Emily S.

How did you get your start in the skilled trades?

I took a welding class in high school. That is where my fascination with metal started. I was also largely into art. After high school I chose to attend Illinois State University, to study art education. I was able to bring welding into some of my studio art classes. Toward the end of my program, I realized teaching in a public-school setting was not for me. I graduated with a bachelor’s in visual art and a minor in art history. In search of a new career, I took up a non-union MIG fabrication job for a few years. At the same time, my mother was taking a class in career counseling for her MA degree. That is where she learned about trade unions. She urged me to apply to several. Pipefitters Local 597 (Chicago, IL) was the first to call me for a job. This is the best decision I have ever made.

What did you do to become successful?

A huge part of going through the apprenticeship is listening, asking questions and understanding there is versatility to accomplish any task. If you were to ask 10 journeymen how to weld or lay out, they would all have a different technique. It’s best to hear each one so you can build an arsenal of knowledge.

What obstacles have you encountered, and how did you overcome them?

One of the first obstacles anyone sees is a woman working in a man’s job. The job itself isn’t difficult at face value. As a woman, it was foremost important to show my teammates that I work as hard as them. Work ethic goes a long way. You will encounter some men that do not want to work with women. They don’t want a reminder of their wives in the workplace. Some feel like all the work is on them because their female partner can’t keep up. It’s my goal to prove them wrong. Which brings me to my next challenge: strength. I physically cannot pick up as much as many of my coworkers. I started working out more, but leverage is my biggest aid. I always pay attention to my surroundings, so I can locate tools to make work easier for myself. For instance, using a small pipe to pivot heavy equipment instead of attempting to push or pull that item.

What advice do you have for women wanting to get into the trades?

Don’t be afraid to go for it. Most trade jobs offer amazing benefits and pay. Many include free training. If your specific trade doesn’t have training, there are many grassroots female training programs out there. For instance, Chicago Women in Trades offers guidance, classes, aptitude prep help and direct networking with unions. There’s a similar program in Bloomington, IL, called Dreams Are Possible. I only recently learned about these programs and wish I’d known about them earlier.

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