Why choose a career in the Trades, Technology or Safety Services?
The Work Itself
Many women like to create things. They want to step back at the end of a day and be able to see what they’ve accomplished. They take pride in what they have had a hand in making. These are some of the joys of technical skills.
Some other non-monetary rewards from technical jobs are a sense of satisfaction that your work has made a difference to the world. We don’t often think of this reward in a technical field, but it is there! For example, the quality of welding keeps those on the ships safe and the competent repair of a car’s engine allows its owner to live his/her life with fewer frustrations. Being able to move around instead of sitting behind a desk is also very satisfying for some women.
The Money
About 54% of all working women are employed in low paying support jobs such as clerical workers, retail salespeople, waitresses and hairdressers. Women traditionally dominate these fields, but those women who work in non-traditional fields make 20-30% more than those who work in traditional fields. This kind of occupational division has a huge impact on wages that women have the potential to earn, and many non-traditional fields can provide excellent salaries and benefits compared to “pink collar” fields that are dominated by women. Look at the chart below and see the different salaries offered in Hampton Roads.
Job Opportunities
Well-paying jobs in the technical fields are going to remain. In fact, most industries are forecasting increasing shortages of workers in these areas. Further, many of these jobs are transferable from one industry to another.
Time Required for Training
Careers in technical trades generally require no more education than what you can receive at TCC. That means that you can begin working in the field of your dreams (and begin to earn money) much faster than jobs which require advanced degrees. Further, some employers will hire TCC students before they even complete their coursework or offer financial assistance for your latter coursework. Apprenticeships and cooperative education classes are sometimes available. All of this makes training less expensive in both time and money.
JOB SKILLS REQUIRED—You may be better prepared than you think!
Job skills are taught at TCC and, upon completion, you will receive a certificate in your program or an AAS (Associates in Applied Science), depending on the specific curriculum you choose. TCC is known to local employers and can be “your foot in the door.” To excel at these types of jobs, you must have some math skills, eye-hand coordination, spatial relations ability and mechanical ability. Women often lack confidence in these pre-requisites, but we are generally better at these things than we think. If you have ever done household chores such as changing the belt on a vacuum cleaner or fixing a hole in the wall, or sewing from a pattern, you have these skills!
Further, there are many general personality attributes that enhance your ability to do your job. Many women excel at these:
Are you a person …
Who pays attention to detail?
Who likes to do a job thoroughly and completely?
Who is patient?
Who likes to see the physical results of your work?
Who organizes ideas to determine what needs to be done, step-by-step?
Who can work cooperatively as a part of a team?
If these describe you, consider becoming one of TCC's WITTS! (Women in Trades, Technology, and Safety Services)
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