Shaquia J.

How did you get your start in the skilled trades?

I started learning the carpentry trade as a volunteer in 2012. At that time, my religious organization encouraged young people, men and women, to help out with renovating many of our facilities and because I was always good with my hands and loved the idea of building things, I decided to sign up. During that time I met a seasoned journeyman who always said he was gonna teach us everything he knows, because he was confident that we as women would be able to complete the job and just as good as the men, and even better. I spent many years working with him and learned so much about the trades from him. It was an experience that I never forgot. But I never thought I could make it my trade, my career. Until I saw that women were actually doing it! I walked by many construction sites and saw so many examples. So I thought maybe I can do it, too. That’s when I contacted my current boss, who was willing to take me in and teach me a new trade, HVAC. Because of the many people who believed in me, I started to believe in myself and jumped into it. And I haven’t looked back.

What did you do to become successful?

There’s a proverb that says, “The heart of the understanding one acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise ones seeks to find knowledge.” Increasing your knowledge helps you to start to understand what you are doing, which equips you to make wise decisions. I think learning more about my trade has helped me to progress faster. Not just knowing the what to do but understanding the why you do it like that. My boss also pushes me to think about the processes behind the solutions. That way I become a better technician.

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

I think the biggest obstacle I have faced is the balance of confidence. Too much confidence and you miss something important, too little confidence and you second guess something very relevant. I try to keep it balanced by not being afraid to be wrong sometimes, and also not expecting to be right all the time. I just accept it.

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

Leave room for growth, but don’t fail to see how much you have grown. That way you don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Mistakes are not failures, they are lessons. Keep them in mind but don’t keep it in your heart. You may very well make the same mistake multiple times, but it may just be part of your learning process. There is always room for improvement, if we are eager to improve.

Find more inspiring stories at Voices in the Trades.