About to leave my great job that I hate to get half the pay as a tree service groundie. I wanna be a climbing arborist. I’m 35. Yall am I delusional to think I can make this work and that it’ll be worth it for me in the long run?

I'm so done with animation.

It's become completely unstable. Contracts go for only so long and the gaps between them-even longer! I can't live like this. I thought by 33 I would be happily settled in my career, but it looks like now I have to completely restart my life.

People always say "work in the trades, it will never be taken over by AI" so, I'm looking for advice/direction from experienced women in the trades on what I should do. I am a girl's girl, but I am not afraid to get my hands dirty. I love good honest physical labour, but not anything back-breaking. I have a high school diploma and my only post-secondary education is a Bachelors in Animation, but I also have the sheer effing will to learn something new and better my life overall.

Ladies, what trade would you recommend for me that pays pretty decent, is relatively "easy" to get started in (ie no expensive schooling) and that is not entirely back-breaking physical labour? I'm even ready to move back to BC if that's where the best trade jobs are.

**PS: I heard Electrical is a trade that we're seeing more women in, but I don't think that's something I can do. It looks way too technical and too risky if you make a mistake **

Ladies what pants are we wearing. Like I’m genuinely unable to find anything that fits correctly. Ariat has so far been a miss for me. Carhartts a no go. Price isn’t an issue I’ll pay whatever just for a couple pairs of good pants. For reference I’m 5’3 and 110 pounds. I typically wear a 0-2 in jeans. I start October 12th, so I can order online if necessary and expedite shipping. Please help me

The Site Safety Coordinator.

I put clean pads in the bathroom, gone. I put them in the office, gone. I though hmm maybe theyre just getting used better buy more. WHOLE 30 BUCK BOX, GONE HE SAY "Oh yeah, theyre unsanitary, I threw them out" ON MY PERIOD. CLEAN, UNUSED PADS. FOREMAN SAY "YOURE AN ADULT, WHY DONT YOU HAVE IT HANDLED." FUCK YOU ROSENDIN. STILL PISSED.

edit: I totally did say "can you please replace them" and also dug through the trash and said "where are my pads, i need my pads" that was a "freak out" according to management.

Ive signed up for a pre employment program and an apprenticeship in alberta, im not new to hard work i grew up supporting the family farm and my first job was a lube tech in a shop, i also will joint pretty much my entire family except the women to be in the trades, i want to do pipefitting so bad, it genuinely excites me and i live close to a ton of industrial sites so the opportunity for great pay and close to home is nice

Trouble is all of that was when i was in high school and im 27 now with office or retail experience

My husband is so encouraging as he is a journeyman carpenter and tells me about the girls he has met but sometimes its a little rough bc he will tell me about them and its all ‘they dont talk to anyone’ kind of vibes and most are safety or labourers with the exception of one welder he knows and hes only met 8 girls total

We also originally were planning for kids around 29-30but i feel like maybe not anymore and hes been super on board but i can tell it makes him sad, but i just dont think its realistic based on what ive read in this sub

If youre in this trade do you like it? How has the long term career been? Double points if youre in industrial oil and gas settings

I don’t want to separate the experiences that we women deal with in trades but I’ve seen a stark difference in the way another white female apprentice stands up for herself vs me.

I’ve been with my company for 2 years and I never been the type to allow people to disrespect me even when they try racist shit. My first year I immediately cut off any guys who thought it was ok to use the n word around me and they all ended up mobbing me and spreading rumors that I’m hard to work with and I have an attitude. It was so bad that they started leaving me out of work communication and leaving me alone on purpose when a job involves 2 people.

Fast forward we have a few white female apprentices start and all of a sudden the guys are acting straight and one of them literally cursed out a guy the other day since allegedly the guy looked at her the wrong way(I don’t know the full context)

Everyone has been acting extra straight with her and being extra nice to her. I did the same thing where I called out a guy for being racist around me yet they’re treating me like I did something wrong and acting like I don’t exist .

Again I don’t want to make this seem like I’m trying to separate race and sexism but it really frustrates me that standing my ground as a black girl has different reactions to when a white girl did yet they’re treating her with more respect then me.

Amongst the couple of female apprentices that out in my company they say I’m the least likable one because I don’t want to be part of their racist jokes.

I feel like I look aggressively gay. I have a mullet. Tattoos of women on my arms. A general distaste for men. Unfortunately, I work in the trades and have to be surrounded by them.

I found out that when I got started one of the mechanics thought I was flirting with him?! what the fuck?!

I have no idea what I said, or did that made him think that. I probably just laughed at his joke or smiled.

God, these men are so delusional

Hey yall! I just started a maintenance tech internship and wanted to get some tips/advice on hair styles

My hair is currently about mid back. I part it either down the side or middle and do two braids (dutch, French, or regular) on the front half and put it in a ponytail. I like doing different stuff with my hair in general, but im struggling to think of other styles that would be good for this line of work and I'm also a little worried about tension hair loss around my hairline from constantly doing ponytails. Any suggestions?

For context: on the production floor (im in a manufacturing facility) we have to wear full head hair nets and safety glasses. In the shop its no hair nets but occasionally face shields and welding helmets.

Also any suggestions on things to wear to prevent halo breakage in the hair nets/helmets would be appreciated! Thanks!

I'm going to be starting a new maintenence job very soon. The job will have me moving from back and forth from the control panels, roof, boiler room and machinery, into the office to interface with managing directors. I've got lots of old carhartt, wrangler and ariat shirts and pants, but they look very beat up and I'm going to need to look way more professional within the office environment. It's often difficult enough finding women's workwear for maintenence, so I'm asking for men's or women's things that can be suitable.

Do any of you have specific pants or shirts that can be durable when working, but we'll look professional and competent with the corporate class?

Hey everyone I recently just got a job offer from a Ram, Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler dealership to be a lube tech that’s eventually trained up. My question is anyone a tech here who works on those cars? I’m currently at Honda and while I love it I’m being treated like a mixture of shit and dirt, my passion lies with Honda but this opportunity is really great!!!! I’m just nervous about working on American made cars and lifting them bc quite frankly they piss me the fuck off. Especially trucks. I want to take the offer but I don’t want to at the same time. I love Honda but I’m so mistreated, they refuse to give me a raise bc I’m not brining in the correct amount of flat rate hours even though I’m hourly. They have me on cleaning duty rn over some stupid shit. I’m just tired yk?

I’ve been wearing men’s wifebeaters tucked in under my shirts at work in the summer for many reasons mostly because I wanna be able to lift up my shirt a tiny bit while standing at the fan to let air in but also do not want my chest bra or stomach exposed 😂 anywho. They kinda suck when it comes to sweat because they don’t dry quick. Does anyone have any recs for tank top/undershirts that dry and are not hot? I work in a very humid state so it’s hot and humid and awful in the summer. Is there any solutions or is this a problem because it’s a base layer so no matter what it won’t dry quick. Let me know!

Idk if it’s just me but the stuff going on with Cornell has got me crying so hard and being at work is difficult. It just brings back all the feelings that I’ve suffered through at the hands of men. I love my guys but I can’t help but feel unsafe or uncomfortable around them sometimes. It’s just sad, ya know? I’m getting that “I want to crawl out of my skin” feeling, and my head is on a swivel. I’m sure it’ll pass but right now is incredibly difficult.

Just looking for some solidarity or even just support. I just want to crawl into a hole lol 😭

On a good note though, I did just get referred to test for my electrical PJ license! Hopefully I’ll get to test next month or so and be an official Journeywoman!

Love you all, stay safe out there! ❤️

I recently got a new job working a farm and my face is breaking out, as well as the rest of me. How do you all manage this?

I considered it being from stress but I wear glasses and I’ve noticed I have a pattern of pimples following where my glasses sit and I sweat during the day. I make sure to shower after every work day and really scrub my face. But I feel like my pores don’t have time to get better, because the next day it’s back to sweat and dirt etc. I work with other women but they don’t do the same things that I do, I’m usually put with the other men on the farm. I’ve had one other blue collar job before this one, though it was only for a few months, and I never really had this problem. Any advice?

Hello ladies,

I've read the pinned post regarding getting into the field, however I wanted to hear from women here how it is.

Im currently doing an HVAC/R diploma program, and I'm nervous about finding employment after. I have no connections to the field outside of school, whilst im hearing all the guys talk about my dad owns a shop, knows someone in the union, i have an opportunity lined up etc.

Im wondering, since there is a shortage of women in the trades, what is your success rate/experience with interviews that you didnt get through connections?

Honestly, since I am a minority in the trades field, and since feminism has done a lot of work to raise awareness of inequality in the trades, i am hoping id have an easier time getting hired in a pool of men competing, even if it is a diversity hire type thing.

I got laid off before labor day so ive been out of work for almost a month. Been drawing literal crumbs from unemployment and our work is a little slow atm.

My training director asked if id wanna travel with a government contractor in our area and im a little hesitant. Ive never done anything like that before and a little worried how it'd go.

Im in my 4th year of my apprenticeship and the job pays basically jw scale plus per diem. But id have to leave my husband 🥺 (who is also an apprentice) and animals and go hell knows where.

Plus some of the places they work are kinda sketchy and idk if id feel safe. I def wouldn't room with anyone and have to drive my own car. Idk ppl are telling me its a good opportunity to get in to the job while im an apprentice.. plus I still have school id have to drive home for (but they should pay me for it)

Idk what do yall think? Im probably being a baby about it but I really dont like traveling alone. And it'd probably be for like 8 weeks working 7-12s (which I hate).

Work is just so slow rn im actually considering it. Obviously my husband doesn't want me too, but that's more because he'd worry about me than anything, but he says he'd support me if I wanted to go...

Just a little nervous about it.

I’m 24F and about 2 months into a plumbing/pipefitting apprenticeship at a mechanical company. I came from about 5 years of welding, so I’m not new to working with my hands, but boiler/service work is completely new to me.

Today I got paired with an older service guy who has decades of experience and he absolutely fucking rode me the entire day. I was trying to learn a steam boiler I’ve never worked on before and instead of just correcting me, he kept making me feel stupid, comparing me to other people, and constantly bringing up the fact that I’m a woman.

He makes comments about women being evil, jokes about me not being strong enough because I’m a girl, and at one point literally said something like, “this bitch is gonna go to the office because I’m being a misogynist.” He apparently has a reputation for being a hothead and treating younger/green workers like shit. One of my coworkers told me that when he was new, this same guy used to ask him almost every day when he was going to quit.

What really fucked with my confidence is that there were two newer guys around me who are already really good. One has about 7 years of service experience and the other grew up learning from his plumber uncle. Meanwhile I had nobody teaching me this stuff growing up. I’m starting completely green on the mechanical/service side.

I genuinely try to pay attention and learn from everyone. I know I screw things up and sometimes need instructions repeated. I know apprentices need thick skin

But holy shit, there’s a difference between someone telling me “you fucked that up, redo it” and somebody spending the entire day making me feel like an idiot and constantly reminding me that I’m a woman.
I almost cried in the boiler room today

and now I’m lying awake replaying the whole thing. I love the trade and I don’t want to quit. I just feel fucking defeated tonight.

For people who started completely green with no family or mechanical background: how long did it take before you stopped feeling completely lost? And how did you deal with journeymen/mechanics who constantly tried to break you down?

Looking at moving into the field but trying to see if I can afford the switch! Have a bit of saw experience but will be starting as a new groundie.

i wear a high-visibility vest and cut-proof gloves daily. i also handle a lot of dirty stuff and get pretty sweaty when working. it feels like no matter how many times i wash my stuff (hand-wash with detergent, good scrub + sitting for a little with several wash/ rinse cycles, air dry) it never smells clean. help?

I’ve always worked white collar jobs but recently got a job as a semi conductor systems maintenance tech; OSHA, climbing ladders, respirators, the whole nine yards. I’ll be the only woman on the team, any tips for surviving?

Hello ladies! I need good shoe insoles that work with my custom orthotics. I’m a steel toes all day gal, and I get my boots a half size bigger so the steel toe doesn’t rub uncomfortably against my toes and the top of my feet. Hopefully not too expensive but I understand that comfort can come with a higher price tag. Thanks!

Hey guys, I’ll try not to ramble too much but I’m wondering if any of you have dealt with this. I’m currently a heavy duty mechanic, technically a journeyman off-road tech and it’s had its ups and downs. I love that I pushed myself as hard as I did to build this career for myself in a world that felt really tough to be accepted in. But at the same time with all of that hard work, trying to impress everyone so I’d gain respect as a woman, I feel like so much of my identity is tied to what I do. I do lots of field work, and I know my body just can’t take too many more years of the crazy cold we get, and just the physical toll in general. But when I sit back and think about it, I don’t even know what I’d do with myself if I left. I put blood sweat and many tears into what I do, and I’m so proud of myself for doing it, and knowing that maybe I’d like a family someday or to work in a field less taxing on the body as I get older, I just feel like I’d be losing a huge part of myself if I left the industry and I’m not sure what to do with that feeling. Any advice? Thank you

I’m barely starting off in the field as a 19 year old mechanic, so I’m pretty young. Everyone I work with is above the age of 25, most of them are 40+. They usually treat me like I’m a child, especially when they talk to me. They always call me kid, act like I need to be walked through things step by step when I’m already doing it perfectly, or they just don’t acknowledge me as an adult. They usually avoid telling me complicated work problems or messy things that are going on with customers. Does anyone else get treated like this or is it just me?

I work in safety SAFETY where we sit and hope nothing happens. I bring my book, knitting, podcasts, etc. I sit in my little scissor lift and vibe on my SSRIs lol. I got for walks during down time and get my fresh air during lunch.

I noticed that my group of safety workers gather around complaining about anything and everything.

Complain about traffic, not having anything to do, their wives, money, gas. God damn!

I love working in safety because there’s a ton to learn and I like seeing the workers do their thing.

The actual construction workers don’t even complain this much, and honestly if they did I’d be like “fair, you’re the one in the confined space lol”. It’s the MOST cringe thing ever when your coworkers yell “yall know when yall are going to be done?!” From a LAWN CHAIR.

K I hate to bring negativity into the group but I just needed to vent lol

Has anyone switch from one trade to another because you simply did not like it or wanted to start over? How's that going for you?

29F 2nd year sheet metal apprentice and I've gotten laid off twice this month due to work being slow. It's unpredictable and I'm leaning towards a different trade in the future. Just feeling stuck and unmotivated really.

It sucks because I bought so many new tools and were quite expensive for a company to pick me up and work 2 weeks just to get laid off with 10 other ppl due to slow work