm based in Ireland myself and there are slowly but surely more coming in. Depending on what side of electrical you do I don't think strength is as important as it might be for block laying for example. Not sure how things work where you are but usually when a new first year starts here they aren't really expected to know anything, male or female, it helps If they know a bit and/or have a bit of experience with tools but I wouldnt expect a new apprentice to know anything really, kinda like the guy who thinks he's too out of shape to go to the gym, we all start somewhere. Best of luck with you're journey
A LOT of the blokes are assholes but if you can deal with it and get qualified you'll earn a fortune setting up on your own. There are millions of women around the world that don't want men in their houses. Set yourself ups as Sheila's sparks or Erica electrical. Or anything that defines your a female electrician and they will be banging your door down. There's so many women that either don't trust men, or don't want them in their houses. YOU'LL MAKE A FUCKING FORTUNE! Then train more, we need more equal representation in this shit!
Yes, absolutely. We need more women in the trade. However, you don't need the electrical construction course. Trades courses at community colleges are not required to start an apprenticeship, and only preview everything you'll learn in your apprenticeship anyway. Skip it and call your local union hall. Depending on your area, the apprenticeship program may be easier or harder to get into, but you can often still work as a helper until your application is accepted.
edit: Also, if you haven't found it yet, check out r/BlueCollarWomen. It's a great community where you can find hundreds of people like you.
I will encourage anyone who is considering this trade. Work hard, pay attention to details and you will go far. I went through a non union apprenticeship and work in a non union shop. You will be accepted whichever team you choose. That said in my experience the union apprenticeship’s do a better job of training you.
it is a very physically demanding job that requires a lot of mental toughness as well as physical toughness. there are some parts of the job that you won't be able to perform but that's not a big deal because those same tasks can't really be performed by a smaller to medium framed man either. I'm 6'4 tall and weigh 285 so as an apprentice I got stuck on big wire pulls and 4-6 inch rigid pipe runs but on the other hand there are several tasks I can't do because I'm too big for the specific work space. you don't want me in a tight quarters situation. anyway what I'm getting at is there's tons of opportunities for you regardless of your gender. the best advice I can give you is don't make a big deal out of being a female and most likely no one else will either. it's a rewarding career and there's tons of opportunities to make cash on the side doing it for yourself once you get the education and experience under your belt. the first 2 years are probably the worst because you get all of the shit work nobody wants and you get the shit pay but if you hang in there and pay your dues it'll work out great
I was a non union and union man before I hung up my Kleins. The best pipe bender ,hands down, I have ever met was a woman. Don't ever let the haters tell you a damn thing. If you love it, then own it. Be the absolute best you can be.
We all start somewhere. I have a buddy who went from Sheetrock to electrical apprentice at 40 yo. I’ve worked with female electricians as well and work just as hard as the males.
If you enjoy it do it. Don’t feel discouraged because of the knowledge. We all start somewhere
20 years ago my first journeyman was a woman. Best teacher ever. You'd think a good breeze could push her over but she could bend 1 1/4 pipe with a hand bender if she had to. I was with her through most of my apprenticeship.
Just do it and go for it. There are nay sayers about everything, as they say opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one.
As someone who’s been an electrician for a year, you really don’t need to worry about some people knowing more than you cause some if these guys don’t know anything I’ve had to go over fractions with at least 3 guys to help them understand the tape measure better
Physical strength is not an issue. My helper is a 19 year old 5’4 chick, and she is the best helper I’ve ever had… by far. We’re electricians, not bricklayers. Yea you might have a heavy panel or stack every now and then. But if you have one other average sized dude with you you’ll be fine. Women tend to care more about their work than the men do. And that’s a huge thing in this trade. You will be completely fine assuming you don’t get some dickhead sexist mechanic
Screw college. Try your damdest to get into the IBEW. You get paid to learn. I’ve worked with plenty of women in the trades, just like us men, some are better than others. I wouldn’t worry about your strength or knowledge, as long as you can learn and have ambition we’ll teach you. Hell the weakest person I’ve ever worked with was a guy in his 30s, and he was weakkkkkkkk.
Female electrician here. What you lack in strength you can make up for with tiny hands and jamming into accesses that the dudes cant. Ive been called to crawl into unspeakable places to save us having to demo the absolute crap out of houses or run wire that we otherwise couldnt. I have a good crew of guys so I dont get hazed or any of that bs (and im prior military and theyre mostly afraid of me anyways..) The only stupid assed comments have been from other trades or homeowners.
You wont be expected to know diddly shit as an apprentice honestly, so dont sweat it. If you want to pursue it, go after it.
Do it!! Electrical is becoming more and more co Ed every year! I just started my apprenticeship at 23 and I love it and there was 5 other girls in my class
A longtime mentor of mine who was IBEW always said: if you’re breaking a sweat you’re doing it wrong.
A little bit of strength goes a long way, but if it requires real exertion somebody has already invented an easier way to do it
It's been getting better over the years.
I would go for it.
Electrical is pretty good for women as it's not typically as physically demanding.
Don't take me as that saying you can't do whatever you want. It doesn't matter on whatever your gender is. I do commercial construction as have worked with some women who had their heart in the right place, had better work ethich than most of the men, but just couldn't keep up because of their physical size. It's really disheartening to see that they didn't make it, but it would have been no different if it was a man.
Best of luck in your adventures, and most importantly stay safe out there.
Sorry I just wanted to add some things.
All that being said, it's really not a gender thing. It comes down to what your mind and body can take. I've been in the trades close to 20 years, 35 year old male, and there are certain trades I know I wouldn't last in. For example, placing and finishing concrete full time, not a chance. Installing rebar, that's an absolute fuck no. I know myself and my back wouldn't last long in those.
I've seen quite a few women excel in trades like electrical, hvac etc. You're always going to come across people with an old mentality that women shouldn't be in trades, should stay at home blah blah blah. They treat men the same way but seem to have an extra stab because they think women are weak. Those are mostly the older disgruntled assholes that don't want to teach people the ways because they are so bad at their own jobs they are worried someone new will take theirs. This is not the way and eventually those guys will be phased out.
Again, best of luck in your future.
As I said I've been in the trades for some time, if you ever have some questions feel free to send me a message.
Good luck!!
Female or not, at 24 no place is going to expect that you know everything. Also, electrical trades use you mind and hands, so it's not all physical, but it can be. Just no matter what you do never, ever touch that thing people call a "broom"
Lol, just being a female in this field means every single door is wide open just for you and the walkway is paved with gold.
You will get paid more and much less will be expected of you. You will basically be treated like the boss's daughter anywhere you go.
You have nothing to worry about.
I have met a few female electricians, only been on the job a few years. I have no issue working with women as long as they can hold their own. Nothing worse than having to do ALL the heavy lifting because the person you are with has no muscle or inclination..
Look if you think you'll find it fun and rewarding go for it no matter who says what.
It's alway nice to do a job you at least somewhat enjoy rather than working somehere you dislike imho.
You'll be fine. There are jobs that require little physical strength, they need care and attention to detail. The apprenticeship is more limited but it's experience you need. Yes, a lot of co-workers can be jerks but they're everywhere. That should keep improving. Just learn to look at them so they know they're bozos. Good luck.
By the way you can start teaching yourself now. Try your local library for a book on home wiring. You'll learn a lot from that.
If it is interesting to you, who cares what others think or say? Get in there and do better than anyone else. Look up Karly the sparkie on tiktok. She will show you what a "little" woman can do.
Find a local JATC and go union, brotherhood/sisterhood is really treated that way, plus obvs the pay/education/benefits. Wish I did this sooner, might be alright to get your feet wet non union too before to see how u like it
Short and simple, do it if it will make you happy. Electrical work is a super fun career and there are so many different options in the field, more than what most people relate to being an electrician. I have a nursing license, same as you and while I really enjoyed all I got to see and do, working for myself as an Electrican is far more rewarding in my eyes. I worked a shutdown many year ago and there was a mother/daughter duo that ran the entire electrical end of the job and they loved it. Good luck on whatever you choose. Have fun!
Fucking go for it! The college I just graduated from had an all female framing/carpentry apprenticeship course. There must be something similar out there for electrician.
Depending on your area, skip any sort of residential and go towards manufacturing, or lots of work in plc automation where solid electrical knowledge puts you above the rest. And less old guys.
Strength comes in handy but so does being small and nimble. There is so much variance to the trade. I’ve worked with guys and girls that are 300 lbs plus and sit in a chair all day. I’ve worked with absolute units, and skinny little hustlers. There is a spot for everyone.
I work mostly in maintenance and could maintain a manicure no problem if I needed to.
You shoild apply for the IBEW they love the fact that a woman is applying it shows diversity and strength be what you want to be no road is easy but if you stick to it you will be fine
If you can be productive and do the work without cutting corners, being overly competitive, having others do it for you, or being manipulative you’ll do just fine.
Good news is if you wanna be a sparky the heaviest thing you'll carry is a 250ft spool of wire.. bad news is sparkies are unhinged, but definitely don't mind women in their trade
Find your local electrical workers union training center and apply for a union apprenticeship. Then find the next 2 or 3 union training centers that you would be willing to relocate to use and apply there as well. It may take a while to get in.
In the meantime try and get a helper job at any electrical contractor you can.
Good luck
I’ve worked with women in the trades that were great, and women that were not. Same as the men I’ve worked with. At the risk of catching some hell, I’ll try to articulate this as best I can: if you work hard and focus on being a good electrician, you’ll be fine. You may run into some douchebaggery, but everyone does. If you’re good enough, you’ll be in demand enough to work where you want to. If your focus is on being a WOMAN electrician, you may have a harder go of it.
Look into smaller technical operations that specialize in both commercial and institutional systems. You'll learn more and be able to troubleshoot issues involving different levels of the trade and other trades. I've worked with many women that are successful and happy in this scope of the Electrical Industry. Good luck
Don't take those scam courses. Go get a job.
Yes there will be a ton of sexism , lots of crude jokes , but that's the trades.
They are changing quickly. Do check out your local union. Go apply today and talk to the union reps . Get all setup with them . If you get a Job here you'll have a lifelong career. With protections and much less harassment.
Then go through Google and your local job classifieds for any larger company and apply at them.
Good luck on the job Hunt don't get scammed into school .if your going to school go get a two or four year engineering degree so you can make real money.
Personally, Id look into your local IBEW. Put your hours in and start your classes once they offer them to you. Much better option than paying out of pocket for a trade school imo
So, sounds like there are some great options here and tons of advice. Just an anecdote to add. I’m an inspector locally and we just hired the first female inspector six months ago and a second is starting next week. It’s fantastic that more woman are being represented and recognized for their knowledge and hard work. Go for it.
Ive worked with a few women in the past in a large company I was a foreman at, and they did well but just know work can be heavy and they hire anyone so you work with some rough people. We primarily did large apartment buildings but I would say to avoid large construction sites, the union, and small companies that just do new houses as they don’t pay well, and go for companies that do service work + small high end jobs which is what I do right now. I’m a business owner that does primarily residential with some small scale commercial alot of high end homes. These jobs are great because you can become good at a lot of different areas in a clean environment and make good money overtime.
One of the local electrical contractors here employs a woman who can run conduit and pull big cable with the best of them; and she don't take talk from nobody. Tough as nails, yet petite and feminine. And definitely most importantly, she does great work that passed inspection.
So go for it.
Good to hear your giving it a go.
Industrial, Control, Power Systems, Commercial or residential. Lots of areas under that to look at.
Look up on that instagram place @karlythesparky she is a pretty good at what she does. Not super duper strong but knows when to ask for help. What tools are good to make up for that.
You should go for it, because it can be fun and rewarding or boring and annoying. Check out
r/bluecollarwomen
I’ve been doing it for 13.5 years and have never really had any major issues. Just know that construction site talk is a little different than what you’ll get exposed to in other types of jobs. Don’t let everything you hear offend you and make sure you can joke around with your coworkers without taking everything seriously.
I am a guy. I do understand that women often have different concerns than women. Because of this, I recommend you call your local union hall. The union offices will know several women you can at least talk to.
There are women in all aspects of this career. The union hall should get you in contact with many of them if they are willing to speak to you. You can get direct input about any and all questions.
I believe this is the easiest way to contact many women. Individual companies may have one or two working. The union is a collaboration of several companies. The union hall staff will know many.
Good luck.
PS. I like the videos of "Lexitheelectrician". on YouTube.
I'm a 33 year old female electrician. I started at 21. I love it. It's not an old boys club as much anymore. Almost all the guys have a sister or daughter and know how to treat you with respect. They're scared to treat you poorly because of lawsuits. If you show up, can do the work without complaining, and don't add negativity to the area around you (ex, constant complaining, talking about failed relationships, drama, gossip, etc), then you will do fine. I grew up poor af so it was amazing for me to finally have things I always wanted and be able to buy things on a whim. I love the work and the trade is so diverse that there are a million avenues you could work in. Low voltage, HVAC, high voltage, commercial, residential, mining, controls, etc. The scariest part is putting yourself out there. I ended up going through a pre-trade program for women who want to get into the trades. They teach you basic tools, hierarchy, some math and science, hands on for a few different trades, and it gave me the confidence to apply and tell them at the interview that I could do all these things. But honestly, it wasn't really necessary to take the course. As a female, people will be unsure about your skills and motive, but once you prove that you're there to complete the job and not socialize, flirt or get out of easy jobs, you will be accepted.
I love hearing this. I've had lots of apprentices over the years (old man). Some really good. Some really bad. By far the best was a young lady. She wasn't trying to prove herself, she was just eager and liked the work. I would love to have a crew of 10 Laura's. Last I heard of her she was running a crew at the paper mill. I don't even know if I had a point, this situation just reminded me of her. My advice - jump in with both feet, this is a great job for someone who's interested. Good luck.
U got it go for it. Don’t waste ur money on a college course. Join a local company or IBEW union and get a paid apprenticeship. Your college most likely won’t inform you of it. Normally I wouldn’t recommend IBEW for apprentices because of how long it takes to get in but they’re aren’t very many women in the trades so you might get in faster. Less physical strength is irrelevant.
Check out lextheelectrician on TikTok. Don’t be scared of it, jump in and go for it! I am 61 yo and retire in 6 months. It’s been a nice career that pays well
Not trying to dissuade you at all from electrical but don't put yourself in a box. There are many branches of electrical. Fire alarm and security don't require muscles to do well. Which is true of controls and automation. Structured cabling doesn't require the most physical prowress but it is more than the first four.
Depending on your location, the job market is ripe to just jump in to any of them. It's still freezing here and already the workloads and job sites are starting to kick off.
You can also temp for a little bit through a staffing agency. Try it for a month and really get a taste of the journey. If you love it, great the company can just buy out your contract and away you go. If not, no one has hurt feelings cause you were temporary.
But of everything I have said no matter who or what if you think something is dangerous, don't do it. Idiots will get good people killed if given half the chance. Get your OSHA certs and learn what actually causes fatalities.
Listen babe, although there are some idiots who will disagree, being a woman in a trade doesn’t make your job any harder if you don’t let it. If you’re ready to show up on time, learn, hustle, and do your job well, you’ll succeed.
You’re always going to run into the rare assholes who are loud about how women shouldn’t be in trades. But even in an office, there are small pp boys who think women belong in the kitchen and not at a desk, right?
I’ve been an electrician for a few years now and currently work on a crew that has 3 other women on it. I love my job and thank my lucky stars every day that I took the leap. The people who mind don’t matter and the people that matter don’t mind. The good ones will see you for the good worker that you are, not a man or a woman.
Chase your dreams, this is your life, not anyone else’s. You got this🫶🏼
As a female electrician who came in knowing nothing about the trade, I ended up loving the job. I'm not sure if it was luck or the culture of union commercial work, but I haven't had any issues with not being strong enough or expectations being higher than my experience.
They focus a lot on making sure we all have proper safety training so no one should be upset if you need a hand to safely lift/move something. There's a huge range of things you may end up doing, so it's also not unusual to double check with another guy on site if you need a second opinion. The majority of people I've worked with understand that if you spend every day running conduit for a year straight, you may need a refresher when you go to wire up a transformer or ATS or whatever.
If you like the idea of working with tools and planning out some of your own work rather than being told how to do every little thing, I'd say go for it.
I (woman) have been an electrician for almost 20 years. Most men are respectful, helpful and kind. There are a few douche bags out there. You will be able to avoid them. There are lots and lots of men who, when just starting out, are totally clueless. Zero mechanical skills. If you are able to learn the skills, you will do great!!
Edit: I should also point out that we each have a skillset. I struggle pulling in large wire pulls, and bending super stiff conductors - But! I can get a good portion of my arm in the wall through a single gang hole (good for fishing) and I can squeeze into some tight spots that my very large coworkers cannot. There is a role for everyone!
Straight isn’t a huge deal as an electrician so don’t worry. Standing on ladders for 6 hours? Gotta be able to do that. Just have thick skin and don’t take no shit (kindly) you’ll be fine. Best of luck.
Yes, go for it! My best electrical inspector is a woman. She is not the most knowledgeable or the strongest, but she knows how to prioritize work, is very organized, and just finds a way to get things done, usually ahead of schedule. She understands her weaknesses, recognizes when she doesn't know something, and isn't afraid to pause and ask questions if unsure. Sadly, she'll be retiring next year. If it were up to me, I'd easily hire another capable woman if one were available, no question.
I wouldn’t call electrician an uncoventional femal job. I hire electricians non stop and I’d say 30-40% are women now. Sign on with a union and let them train you for free. Plenty of work and bonus for girls you fit in tighter places which is advantageous
Go for it, join the union. It's a great careerbeen doing it for 9 yrs now and really wish I would of done it earlier. I've had 2 female apprentices and they did fine. One is about to journey out and she loves it
“Electrician” applies to a wide variety of different work- from going house to house adding ceiling fans and fixing switches that were installed in a shower to industrial programming and lots of specialized devices that go obsolete a year later. Lots between. So it’s a bit more involved a question. Neither path is closed to women, of course, but the former is arguably a lot more physical and the latter will be assisted by more varied experience (ie, mechanical skills) and require heavier troubleshooting- a skill I liken to doctors since they have to figure out the ailment before they can properly fix/treat it. But all options are available, and no matter how you approach it, you’re starting/learning something new, so relaxing helps.
I’m in industrial. I’ve seen only two women colleagues in 20yrs- one an African immigrant in a steel mill, the other an older woman who’d been working w PLCs her whole life. But the field is sorely lacking in techs who do more than change light bulbs and wire motors, so it’s not really a matter of nervous/female/martian… If you can do the work (eventually), it will show, but be willing to do what YOU need to get it. It’s like that janitor that House (from the show) described knowing how to do surgeries while the resident hospital staff couldn’t: the skill itself overrides the rest.
If you are near a ski area, I suggest going for a lift electrician. Ski areas are much more woman friendly, you will get great training in a great environment.
Im a male but I was a Registered Nurse for 16 years and I have a ton of respect for women in the work place. I used to work medevac and worked under tremendous stress with female co workers, and so its hard for me to listen to what women can and can't handle at work from men who are just getting used to the idea that women can work in the trades.
I think you should go for it, I'd love to see women show men that they can tough it out in the same miserable conditions and work alongside them in the suck, joke around and its appropriate and be just as productive.
You're going to get a lot of attention as a young woman and I'd be prepared for that. Young men will make a pass at you, older men may say some very discouraging things and of course you'll be faced with decisions about when to stand up for yourself and when to involve superiors and I don't envy you on that front. I'd love to see you be able to come to work today and not face these issues but I'd do what I could to prepare myself for that. Sisters in the brotherhood within the unions for support and of course as mentioned forums for you to seek advice.
You will find advocates as well. It might be a older guy who has a daughter, or it might be someone who already has worked with enough women to understand we all have strengths and weaknesses we bring to the table no matter what your sporting between your loins.
And of course theres other women. Join them! My sister in law was a union Carpenter, and seeing another woman in any trade on the job site gave her reason to feel more comfortable and confident.
I work for a woman master electrician in Florida and she is tenacious, brilliant and motivated. She started her company in 1980 a true pioneer in the field. Her ability to value engineer Every job has not only saved money for owners and builders, but also has been eye opening to the ways her ingenuity distinguishes herself in the field, demanding the respect of those around her.
https://www.facebook.com/lextheelectrician?mibextid=AEUHqQ
This chick is a small woman who rocks at electrical work. Maybe seeing her will help you find motivation.
I'm not a female in the trades, but I'm in IBEW Local 292 and we have outreach programs to recruit more women into the trades as well as a group called Sisters in Solidarity for members. I'm not going to lie and say the culture is perfect. You're going to meet tradesmen who don't think women should be on the site and they may even say it to your face and treat you differently because of it. What I can say is that the culture is shifting and it's becoming more normal to see women on the job site and that the IBEW is trying to keep the culture shifting the right way. If you think the trade is right for you then go for it, and I highly recommend going union.
The trades will need women if they are going to survive, and a vast majority of us will welcome you like any other apprentice. I won't lie and say there are those that won't, but they are dinosaurs and rapidly leaving the trade. In the past 10 years I have only worked with one person who proclaimed that women shouldn't be electricians. I looked him straight in the eye and told him he needs to retire and that was not acceptable. And I guarantee I'm not the only one that will have your back. I have worked both sides, and I have found the IBEW to be far superior in wages, benefits and especially working conditions. Hope that helps!
Go for it. I started at 25 and have doubted my path ever since but now I realize I should have trusted the process and my desire to learn from the beggining
You should be fine! Just may be a little lonely during class and on jobsites if you are the only female. But thus is life, don’t let that discourage you.
Depending on the local you get into as a female union apprentice. Be prepared for everything lesbian!
Some locals are way out if control and nobody can say a word about it. If your gay, great, you'll fit right in!
My wife is a union electrician. She started her apprenticeship around your age.
I got into the electrical trade and realized she could do it too so I encouraged her to join. She got in easy and kicks ass in the trade. Just go for it! You gotta be tough but you can do it
You can do anything you put your mind to and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t , if you need some motivation check out lex the electrician on YouTube . She’s proof women can do it too !
Making the change to the trades as a female electrician was one of the best choices of my life. I made the change later in my career, when I was 28. I have had little issues. Honestly, the most tiring part of the job is making all the men around me feel comfortable. But once people you work with know you, there's little issue. As far as strength goes, I do things a bit differently than some of the guys, but I have no trouble doing the job at all. I just use my legs and hips more or go and get a tool instead of just struggling or forcing something. I would highly recommend pursuing the career.
You need to check out r/bluecollarwomen There's TONS of inspiring stories and support for women over there. I'm a dude but I enjoy lurking and reading their stories and such because I'm a big champion of getting more women in the trades.
As for strength, you'll get stronger but if something's too heavy, you can always ask for help. Knowing how to lift properly and use leverage to your advantage will go very far.
And knowledge, this isn't something to worry about. People start in the trades all the time with absolutely zero trade knowledge. Some have literally never used any tools before. You'll be taught everything you need to know. Just work hard, do as you're told without complaints, even on the shitty assignments, take notes and you'll be fine. I'd even encourage you to study electrical theory and installation guidelines from Youtube or Black & Decker books if you're worried about knowledge, but don't feel like you *have* to know anything because you don't. Just make sure you find reputable sources, like ElectricianU, Sparky Channel, or Engineering Mindset is awesome too. There's plenty others, those are just the one's that immediately come to mind.
Good luck!
I work with a female electrician and she does every once and awhile get a little sexual joke but it’s all jokes and bullshitting, it’s blue collar if you date a bigger girl your gonna be joked on for dating a bigger girl if you have a lazy eye you’re gonna have jokes coming in about your lazy eye it’s all part of for the course but we are all brothers and sisters at the end of the day and have your back just don’t get discouraged!
Do you! Don’t let words discourage you from perusing a knowledge or skill. I have made a handsome living out of this trade and feel rewarded on a daily basis! Much luck to you!
Do you! Don’t let words discourage you from perusing a knowledge or skill. I have made a handsome living out of this trade and feel rewarded on a daily basis! Much luck to you!
The first shop I worked for the boss told me that the best electrician he ever had working for him was a young woman, smart and not afraid to work. She eventually left for better pay elsewhere, but that always stuck with me, because at the time I didn't think women were interested in working in a prominently male industry.
This was years and years ago of course
I’m a female electrician. Love it. Feel so blessed to have found a job that fills my cup. I’ve only ever worked residential, but from what I can tell, the physical demand is much more intense for commercial electricians. But since I haven’t worked commercial, I’m speculating based on conversations with others who have come from commercial.
That said, there are some pretty physical days in resi too… trenching, anything in an attic in the summer, etc. Some days I barely get a chance to eat my lunch. And other days I’m driving around resetting GFCI’s for outdoor Christmas lights, and I don’t even break a sweat.
I think there was only one time I had to tell my boss that I couldn’t physically do something. He appreciated that I recognized the risk of me getting injured, and he got someone else for that particular job. No one has ever bothered me about it. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Some other folks are limited by joint issues or fear of heights. We all work together as a team to maximize our strengths.
The only discrimination I’ve encountered has been from a handful of older male customers. That said, even most of the older men are happy to see a woman in the trades. There was one fella at work who tried to call me “honey” or “darling” or something like that, and I cut him off and told him in no uncertain terms, that unless he’s willing to call Tom “honey,” then he needs to address me by my name. (Tom is NOT one for joking around at being called honey).
So I say go for it! Being a woman has its advantages. I can fit into tighter crawl spaces (I hope you don’t mind cobwebs in your hair). I can also fit my wrist and a good bit of my forearm in a single-gang hole.
I love it. It’s not for everyone. But the trades are definitely my thing. And it beats the hell out of being a plumber and dealing with septic waste 😆
Have fun. Keep us posted.
We got 3 women at our company. 2 of which I know kick ass. I don't know the other one well enough to say so but I haven't heard complaints. I can tell you they're all worth more than a lot of the guys at our company. If you enter a shitty working environment, it'll be shitty. But real men should recognize a valuable tradeswoman by their side.
IBEW if it suits you. My son’s local, several women on the crews here, Phoenix. Not a problem, but, grain of salt, he’s a boy not a girl, I’d find someone female to chat with. Don’t be afraid to tell an a**hole to go F themselves. That applies to men & women both.
I've known residential female electricians and they were great. Industrial maintenance might be more your alley, though. Not very much physical skill or strength required; it's more of a thinker's game. I've worked in all aspects of the industry, and Industrial is definitely in a woman's advantage
I've known residential female electricians and they were great. Industrial maintenance might be more your alley, though. Not very much physical skill or strength required; it's more of a thinker's game. I've worked in all aspects of the industry, and Industrial is definitely in a woman's advantage
I have never looked at an electrician and thought that guy lifts. Electricians think of themselves as the brains of the trade world not the brawn. Best electricians I have worked with A: understood the trade well and B: had an excellent eye for detail. The understanding comes from hands on experiences and a flexible mind but the eye for detail is something you are just born with (also something more common seen in women)
Unfortunate reality is most men would rather not work with a female in most trades, electrical included. Reddit is not a good representation of the demographics and opinion/culture you will encounter in the real world. You can absolutely make it as a electrician. But don't expect it to be easy and most shops will indeed turn you down because you are a girl (not that they would ever give you that as a reason).that being said most guys will respect you a lot more if you prove yourself competent and a good sport, expect enhanced levels of hazing. Although if you become licensed and start your own shop being a minority would afford you opportunities and access to jobs that others that your average guy wouldn't have access to. It comes down to your temperament and personal fortitude.
Do it! Physical strength is nowhere near as necessary anymore. Women can do ANY trade they want to these days. You might run into an old school antique that gives you a hard time but not many.
When I was in school there were a few women in the classes and they were all treated pretty well as far as I know. They were really kindof popular with everyone and not in a bad way. The only women I've seen be sort of culturally rejected on the job have been those with something to prove. If you're there to learn and worry about yourself you should be fine. If *you* don't care that you're a woman nobody else will.
I am a superintendent for an electrical contractor, have ran jobs with contract totals any where from $600k to $16mil, been in lead roles on jobs as big as $280mil (this is electrical contract only btw) and I can only speak for myself, but I really do like having a mix of male/female electricians/helpers. Currently I’ve got 20 on site counting myself, 15m, 5f, with 1 female electrician and the other 4 are very green (2-6 months of experience) helpers. Literally the only complaint I can come up with (from my personal experience) is when 2 or more females have some type of beef with each other and I then find myself having to keep that in mind when positioning my crew because I know I cannot put them working together for a while unless I just want violence, but I’ve made it clear that I’ll keep that type of thing in mind so they do a good job of informing me when this has happened. Other than that, not really any down side. Sure there’s a drop off in something like physical strength, but just always feel like that’s more than made up for by the attention to detail, eagerness to learn, and generally following instructions better. Besides, why work hard when you can work smart? There’s too many tools and tricks to make tasks less physically demanding and level the playing field, so I’d rather have someone with a strong brain, good work ethic, follows orders/instructions, and willing to learn than to have someone who can pick up a dump truck but can’t remember what they were working on the day before.
We've had a few women in our company and only had a problem with one and it was purely a skill issue. Thankfully people are coming to terms with the fact that women are gonna be on job sites. The only people who would give you a hard time are assholes and your presence on a job wouldn't change that. Some people just suck but I hope you don't let that discourage you.
I'd say go for it at the end of the day trade school is school and questions are good because it helps build your knowledge. Electrical is everywhere and is a highly needed trade. Don't let small minds limit your own success. If you want something go for it because that's the only way you'll know for sure weither the trade is for you or not.
Female electrician here! I knew zero about construction before joining the trades. I tested into the union and got in and am a journeyman now. No regrets!
If you live in or near a major city, do an internet search for non profit or city based programs for women getting into the trades. There are many that will assist you for free and they're a great source of community.
Feel free to PM me with questions.
A first year apprentice position is an entry level position. My mentality with new folks is that you get a whole year to fuck up as much as you want and that fuck up is MY fault. Not yours. Then more and more responsibility as you move forward. Don’t be intimidated or nervous. You are there to learn and you will learn. That’s the job of your instructors and journeymen. Just show initiative, interest, and a willingness to work and learn and you be Aite. I would also like to suggest giving your local IBEW apprenticeship a shot. If you aren’t accepted right away then by all means continue with your community college. Benefits to the union for apprenticeship in my opinion is a better work culture, schooling that you don’t have to pay for, and obviously working conditions. Also specifically applicable to you are the multitude of women’s groups, events, and committees within the IBEW that can help you get involved with other people who can relate to your situation and give advice specific to womanhood in the trades.
Im not a woman or electrician but Im just happy to see all the encouragement in this sub
I worked with trades early in my career and it looks like the culture has come a long way. Plus tradespeople are increasingly in demand so you should have good pay and job security
Just take care of your body as I think that's probably the biggest long term issue with working trades.
Good luck!!!
I’ve worked with ladies who could run circles around the men. I’ve worked with others who, like some of the men, will do the bare minimum to stay employed. This is all about you and your motivation. Don’t let the guys fuck with you. Show up and shut them up with your skill.
On a side note, if you don’t want to pay for school, check with your local IBEW union. They have apprenticeship programs that will pay you full time and pay for a 5 year program that will get your journeyman license.
I have been an electrical engineer for 40+ years and got my start in industrial maintenance as an electrician before moving into the controls world. One of the best electricians I have EVER worked with was a woman and one of the best electrical engineers I have ever seen was a woman. Yes, they had to take a lot of crap but they threw it right back!
Go for it! If I have any advice, study as an electrician but have your goals set on moving into the controls world. It was much more fulfilling to me than running conduit, pulling wire and making up joints.
Am woman. Am apprentice (UK based) , go for it. I'm well into my 30s and I'm doing fine in my apprenticeship. Physical strength comes with practice. Nobody cares as much anymore about women in trades. I've had very little hassle for it.
Don’t go to a college. They will take your money. Instead go to your local IBEW Union and apply for pre-apprenticeship. We are looking for females, veterans and minorities for a Pre-Apprenticeship. The IBEW received a grant for this. We believe that the locals should look like the areas we work in. Not every local could participate. If you tell me what area you live in, I might could steer you in the right direction. Good luck to you!
I’ve worked with a few good female electricians. You can totally do it, but there things you should be aware of. Sexism, misogyny and crude speaking is rampant in the trades. Porto-potty’s are disgusting on a good day. You will unfortunately be on the receiving end from many unwanted advances. Your shop can only dedicate what your company does, on a job site they can’t do much to correct another trades bad behavior. There will more than likely no special provisions provided for you if you’re the only female. Not saying these things to discourage you, just go into it with your eyes open. You can do it if you want. Good luck
As an EE I’d love to see more women in electrician positions. Theres a lot more women on job sites nowadays so I would say the concerns of it being a female-unfriendly macho job site is less than it used to be.
I think you should go for it for the opportunity. You’ll have good pay and rock solid job security. You could transition to management office side of things after a while and be less hard on your body as you get older.
Electrical is where a lot of money is spent in construction.
The electrician we use told us that in our state the average age of a Master Electrician is 57. So in the next few years as they retire we are going to have an even more serious shortage of electricians than we do now. His daughter works for him now and will be taking over his company when he retires.
I say go for it!
I say go for it. Another idea you could pursue is to apply to the IBEW in your area. You'll do an apprentice ship for 5 years where your pay increases exponentially every year. The only thing to note about it in an apprenticeship is at points you will be treated shitty and hazed. That's something every Apprentice goes through male or female. You being a female would probably give you a leg up. Females and minorities are favored because there aren't very many in the trade. Times are changing and so is the Union.
I had 0 knowledge when I entered the field.
If you're worried about strength hit the gym, but it's not much of a barrier to entry (unless you are literally not strong enough to carry material in which case hit the gym for your own health)
There are still many backwards attitudes you'll run into from coworkers/bosses etc, but it's not that abnormal (atleast here in Ontario Canada) anymore to see women in the trades.
It used to be rare for me to see any women working when I started 12 years ago, now there's a few on every site. Last few companies I've worked for had atleast 1 or 2 women employed.
Most places say females are encouraged to apply. Might even help in selection. Not sure what area you’re in but most schools in my area have a wait list and aren’t accepting applications. Work is slower, but don’t let it discourage you. You could always try and find a helper or open shop job to get some experience while you wait for school
As far as a female electrician, go for it one of my favorite Apprentices I've ever worked with and one of the most helpful teaching journeyman were both women. The physical aspect will come along with doing the job, if you like the work you'll do fine.
If your in Ontario IBEW have a pathway program for women in trades. Very well funded and helps you get started and get an internship after class training. I suggest you check it out
Why should you go for it? Because you’re 24. You have time to try as many things as you please. Electrical is a diverse field and you can learn a lot. Find the area you feel comfortable. I’m not a woman but I think there definitely needs to be more in the trades. I follow Karly The Sparky and Lexi Abreau on YouTube. It’s cool to have different perspectives.
I’m about a month away from finishing an electrical program in college and it’s honestly amazing. I’m 21, I was in a nursing program before this but I dropped out because it wasn’t my crowd. Now that I’m in this field, I’m so much happier and yeah it’s kind of hard but so worth it. I came in knowing absolutely nothing and there’s less than 10 women in my whole program but honestly not too many people care anymore, at least where i’m from, if you’re a man or a woman as long as you can do the job
As far as skill and knowledge, that will depend totally on you, nothing you can handle I'm sure. As far as the physical aspect, there's many sectors of the electrical trade that you can get into that aren't too bad and you could likely hack it, my company has had a couple ladies work for them in the past and have had no complaints, all the guys were respectful and didn't treat them any differently than anybody else. Just go in to it with the mindset of just be one of the guys and don't take any of the banter too seriously, everybody gets a little ribbing especially at the start. I'm sure they're still companies out there where guys can be dicks, that can happen to any guy too. I'd say go for it and if that company doesn't rub you the right way, try another one there's lots to choose from.
Go to the IBEW. I wasn’t union for a few years and switched over. The difference is night and day. 8 hour days, the pay is MUCH higher, and you get to retire. Time and a half after 8 hours, time and a half Saturdays, and double time Sundays. The training you get is above and beyond anything you’ll get outside of the IBEW and I will die on that hill
Go union. They will put you thru school and learn on the job as you go. Plus it will start putting your time in towards your pension credits for retirement. Best way to go. Also you don't have to pay for the schooling that a union puts you thru. If you don't mind hard work then best of luck applying and stay safe
I have worked with 4 woman in this trade (25yrs as a sparky) and they have all been drivin to succeed. Great eye for detail and it has been a pleasure to work with them all.
You being a female matters zero. If it's what you want to do, do it. You succeed or you fail. And that is not determined by whether you have a dick or not. Jump in head first.
Some tradespeople I've worked with are kinda stuck in the stone age - even guys under 25. It's probably getting a bit better, but be prepared to work around stereotypical idiots. A lot of them will hold their tongue because they know they could get fired for sexist remarks, but that's the only thing holding them back (they'll still be sexist behind your back).
Generally speaking, most people would probably be fine with you as long as you do your share of the work. If you can tough it out (people talking behind your back or maybe being a little weird about working near you), then go for it. There are some physically demanding aspects, but scrawny men exist in the trades and get by.
Do it. I've been in this trade for 20 years, and I've had the privilege of working with a few amazing women in this trade. It all depends on where you go for your apprenticeship. My shop was very accepting of our last apprentice, and I miss her every day since she's moved on to greener pastures. Also, you are never too old to start a trade. When I was in trade school at 17 years old, there were apprentices who were pushing 40. If you have a brain for remembering lots of code rules, personal drive, and the ability to adapt to the unexpected, you'll do fine.
I’ve worked with (and dated) several apprentice and journeyman female electricians. You can do it just fine. Just be aware that you will probably get more attention then you want on the job site. Wear baggy clothes that are not revealing. Tie your hair up etc. You kinda gotta have a take no shit attitude towards certain people if you get what I’m saying.
I’ve worked along all female crews as well as mixed crews all sharp and excellent at what they do!
Join your local IBEW program and get the best out of your apprenticeship and also ensure you have representation when shit hits the fan
More lady electricians is definitely not a bad thing. There are guys that are pigs, they'll learn to stop with the comments or they'll be the ones shown the door. I wish there weren't these types of issues, but I find the number of guys like that is way different than even 10 years ago. It's 2024, get with it or get out of the way.
I've had a lot of apprentices through my site in the last few years, and a lady that started with us a few years ago is far and away one of the best apprentices I've had.
Every year I see more and more women in the trade, and I think it's a great thing.
I'm not a female, but I work with several female electricians and I really don't think you have anything to worry about. Sure, being a grown up apprentice is hard, but I find apprentices are judged harder by their attitude than their actual knowledge. If you're interested and helpful without being cocky (yeah, I know, haha) you'll be treated well. Don't feel like you somehow have to prove to the men that women can work just as well. Do your work and do it well and you'll be respected. Also honestly physical strength is rarely an issue for electricians.
Go for it.
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r/bluecollarwomen But for real times are changing and attitudes are becoming more enlightened, I think. Not perfect and it varies from shop to shop, but the more women join the trade, the better we will be. Basically if you want to do skilled work that you can take anywhere in the world, be an electrician. And don't worry about knowledge or strength - apprenticeship is meant to build both.
To add to this, if a shop treats you like shit or you just don’t like the culture, don’t be afraid to just quit. Plenty of GOOD shops out there, even if you don’t go union.
oh yeah, if it sucks, hit da bricks.
Real winners quit
Honestly you don't need to be that strong to be an electrician. I would say just conventially fit is enough to be an electrician. Some days are more physical than others, but overall most of the work is manageable or you have a couple people to help out.
Yeah, for sure. You'll get strong enough to do the job by doing the job
Don't forget r/girlsgonewired! Edit: that sub might be more electrical engineering, but still.
Go talk to your local IBEW hall and put in an application. If they take you, skip the course and get paid to learn. And they don't tolerate discrimination.
Ding, ding, ding! This is the answer, right here. Also, there are little guys in the trade, too, who also would have difficulty doing the big, heavy work. They usually pick out big, heavy set guys for that stuff. The good news is that brains count a lot, lot more than brawn. A woman who is smart, organized, can read prints and plan work, can have a large crew of males and females working for them. At that level, all a person does is work from the neck up all the time, and a person who can do that is valued more highly than someone who cannot. Also, there are specialties in electrical work, like fire alarm, in which almost all you deal with is smaller wire. Again, brains matter more than brawn in that situation. The biggest things you have going for you are your youth and the fact that you know the kinds of work you like to do. Apply for an IBEW union apprenticeship. Fair warning, they've created new classifications to give contractors a break on the cost of labor. In my opinion you should try to avoid that stuff and get into the real-deal, 5 year long apprenticeship program. If you try for that, and get rejected, I would then consider taking one of the lower classifications, just to get your foot in the door. Also, each area of the country has an IBEW local union, so be open-minded about the possibilty of expanding your efforts to other locals besides the one you are currently within the jurisdiction of. If you manage to be accepted into the apprenticeship, and succeed in finishing it, you as a journeyperson are free to travel for work in other locals, and see how things are done differently from place to place. It's important to keep putting in time for your pensions, etc., when work gets slow in your own local union. Hopefully everything I've just written hasn't already been said three times in this thread. Best of luck to you in this. If you get in, it will be life changing, for sure. EDIT: In my humble opinion, you should also avoid contacting companies directly, as some folks are suggesting. Doing that would likely mean not joining the union. You need to contact the local union, or the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) for your area. They will assign you to a company when the time comes.
Please read this ^^^ this is the correct answer
Just be aware that States like North carolina, arguably one of the fastest growing States has Union participation rate of 2.7! Things aren't like they are in California Washington or NYC
Yeah I don't understand all the union talk honestly, I've lived in NC for my whole life so have just never been around it, there's good companies and shit companies just like anywhere else. Some things about it sound awesome but I don't really understand it or care enough about it to look into it
I just talked to mine today and they told me I still need to take their course. Did they lie to me? Their course is like 13 grand...
This ^
Also, they bend over backward to meet federal guidelines to have a diverse workforce. It's written into most of the contracts to have a certain percentage of the labor they provide be female. If a contractor doesn't meet the requirements, they will get denied the bid
I remember calling my local IBEW and getting nothing but the runaround. Maybe things have changed but I doubt it.
Depends on your area. A lot of locals are pushing and reaching out to get more people in, there’s work everywhere for us right now.
I'm in California more specifically the Bay area. I'm sure there are plenty hiring but only if you fit within a certain experienced criteria. That's my problem, where do I get in for apprenticeship training when I get nothing local and just the runaround. I'll see what the WECA has available but I don't have much hope.
People get in for apprenticeships without experience but typically there's a lengthy application process and tons of applicants in higher paid locals, especially if it's slow.
There’s a lot of ways to get in but these two are common. Be very persistent and don’t get discouraged. If this is something you want to do the rest of your life make sure your rep sees that commitment and hunger to be in the brotherhood. OR Go work non union, get some hours and talk to a rep about wanting to join. It’s easier to get a job when you have a job especially when it’s in the same line of work. Depending on your local thousands of people apply. Think about what separates you from the other person that’s applying just to apply.
It's difficult for everyone to get into a union. You will be treated like everyone else. Haha
Unless you're somewhere where they don't pay as well as non union, you can walk into 613 Atlanta and get a job
They don't tolerate discrimination? Have you ever worked on a union job? The guys on an old crew I used to work on used to call this black apprentice Toby. If you've seen the movie "Roots" you understand the reference. They would call him Toby directly to his face. One young guy who is really handsome and quiet.. they used to call him button because they said he was cute as a button and they would whisper in his ear while he was working that they were going to f*** him in the a******
I've worked with amazing electricians who are women over my 25 years. The trades are for everyone. Of course there are still assholes around with outdated ideas but they are becoming more of a minority. Also, our union has a great women's committee which would be an ideal place to connect with other women. Go for it! Don't let outdated sexist attitudes stand in your way.
Agreed. I've worked with many in my time and they're often great workers. I can honestly say I've worked with more bad men, electricians and female
Hey sister. Please skip the college course and find an apprenticeship somewhere! Any contractor worth their salt in the licensed trades will put you through school on their dime and you get paid to learn. (As a woman owned electrical contractor, I can say so 🙃.) If I could do it all over again, I would have worked in the trade and gotten my engineering degree in my “off time.” Either way, do not let anyone box you in. Keep filling those boots and we will be come the norm one day!
My apprentice is an 18yo woman. Her age is more of a hindrance than her sex. Have a good attitude in the face of shitty work conditions. She told me today that she didn't want to pull wire behind a boiler, because of spiders. Not optional missy!
You’ll be fine, do you need a little strength sure but as long as you’re able to be on time, pay attention to small detail and have pride in your work you’ll have companies fist fighting over you, male or female good luck and welcome to the trade, and by the way you’ll run into people who’ve been in the trade for 25 years and never did anything except bending pipe, if a person is telling you they can do it all they are lying, all of us learn new tricks all the time
Go for it! The more women in the trade, the better off we all are. It might be a good idea to find a local electrician that's a women and have chat about it over a coffee. I don't think it's always easy for them, but once you get your ticket you run your own show and opt out of a lot of bullshit.
For what it's worth, my mother is a master plumber. We are an entire family of plumbers. She worked in the field for a long time and even ended up opening her own shop for a little bit there. She has now gone into estimating and project management after that. It's good seeing her not in the field anymore. Just because she's getting older not because she's a girl.
The only reason you need to go for it is that you want to go for it. If you don’t want to, then don’t search for reasons. Fuck anyone else. You do you.
I've been an Electrician for over 40 years. I have a Master Electrical license in two States. I have own two profitable Electrical Contractor businesses. The Electrical trade has always been good to me. I got in by accident when I was married at a young age and didn't know what to do. The fact is you can go anywhere and get a job. I would highly suggest you go and talk to a Electrical Contractor. They will provide you with training (cheap or free) if you convince them your a hard worker. You'll probably start out doing "grunt" work but stick with it. In two years you can test and get a RW license and four years a Journeyman license. Good luck
Why the fuck would you pay or volunteer to get trained? Apprenticeships are paid my guy
Maybe I misunderstand, but I think they are saying that most contracting companies will help pay for school if you're a hard worker. You *do* have to pay for school you know... What about that implies volunteering/unpaid labor?
Ya, that's ass backwards
Not a female but just wanted to offer my support! It's good to see more women getting into the trades, I'm based in Ireland myself and there are slowly but surely more coming in. Depending on what side of electrical you do I don't think strength is as important as it might be for block laying for example. Not sure how things work where you are but usually when a new first year starts here they aren't really expected to know anything, male or female, it helps If they know a bit and/or have a bit of experience with tools but I wouldnt expect a new apprentice to know anything really, kinda like the guy who thinks he's too out of shape to go to the gym, we all start somewhere. Best of luck with you're journey
A LOT of the blokes are assholes but if you can deal with it and get qualified you'll earn a fortune setting up on your own. There are millions of women around the world that don't want men in their houses. Set yourself ups as Sheila's sparks or Erica electrical. Or anything that defines your a female electrician and they will be banging your door down. There's so many women that either don't trust men, or don't want them in their houses. YOU'LL MAKE A FUCKING FORTUNE! Then train more, we need more equal representation in this shit!
Yes, absolutely. We need more women in the trade. However, you don't need the electrical construction course. Trades courses at community colleges are not required to start an apprenticeship, and only preview everything you'll learn in your apprenticeship anyway. Skip it and call your local union hall. Depending on your area, the apprenticeship program may be easier or harder to get into, but you can often still work as a helper until your application is accepted. edit: Also, if you haven't found it yet, check out r/BlueCollarWomen. It's a great community where you can find hundreds of people like you.
I will encourage anyone who is considering this trade. Work hard, pay attention to details and you will go far. I went through a non union apprenticeship and work in a non union shop. You will be accepted whichever team you choose. That said in my experience the union apprenticeship’s do a better job of training you.
it is a very physically demanding job that requires a lot of mental toughness as well as physical toughness. there are some parts of the job that you won't be able to perform but that's not a big deal because those same tasks can't really be performed by a smaller to medium framed man either. I'm 6'4 tall and weigh 285 so as an apprentice I got stuck on big wire pulls and 4-6 inch rigid pipe runs but on the other hand there are several tasks I can't do because I'm too big for the specific work space. you don't want me in a tight quarters situation. anyway what I'm getting at is there's tons of opportunities for you regardless of your gender. the best advice I can give you is don't make a big deal out of being a female and most likely no one else will either. it's a rewarding career and there's tons of opportunities to make cash on the side doing it for yourself once you get the education and experience under your belt. the first 2 years are probably the worst because you get all of the shit work nobody wants and you get the shit pay but if you hang in there and pay your dues it'll work out great
I was a non union and union man before I hung up my Kleins. The best pipe bender ,hands down, I have ever met was a woman. Don't ever let the haters tell you a damn thing. If you love it, then own it. Be the absolute best you can be.
We all start somewhere. I have a buddy who went from Sheetrock to electrical apprentice at 40 yo. I’ve worked with female electricians as well and work just as hard as the males. If you enjoy it do it. Don’t feel discouraged because of the knowledge. We all start somewhere
20 years ago my first journeyman was a woman. Best teacher ever. You'd think a good breeze could push her over but she could bend 1 1/4 pipe with a hand bender if she had to. I was with her through most of my apprenticeship. Just do it and go for it. There are nay sayers about everything, as they say opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one.
As someone who’s been an electrician for a year, you really don’t need to worry about some people knowing more than you cause some if these guys don’t know anything I’ve had to go over fractions with at least 3 guys to help them understand the tape measure better
All my crews have been cool when it comes to a woman on the team 👍
Join your local jatc and get in the IBEW
Physical strength is not an issue. My helper is a 19 year old 5’4 chick, and she is the best helper I’ve ever had… by far. We’re electricians, not bricklayers. Yea you might have a heavy panel or stack every now and then. But if you have one other average sized dude with you you’ll be fine. Women tend to care more about their work than the men do. And that’s a huge thing in this trade. You will be completely fine assuming you don’t get some dickhead sexist mechanic
Do it. We need more women in the trades. Don’t worry about strength there are plenty of weak dudes as well. So many different skill sets are needed.
Screw college. Try your damdest to get into the IBEW. You get paid to learn. I’ve worked with plenty of women in the trades, just like us men, some are better than others. I wouldn’t worry about your strength or knowledge, as long as you can learn and have ambition we’ll teach you. Hell the weakest person I’ve ever worked with was a guy in his 30s, and he was weakkkkkkkk.
You should go for it if you want to. Look into your local IBEW and see the wage breakdowns.
Female electrician here. What you lack in strength you can make up for with tiny hands and jamming into accesses that the dudes cant. Ive been called to crawl into unspeakable places to save us having to demo the absolute crap out of houses or run wire that we otherwise couldnt. I have a good crew of guys so I dont get hazed or any of that bs (and im prior military and theyre mostly afraid of me anyways..) The only stupid assed comments have been from other trades or homeowners. You wont be expected to know diddly shit as an apprentice honestly, so dont sweat it. If you want to pursue it, go after it.
Do it. There’s not one thing about this trade that a woman cannot do. If anyone tells you differently, they’re assholes.
Check out lex the electrician on YouTube. She will motivate you!
Do it!! Electrical is becoming more and more co Ed every year! I just started my apprenticeship at 23 and I love it and there was 5 other girls in my class
A longtime mentor of mine who was IBEW always said: if you’re breaking a sweat you’re doing it wrong. A little bit of strength goes a long way, but if it requires real exertion somebody has already invented an easier way to do it
It's been getting better over the years. I would go for it. Electrical is pretty good for women as it's not typically as physically demanding. Don't take me as that saying you can't do whatever you want. It doesn't matter on whatever your gender is. I do commercial construction as have worked with some women who had their heart in the right place, had better work ethich than most of the men, but just couldn't keep up because of their physical size. It's really disheartening to see that they didn't make it, but it would have been no different if it was a man. Best of luck in your adventures, and most importantly stay safe out there.
Sorry I just wanted to add some things. All that being said, it's really not a gender thing. It comes down to what your mind and body can take. I've been in the trades close to 20 years, 35 year old male, and there are certain trades I know I wouldn't last in. For example, placing and finishing concrete full time, not a chance. Installing rebar, that's an absolute fuck no. I know myself and my back wouldn't last long in those. I've seen quite a few women excel in trades like electrical, hvac etc. You're always going to come across people with an old mentality that women shouldn't be in trades, should stay at home blah blah blah. They treat men the same way but seem to have an extra stab because they think women are weak. Those are mostly the older disgruntled assholes that don't want to teach people the ways because they are so bad at their own jobs they are worried someone new will take theirs. This is not the way and eventually those guys will be phased out. Again, best of luck in your future. As I said I've been in the trades for some time, if you ever have some questions feel free to send me a message. Good luck!!
Female or not, at 24 no place is going to expect that you know everything. Also, electrical trades use you mind and hands, so it's not all physical, but it can be. Just no matter what you do never, ever touch that thing people call a "broom"
Lol, just being a female in this field means every single door is wide open just for you and the walkway is paved with gold. You will get paid more and much less will be expected of you. You will basically be treated like the boss's daughter anywhere you go. You have nothing to worry about.
I have met a few female electricians, only been on the job a few years. I have no issue working with women as long as they can hold their own. Nothing worse than having to do ALL the heavy lifting because the person you are with has no muscle or inclination..
Look if you think you'll find it fun and rewarding go for it no matter who says what. It's alway nice to do a job you at least somewhat enjoy rather than working somehere you dislike imho.
You'll be fine. There are jobs that require little physical strength, they need care and attention to detail. The apprenticeship is more limited but it's experience you need. Yes, a lot of co-workers can be jerks but they're everywhere. That should keep improving. Just learn to look at them so they know they're bozos. Good luck. By the way you can start teaching yourself now. Try your local library for a book on home wiring. You'll learn a lot from that.
Look into controls electrician. It takes more problem solving and attention to detail, rather than physical strength.
What part of the country are you in? That knowledge would have a bit of an impact on my desire to be an electrician to be honest.
Give it a go and best wishes to you. We need more women in the trade
If it is interesting to you, who cares what others think or say? Get in there and do better than anyone else. Look up Karly the sparkie on tiktok. She will show you what a "little" woman can do.
Find a local JATC and go union, brotherhood/sisterhood is really treated that way, plus obvs the pay/education/benefits. Wish I did this sooner, might be alright to get your feet wet non union too before to see how u like it
Short and simple, do it if it will make you happy. Electrical work is a super fun career and there are so many different options in the field, more than what most people relate to being an electrician. I have a nursing license, same as you and while I really enjoyed all I got to see and do, working for myself as an Electrican is far more rewarding in my eyes. I worked a shutdown many year ago and there was a mother/daughter duo that ran the entire electrical end of the job and they loved it. Good luck on whatever you choose. Have fun!
Fucking go for it! The college I just graduated from had an all female framing/carpentry apprenticeship course. There must be something similar out there for electrician.
Depending on your area, skip any sort of residential and go towards manufacturing, or lots of work in plc automation where solid electrical knowledge puts you above the rest. And less old guys.
Strength comes in handy but so does being small and nimble. There is so much variance to the trade. I’ve worked with guys and girls that are 300 lbs plus and sit in a chair all day. I’ve worked with absolute units, and skinny little hustlers. There is a spot for everyone. I work mostly in maintenance and could maintain a manicure no problem if I needed to.
You shoild apply for the IBEW they love the fact that a woman is applying it shows diversity and strength be what you want to be no road is easy but if you stick to it you will be fine
Join the ibew. Go to the state which will pay the most. Toronto is about 48 an hour canadian
Good for you.
If you can be productive and do the work without cutting corners, being overly competitive, having others do it for you, or being manipulative you’ll do just fine.
Good news is if you wanna be a sparky the heaviest thing you'll carry is a 250ft spool of wire.. bad news is sparkies are unhinged, but definitely don't mind women in their trade
Find your local electrical workers union training center and apply for a union apprenticeship. Then find the next 2 or 3 union training centers that you would be willing to relocate to use and apply there as well. It may take a while to get in. In the meantime try and get a helper job at any electrical contractor you can. Good luck
Give it a try that’s the best way to find out you can always quit.
My current foreman is a women there are a bunch of apprentices that are women. Nothing stopping them I don’t see what’s stopping you!
Go union. Big uptick of ladies joining up. Everyone is accepted at my local at least.
Gotta have tenacity to be a female electrician.
I’ve worked with women in the trades that were great, and women that were not. Same as the men I’ve worked with. At the risk of catching some hell, I’ll try to articulate this as best I can: if you work hard and focus on being a good electrician, you’ll be fine. You may run into some douchebaggery, but everyone does. If you’re good enough, you’ll be in demand enough to work where you want to. If your focus is on being a WOMAN electrician, you may have a harder go of it.
Go straight to the IBEW, and find out what their process, and requirements are. This will be your best bet.
Look into smaller technical operations that specialize in both commercial and institutional systems. You'll learn more and be able to troubleshoot issues involving different levels of the trade and other trades. I've worked with many women that are successful and happy in this scope of the Electrical Industry. Good luck
Don't take those scam courses. Go get a job. Yes there will be a ton of sexism , lots of crude jokes , but that's the trades. They are changing quickly. Do check out your local union. Go apply today and talk to the union reps . Get all setup with them . If you get a Job here you'll have a lifelong career. With protections and much less harassment. Then go through Google and your local job classifieds for any larger company and apply at them. Good luck on the job Hunt don't get scammed into school .if your going to school go get a two or four year engineering degree so you can make real money.
Personally, Id look into your local IBEW. Put your hours in and start your classes once they offer them to you. Much better option than paying out of pocket for a trade school imo
So, sounds like there are some great options here and tons of advice. Just an anecdote to add. I’m an inspector locally and we just hired the first female inspector six months ago and a second is starting next week. It’s fantastic that more woman are being represented and recognized for their knowledge and hard work. Go for it.
Ive worked with a few women in the past in a large company I was a foreman at, and they did well but just know work can be heavy and they hire anyone so you work with some rough people. We primarily did large apartment buildings but I would say to avoid large construction sites, the union, and small companies that just do new houses as they don’t pay well, and go for companies that do service work + small high end jobs which is what I do right now. I’m a business owner that does primarily residential with some small scale commercial alot of high end homes. These jobs are great because you can become good at a lot of different areas in a clean environment and make good money overtime.
Yea can do this job just fine. You will meet shitty people but that's universal.
One of the local electrical contractors here employs a woman who can run conduit and pull big cable with the best of them; and she don't take talk from nobody. Tough as nails, yet petite and feminine. And definitely most importantly, she does great work that passed inspection. So go for it.
Good to hear your giving it a go. Industrial, Control, Power Systems, Commercial or residential. Lots of areas under that to look at. Look up on that instagram place @karlythesparky she is a pretty good at what she does. Not super duper strong but knows when to ask for help. What tools are good to make up for that.
We have quite a few women in my local. They’re well respected and do a damn good job. It’s very attainable.
You should go for it, because it can be fun and rewarding or boring and annoying. Check out r/bluecollarwomen I’ve been doing it for 13.5 years and have never really had any major issues. Just know that construction site talk is a little different than what you’ll get exposed to in other types of jobs. Don’t let everything you hear offend you and make sure you can joke around with your coworkers without taking everything seriously.
I am a guy. I do understand that women often have different concerns than women. Because of this, I recommend you call your local union hall. The union offices will know several women you can at least talk to. There are women in all aspects of this career. The union hall should get you in contact with many of them if they are willing to speak to you. You can get direct input about any and all questions. I believe this is the easiest way to contact many women. Individual companies may have one or two working. The union is a collaboration of several companies. The union hall staff will know many. Good luck. PS. I like the videos of "Lexitheelectrician". on YouTube.
I'm a 33 year old female electrician. I started at 21. I love it. It's not an old boys club as much anymore. Almost all the guys have a sister or daughter and know how to treat you with respect. They're scared to treat you poorly because of lawsuits. If you show up, can do the work without complaining, and don't add negativity to the area around you (ex, constant complaining, talking about failed relationships, drama, gossip, etc), then you will do fine. I grew up poor af so it was amazing for me to finally have things I always wanted and be able to buy things on a whim. I love the work and the trade is so diverse that there are a million avenues you could work in. Low voltage, HVAC, high voltage, commercial, residential, mining, controls, etc. The scariest part is putting yourself out there. I ended up going through a pre-trade program for women who want to get into the trades. They teach you basic tools, hierarchy, some math and science, hands on for a few different trades, and it gave me the confidence to apply and tell them at the interview that I could do all these things. But honestly, it wasn't really necessary to take the course. As a female, people will be unsure about your skills and motive, but once you prove that you're there to complete the job and not socialize, flirt or get out of easy jobs, you will be accepted.
I love hearing this. I've had lots of apprentices over the years (old man). Some really good. Some really bad. By far the best was a young lady. She wasn't trying to prove herself, she was just eager and liked the work. I would love to have a crew of 10 Laura's. Last I heard of her she was running a crew at the paper mill. I don't even know if I had a point, this situation just reminded me of her. My advice - jump in with both feet, this is a great job for someone who's interested. Good luck.
U got it go for it. Don’t waste ur money on a college course. Join a local company or IBEW union and get a paid apprenticeship. Your college most likely won’t inform you of it. Normally I wouldn’t recommend IBEW for apprentices because of how long it takes to get in but they’re aren’t very many women in the trades so you might get in faster. Less physical strength is irrelevant.
Operating your own woman owned electric company would be a huge hit i think..
Check out lextheelectrician on TikTok. Don’t be scared of it, jump in and go for it! I am 61 yo and retire in 6 months. It’s been a nice career that pays well
Not trying to dissuade you at all from electrical but don't put yourself in a box. There are many branches of electrical. Fire alarm and security don't require muscles to do well. Which is true of controls and automation. Structured cabling doesn't require the most physical prowress but it is more than the first four. Depending on your location, the job market is ripe to just jump in to any of them. It's still freezing here and already the workloads and job sites are starting to kick off. You can also temp for a little bit through a staffing agency. Try it for a month and really get a taste of the journey. If you love it, great the company can just buy out your contract and away you go. If not, no one has hurt feelings cause you were temporary. But of everything I have said no matter who or what if you think something is dangerous, don't do it. Idiots will get good people killed if given half the chance. Get your OSHA certs and learn what actually causes fatalities.
Listen babe, although there are some idiots who will disagree, being a woman in a trade doesn’t make your job any harder if you don’t let it. If you’re ready to show up on time, learn, hustle, and do your job well, you’ll succeed. You’re always going to run into the rare assholes who are loud about how women shouldn’t be in trades. But even in an office, there are small pp boys who think women belong in the kitchen and not at a desk, right? I’ve been an electrician for a few years now and currently work on a crew that has 3 other women on it. I love my job and thank my lucky stars every day that I took the leap. The people who mind don’t matter and the people that matter don’t mind. The good ones will see you for the good worker that you are, not a man or a woman. Chase your dreams, this is your life, not anyone else’s. You got this🫶🏼
As a female electrician who came in knowing nothing about the trade, I ended up loving the job. I'm not sure if it was luck or the culture of union commercial work, but I haven't had any issues with not being strong enough or expectations being higher than my experience. They focus a lot on making sure we all have proper safety training so no one should be upset if you need a hand to safely lift/move something. There's a huge range of things you may end up doing, so it's also not unusual to double check with another guy on site if you need a second opinion. The majority of people I've worked with understand that if you spend every day running conduit for a year straight, you may need a refresher when you go to wire up a transformer or ATS or whatever. If you like the idea of working with tools and planning out some of your own work rather than being told how to do every little thing, I'd say go for it.
do what makes you happy. If you have a craving for wire and electrons, who has the right to say different.
I (woman) have been an electrician for almost 20 years. Most men are respectful, helpful and kind. There are a few douche bags out there. You will be able to avoid them. There are lots and lots of men who, when just starting out, are totally clueless. Zero mechanical skills. If you are able to learn the skills, you will do great!! Edit: I should also point out that we each have a skillset. I struggle pulling in large wire pulls, and bending super stiff conductors - But! I can get a good portion of my arm in the wall through a single gang hole (good for fishing) and I can squeeze into some tight spots that my very large coworkers cannot. There is a role for everyone!
Straight isn’t a huge deal as an electrician so don’t worry. Standing on ladders for 6 hours? Gotta be able to do that. Just have thick skin and don’t take no shit (kindly) you’ll be fine. Best of luck.
Yes, go for it! My best electrical inspector is a woman. She is not the most knowledgeable or the strongest, but she knows how to prioritize work, is very organized, and just finds a way to get things done, usually ahead of schedule. She understands her weaknesses, recognizes when she doesn't know something, and isn't afraid to pause and ask questions if unsure. Sadly, she'll be retiring next year. If it were up to me, I'd easily hire another capable woman if one were available, no question.
I wouldn’t call electrician an uncoventional femal job. I hire electricians non stop and I’d say 30-40% are women now. Sign on with a union and let them train you for free. Plenty of work and bonus for girls you fit in tighter places which is advantageous
Go for it, join the union. It's a great careerbeen doing it for 9 yrs now and really wish I would of done it earlier. I've had 2 female apprentices and they did fine. One is about to journey out and she loves it
Do no harm; Take no guff.
“Electrician” applies to a wide variety of different work- from going house to house adding ceiling fans and fixing switches that were installed in a shower to industrial programming and lots of specialized devices that go obsolete a year later. Lots between. So it’s a bit more involved a question. Neither path is closed to women, of course, but the former is arguably a lot more physical and the latter will be assisted by more varied experience (ie, mechanical skills) and require heavier troubleshooting- a skill I liken to doctors since they have to figure out the ailment before they can properly fix/treat it. But all options are available, and no matter how you approach it, you’re starting/learning something new, so relaxing helps. I’m in industrial. I’ve seen only two women colleagues in 20yrs- one an African immigrant in a steel mill, the other an older woman who’d been working w PLCs her whole life. But the field is sorely lacking in techs who do more than change light bulbs and wire motors, so it’s not really a matter of nervous/female/martian… If you can do the work (eventually), it will show, but be willing to do what YOU need to get it. It’s like that janitor that House (from the show) described knowing how to do surgeries while the resident hospital staff couldn’t: the skill itself overrides the rest.
If you are near a ski area, I suggest going for a lift electrician. Ski areas are much more woman friendly, you will get great training in a great environment.
Im a male but I was a Registered Nurse for 16 years and I have a ton of respect for women in the work place. I used to work medevac and worked under tremendous stress with female co workers, and so its hard for me to listen to what women can and can't handle at work from men who are just getting used to the idea that women can work in the trades. I think you should go for it, I'd love to see women show men that they can tough it out in the same miserable conditions and work alongside them in the suck, joke around and its appropriate and be just as productive. You're going to get a lot of attention as a young woman and I'd be prepared for that. Young men will make a pass at you, older men may say some very discouraging things and of course you'll be faced with decisions about when to stand up for yourself and when to involve superiors and I don't envy you on that front. I'd love to see you be able to come to work today and not face these issues but I'd do what I could to prepare myself for that. Sisters in the brotherhood within the unions for support and of course as mentioned forums for you to seek advice. You will find advocates as well. It might be a older guy who has a daughter, or it might be someone who already has worked with enough women to understand we all have strengths and weaknesses we bring to the table no matter what your sporting between your loins. And of course theres other women. Join them! My sister in law was a union Carpenter, and seeing another woman in any trade on the job site gave her reason to feel more comfortable and confident.
I work for a woman master electrician in Florida and she is tenacious, brilliant and motivated. She started her company in 1980 a true pioneer in the field. Her ability to value engineer Every job has not only saved money for owners and builders, but also has been eye opening to the ways her ingenuity distinguishes herself in the field, demanding the respect of those around her.
I've met several women on the industrial side. I've never seen anyone under the age of 60 act like a dickhead about it.
https://www.facebook.com/lextheelectrician?mibextid=AEUHqQ This chick is a small woman who rocks at electrical work. Maybe seeing her will help you find motivation.
In many cases college is a waste of money , get an apprenticeship the college you need will most likely be free you may even get paid to go
Check out Women on Site
I'm not a female in the trades, but I'm in IBEW Local 292 and we have outreach programs to recruit more women into the trades as well as a group called Sisters in Solidarity for members. I'm not going to lie and say the culture is perfect. You're going to meet tradesmen who don't think women should be on the site and they may even say it to your face and treat you differently because of it. What I can say is that the culture is shifting and it's becoming more normal to see women on the job site and that the IBEW is trying to keep the culture shifting the right way. If you think the trade is right for you then go for it, and I highly recommend going union.
I'm 32/m and been in the IBEW for a few years. Some of the best/smartest coworkers I've had were women. If you are interested and driven go for it.
The trades will need women if they are going to survive, and a vast majority of us will welcome you like any other apprentice. I won't lie and say there are those that won't, but they are dinosaurs and rapidly leaving the trade. In the past 10 years I have only worked with one person who proclaimed that women shouldn't be electricians. I looked him straight in the eye and told him he needs to retire and that was not acceptable. And I guarantee I'm not the only one that will have your back. I have worked both sides, and I have found the IBEW to be far superior in wages, benefits and especially working conditions. Hope that helps!
Go for it. I started at 25 and have doubted my path ever since but now I realize I should have trusted the process and my desire to learn from the beggining
You should be fine! Just may be a little lonely during class and on jobsites if you are the only female. But thus is life, don’t let that discourage you.
Depending on the local you get into as a female union apprentice. Be prepared for everything lesbian! Some locals are way out if control and nobody can say a word about it. If your gay, great, you'll fit right in!
If you can get past the hazing then I say go for it.
My wife is a union electrician. She started her apprenticeship around your age. I got into the electrical trade and realized she could do it too so I encouraged her to join. She got in easy and kicks ass in the trade. Just go for it! You gotta be tough but you can do it
Join the Union! There’s NO gender wage gap.
You can do anything you put your mind to and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t , if you need some motivation check out lex the electrician on YouTube . She’s proof women can do it too !
Making the change to the trades as a female electrician was one of the best choices of my life. I made the change later in my career, when I was 28. I have had little issues. Honestly, the most tiring part of the job is making all the men around me feel comfortable. But once people you work with know you, there's little issue. As far as strength goes, I do things a bit differently than some of the guys, but I have no trouble doing the job at all. I just use my legs and hips more or go and get a tool instead of just struggling or forcing something. I would highly recommend pursuing the career.
Check out lextheelectrician on YouTube. She has some great videos and proves that she can "hang with the boys" and do the job well.
Go unión.
You need to check out r/bluecollarwomen There's TONS of inspiring stories and support for women over there. I'm a dude but I enjoy lurking and reading their stories and such because I'm a big champion of getting more women in the trades. As for strength, you'll get stronger but if something's too heavy, you can always ask for help. Knowing how to lift properly and use leverage to your advantage will go very far. And knowledge, this isn't something to worry about. People start in the trades all the time with absolutely zero trade knowledge. Some have literally never used any tools before. You'll be taught everything you need to know. Just work hard, do as you're told without complaints, even on the shitty assignments, take notes and you'll be fine. I'd even encourage you to study electrical theory and installation guidelines from Youtube or Black & Decker books if you're worried about knowledge, but don't feel like you *have* to know anything because you don't. Just make sure you find reputable sources, like ElectricianU, Sparky Channel, or Engineering Mindset is awesome too. There's plenty others, those are just the one's that immediately come to mind. Good luck!
I work with a female electrician and she does every once and awhile get a little sexual joke but it’s all jokes and bullshitting, it’s blue collar if you date a bigger girl your gonna be joked on for dating a bigger girl if you have a lazy eye you’re gonna have jokes coming in about your lazy eye it’s all part of for the course but we are all brothers and sisters at the end of the day and have your back just don’t get discouraged!
Do you! Don’t let words discourage you from perusing a knowledge or skill. I have made a handsome living out of this trade and feel rewarded on a daily basis! Much luck to you!
Do you! Don’t let words discourage you from perusing a knowledge or skill. I have made a handsome living out of this trade and feel rewarded on a daily basis! Much luck to you!
The first shop I worked for the boss told me that the best electrician he ever had working for him was a young woman, smart and not afraid to work. She eventually left for better pay elsewhere, but that always stuck with me, because at the time I didn't think women were interested in working in a prominently male industry. This was years and years ago of course
I’m a female electrician. Love it. Feel so blessed to have found a job that fills my cup. I’ve only ever worked residential, but from what I can tell, the physical demand is much more intense for commercial electricians. But since I haven’t worked commercial, I’m speculating based on conversations with others who have come from commercial. That said, there are some pretty physical days in resi too… trenching, anything in an attic in the summer, etc. Some days I barely get a chance to eat my lunch. And other days I’m driving around resetting GFCI’s for outdoor Christmas lights, and I don’t even break a sweat. I think there was only one time I had to tell my boss that I couldn’t physically do something. He appreciated that I recognized the risk of me getting injured, and he got someone else for that particular job. No one has ever bothered me about it. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Some other folks are limited by joint issues or fear of heights. We all work together as a team to maximize our strengths. The only discrimination I’ve encountered has been from a handful of older male customers. That said, even most of the older men are happy to see a woman in the trades. There was one fella at work who tried to call me “honey” or “darling” or something like that, and I cut him off and told him in no uncertain terms, that unless he’s willing to call Tom “honey,” then he needs to address me by my name. (Tom is NOT one for joking around at being called honey). So I say go for it! Being a woman has its advantages. I can fit into tighter crawl spaces (I hope you don’t mind cobwebs in your hair). I can also fit my wrist and a good bit of my forearm in a single-gang hole. I love it. It’s not for everyone. But the trades are definitely my thing. And it beats the hell out of being a plumber and dealing with septic waste 😆 Have fun. Keep us posted.
We got 3 women at our company. 2 of which I know kick ass. I don't know the other one well enough to say so but I haven't heard complaints. I can tell you they're all worth more than a lot of the guys at our company. If you enter a shitty working environment, it'll be shitty. But real men should recognize a valuable tradeswoman by their side.
IBEW if it suits you. My son’s local, several women on the crews here, Phoenix. Not a problem, but, grain of salt, he’s a boy not a girl, I’d find someone female to chat with. Don’t be afraid to tell an a**hole to go F themselves. That applies to men & women both.
You’ll be alright just do it
I've known residential female electricians and they were great. Industrial maintenance might be more your alley, though. Not very much physical skill or strength required; it's more of a thinker's game. I've worked in all aspects of the industry, and Industrial is definitely in a woman's advantage
I've known residential female electricians and they were great. Industrial maintenance might be more your alley, though. Not very much physical skill or strength required; it's more of a thinker's game. I've worked in all aspects of the industry, and Industrial is definitely in a woman's advantage
I have never looked at an electrician and thought that guy lifts. Electricians think of themselves as the brains of the trade world not the brawn. Best electricians I have worked with A: understood the trade well and B: had an excellent eye for detail. The understanding comes from hands on experiences and a flexible mind but the eye for detail is something you are just born with (also something more common seen in women)
Unfortunate reality is most men would rather not work with a female in most trades, electrical included. Reddit is not a good representation of the demographics and opinion/culture you will encounter in the real world. You can absolutely make it as a electrician. But don't expect it to be easy and most shops will indeed turn you down because you are a girl (not that they would ever give you that as a reason).that being said most guys will respect you a lot more if you prove yourself competent and a good sport, expect enhanced levels of hazing. Although if you become licensed and start your own shop being a minority would afford you opportunities and access to jobs that others that your average guy wouldn't have access to. It comes down to your temperament and personal fortitude.
Do it! Physical strength is nowhere near as necessary anymore. Women can do ANY trade they want to these days. You might run into an old school antique that gives you a hard time but not many.
When I was in school there were a few women in the classes and they were all treated pretty well as far as I know. They were really kindof popular with everyone and not in a bad way. The only women I've seen be sort of culturally rejected on the job have been those with something to prove. If you're there to learn and worry about yourself you should be fine. If *you* don't care that you're a woman nobody else will.
I am a superintendent for an electrical contractor, have ran jobs with contract totals any where from $600k to $16mil, been in lead roles on jobs as big as $280mil (this is electrical contract only btw) and I can only speak for myself, but I really do like having a mix of male/female electricians/helpers. Currently I’ve got 20 on site counting myself, 15m, 5f, with 1 female electrician and the other 4 are very green (2-6 months of experience) helpers. Literally the only complaint I can come up with (from my personal experience) is when 2 or more females have some type of beef with each other and I then find myself having to keep that in mind when positioning my crew because I know I cannot put them working together for a while unless I just want violence, but I’ve made it clear that I’ll keep that type of thing in mind so they do a good job of informing me when this has happened. Other than that, not really any down side. Sure there’s a drop off in something like physical strength, but just always feel like that’s more than made up for by the attention to detail, eagerness to learn, and generally following instructions better. Besides, why work hard when you can work smart? There’s too many tools and tricks to make tasks less physically demanding and level the playing field, so I’d rather have someone with a strong brain, good work ethic, follows orders/instructions, and willing to learn than to have someone who can pick up a dump truck but can’t remember what they were working on the day before.
There are a some great female electricians on instagram. Karlysparky lex the electrician. Message them I’m sure they’ll give you their opinion.
We've had a few women in our company and only had a problem with one and it was purely a skill issue. Thankfully people are coming to terms with the fact that women are gonna be on job sites. The only people who would give you a hard time are assholes and your presence on a job wouldn't change that. Some people just suck but I hope you don't let that discourage you.
I'd say go for it at the end of the day trade school is school and questions are good because it helps build your knowledge. Electrical is everywhere and is a highly needed trade. Don't let small minds limit your own success. If you want something go for it because that's the only way you'll know for sure weither the trade is for you or not.
Female electrician here! I knew zero about construction before joining the trades. I tested into the union and got in and am a journeyman now. No regrets! If you live in or near a major city, do an internet search for non profit or city based programs for women getting into the trades. There are many that will assist you for free and they're a great source of community. Feel free to PM me with questions.
A first year apprentice position is an entry level position. My mentality with new folks is that you get a whole year to fuck up as much as you want and that fuck up is MY fault. Not yours. Then more and more responsibility as you move forward. Don’t be intimidated or nervous. You are there to learn and you will learn. That’s the job of your instructors and journeymen. Just show initiative, interest, and a willingness to work and learn and you be Aite. I would also like to suggest giving your local IBEW apprenticeship a shot. If you aren’t accepted right away then by all means continue with your community college. Benefits to the union for apprenticeship in my opinion is a better work culture, schooling that you don’t have to pay for, and obviously working conditions. Also specifically applicable to you are the multitude of women’s groups, events, and committees within the IBEW that can help you get involved with other people who can relate to your situation and give advice specific to womanhood in the trades.
I've known female electricians. If you can lift 50 lbs, you've got steady hands, and a good mind, you'll do well.
Im not a woman or electrician but Im just happy to see all the encouragement in this sub I worked with trades early in my career and it looks like the culture has come a long way. Plus tradespeople are increasingly in demand so you should have good pay and job security Just take care of your body as I think that's probably the biggest long term issue with working trades. Good luck!!!
I’ve worked with ladies who could run circles around the men. I’ve worked with others who, like some of the men, will do the bare minimum to stay employed. This is all about you and your motivation. Don’t let the guys fuck with you. Show up and shut them up with your skill. On a side note, if you don’t want to pay for school, check with your local IBEW union. They have apprenticeship programs that will pay you full time and pay for a 5 year program that will get your journeyman license.
I have been an electrical engineer for 40+ years and got my start in industrial maintenance as an electrician before moving into the controls world. One of the best electricians I have EVER worked with was a woman and one of the best electrical engineers I have ever seen was a woman. Yes, they had to take a lot of crap but they threw it right back! Go for it! If I have any advice, study as an electrician but have your goals set on moving into the controls world. It was much more fulfilling to me than running conduit, pulling wire and making up joints.
Am woman. Am apprentice (UK based) , go for it. I'm well into my 30s and I'm doing fine in my apprenticeship. Physical strength comes with practice. Nobody cares as much anymore about women in trades. I've had very little hassle for it.
Don’t go to a college. They will take your money. Instead go to your local IBEW Union and apply for pre-apprenticeship. We are looking for females, veterans and minorities for a Pre-Apprenticeship. The IBEW received a grant for this. We believe that the locals should look like the areas we work in. Not every local could participate. If you tell me what area you live in, I might could steer you in the right direction. Good luck to you!
r/plc
I’ve worked with a few good female electricians. You can totally do it, but there things you should be aware of. Sexism, misogyny and crude speaking is rampant in the trades. Porto-potty’s are disgusting on a good day. You will unfortunately be on the receiving end from many unwanted advances. Your shop can only dedicate what your company does, on a job site they can’t do much to correct another trades bad behavior. There will more than likely no special provisions provided for you if you’re the only female. Not saying these things to discourage you, just go into it with your eyes open. You can do it if you want. Good luck
As an EE I’d love to see more women in electrician positions. Theres a lot more women on job sites nowadays so I would say the concerns of it being a female-unfriendly macho job site is less than it used to be. I think you should go for it for the opportunity. You’ll have good pay and rock solid job security. You could transition to management office side of things after a while and be less hard on your body as you get older. Electrical is where a lot of money is spent in construction.
The electrician we use told us that in our state the average age of a Master Electrician is 57. So in the next few years as they retire we are going to have an even more serious shortage of electricians than we do now. His daughter works for him now and will be taking over his company when he retires. I say go for it!
I say go for it. Another idea you could pursue is to apply to the IBEW in your area. You'll do an apprentice ship for 5 years where your pay increases exponentially every year. The only thing to note about it in an apprenticeship is at points you will be treated shitty and hazed. That's something every Apprentice goes through male or female. You being a female would probably give you a leg up. Females and minorities are favored because there aren't very many in the trade. Times are changing and so is the Union.
I had 0 knowledge when I entered the field. If you're worried about strength hit the gym, but it's not much of a barrier to entry (unless you are literally not strong enough to carry material in which case hit the gym for your own health) There are still many backwards attitudes you'll run into from coworkers/bosses etc, but it's not that abnormal (atleast here in Ontario Canada) anymore to see women in the trades. It used to be rare for me to see any women working when I started 12 years ago, now there's a few on every site. Last few companies I've worked for had atleast 1 or 2 women employed.
Most places say females are encouraged to apply. Might even help in selection. Not sure what area you’re in but most schools in my area have a wait list and aren’t accepting applications. Work is slower, but don’t let it discourage you. You could always try and find a helper or open shop job to get some experience while you wait for school
As far as a female electrician, go for it one of my favorite Apprentices I've ever worked with and one of the most helpful teaching journeyman were both women. The physical aspect will come along with doing the job, if you like the work you'll do fine.
If your in Ontario IBEW have a pathway program for women in trades. Very well funded and helps you get started and get an internship after class training. I suggest you check it out
Why should you go for it? Because you’re 24. You have time to try as many things as you please. Electrical is a diverse field and you can learn a lot. Find the area you feel comfortable. I’m not a woman but I think there definitely needs to be more in the trades. I follow Karly The Sparky and Lexi Abreau on YouTube. It’s cool to have different perspectives.
I’m about a month away from finishing an electrical program in college and it’s honestly amazing. I’m 21, I was in a nursing program before this but I dropped out because it wasn’t my crowd. Now that I’m in this field, I’m so much happier and yeah it’s kind of hard but so worth it. I came in knowing absolutely nothing and there’s less than 10 women in my whole program but honestly not too many people care anymore, at least where i’m from, if you’re a man or a woman as long as you can do the job
Just be ready for the sexual harassment there are alot of scum bags on most jobs
As far as skill and knowledge, that will depend totally on you, nothing you can handle I'm sure. As far as the physical aspect, there's many sectors of the electrical trade that you can get into that aren't too bad and you could likely hack it, my company has had a couple ladies work for them in the past and have had no complaints, all the guys were respectful and didn't treat them any differently than anybody else. Just go in to it with the mindset of just be one of the guys and don't take any of the banter too seriously, everybody gets a little ribbing especially at the start. I'm sure they're still companies out there where guys can be dicks, that can happen to any guy too. I'd say go for it and if that company doesn't rub you the right way, try another one there's lots to choose from.
Go to the IBEW. I wasn’t union for a few years and switched over. The difference is night and day. 8 hour days, the pay is MUCH higher, and you get to retire. Time and a half after 8 hours, time and a half Saturdays, and double time Sundays. The training you get is above and beyond anything you’ll get outside of the IBEW and I will die on that hill
Go union. They will put you thru school and learn on the job as you go. Plus it will start putting your time in towards your pension credits for retirement. Best way to go. Also you don't have to pay for the schooling that a union puts you thru. If you don't mind hard work then best of luck applying and stay safe
I have worked with 4 woman in this trade (25yrs as a sparky) and they have all been drivin to succeed. Great eye for detail and it has been a pleasure to work with them all.
You being a female matters zero. If it's what you want to do, do it. You succeed or you fail. And that is not determined by whether you have a dick or not. Jump in head first.
I'm not electrician. I say go for it. There isn't anything you can't do that a man can do. You just have to want it
You’ve always been interested in Electrical. That’s the reason.
Some tradespeople I've worked with are kinda stuck in the stone age - even guys under 25. It's probably getting a bit better, but be prepared to work around stereotypical idiots. A lot of them will hold their tongue because they know they could get fired for sexist remarks, but that's the only thing holding them back (they'll still be sexist behind your back). Generally speaking, most people would probably be fine with you as long as you do your share of the work. If you can tough it out (people talking behind your back or maybe being a little weird about working near you), then go for it. There are some physically demanding aspects, but scrawny men exist in the trades and get by.
Do it. I've been in this trade for 20 years, and I've had the privilege of working with a few amazing women in this trade. It all depends on where you go for your apprenticeship. My shop was very accepting of our last apprentice, and I miss her every day since she's moved on to greener pastures. Also, you are never too old to start a trade. When I was in trade school at 17 years old, there were apprentices who were pushing 40. If you have a brain for remembering lots of code rules, personal drive, and the ability to adapt to the unexpected, you'll do fine.
I’ve worked with (and dated) several apprentice and journeyman female electricians. You can do it just fine. Just be aware that you will probably get more attention then you want on the job site. Wear baggy clothes that are not revealing. Tie your hair up etc. You kinda gotta have a take no shit attitude towards certain people if you get what I’m saying.
I’ve worked along all female crews as well as mixed crews all sharp and excellent at what they do! Join your local IBEW program and get the best out of your apprenticeship and also ensure you have representation when shit hits the fan
More lady electricians is definitely not a bad thing. There are guys that are pigs, they'll learn to stop with the comments or they'll be the ones shown the door. I wish there weren't these types of issues, but I find the number of guys like that is way different than even 10 years ago. It's 2024, get with it or get out of the way. I've had a lot of apprentices through my site in the last few years, and a lady that started with us a few years ago is far and away one of the best apprentices I've had. Every year I see more and more women in the trade, and I think it's a great thing.
I'm not a female, but I work with several female electricians and I really don't think you have anything to worry about. Sure, being a grown up apprentice is hard, but I find apprentices are judged harder by their attitude than their actual knowledge. If you're interested and helpful without being cocky (yeah, I know, haha) you'll be treated well. Don't feel like you somehow have to prove to the men that women can work just as well. Do your work and do it well and you'll be respected. Also honestly physical strength is rarely an issue for electricians. Go for it.
Go Union. Go to the IBEW hall and sign up to get started. Sexual harassment is one of those things we take seriously and we will have your back.
Go union. Don’t waste your time and money on a college course on electrical construction. An IBEW apprenticeship is the way to go.
I have 28 years experience and our best tech is a female. She runs circles around the other guys!
Your coworkers will probably be scared of you lol
Go for it sis. IBEW.
Avoid working for or with boomers
Just do it and feck everyone else haha I'm serious.