Women in trades: How to get your foot in the door

Ali Scott co-owns Dunedin painting and decorating company Mr. Decorating with her husband Steve, and along with providing an exemplary level of service in the region, Ali is a strong advocate for women in trade.

“We have a team of 10 on tools, three of whom are women – fantastic ones at that!” Ali says. “And I take care of all the HR and health and safety compliance.”

Ali is also a former board member of Master Painters New Zealand Association – the only female board member – and chaired the Women In Decorating committee.

Ali chats to Resene Trade about what women need to consider before embarking on a trade career, how to get a job and what to expect.

Are there any factors women need to consider before stepping into a trade career?

Trades are predominantly male-dominated and will often have a culture that has evolved over the many, many decades and hasn’t always been considerate of the ‘fairer sex’. I would suggest to any woman considering a trade as a career to be mindful of this.

Your male counterparts want to know you can pull your weight, and the painting trade is no different. Make sure you can carry a seven stepper, a 10-15L bucket of paint, and confidently climb a scaffold. If you want to be part of a team, regardless of your sex, your work ethic is what will gain you the respect you deserve.

How should I decide which trade is best for me, and whether or not I should consider it as a career?

If you’re still at school, then the Gateway programme is a great avenue as you can try several different trades to see if there’s one that stands out. Ask yourself the most obvious question: “What is going to push my buttons?” Often, people fall into a trade having done a bit of DIY at home, especially with painting and decorating. Ask yourself, “Can I see myself doing this as a career? Did my DIYing look pretty good, and did I enjoy it?” If the answer is no, then quite simply choose another career. It’s much harder doing it for a client than it is for yourself or a relative.

Talk to people in the trade, find out what they like and dislike about it. Go online and research the training that is involved and talk to BCITO, who are New Zealand’s leading building and construction apprenticeship provider.

What kind of pay can be expected in the trades?

Generally, trades pay well once you’ve achieved your qualification. As an apprentice, your employer may start you off on the training wage, however most will offer the minimum wage as a starting point.

Trades offer an opportunity that many other careers don’t, being able to work towards owning your own business. Wages vary across the country and different companies offer incentives over and above an hourly rate. My company provides medical and life insurance, the medical being a huge deal considering the state of our current health system.

What are the benefits of working in the trades?

The skills you learn in a trade make the world your oyster. We have a drought in New Zealand, not enough qualified tradespeople, and a dire need for more housing, etc. This means great job security for tradies, unlike the thousands of students leaving university hoping to get a job once they’ve got their degree.

A huge plus is that you can also learn a trade at any age as it’s never too late to learn a new skill. Working on-site on bigger projects with other trades, you’re watching and learning how the jigsaw fits together to create something new and amazing. Being able to say you were a part of it is very satisfying.

How do I get a job?

Door knock and show your prospective employer that you mean business. Do your homework first, go onto the BCITO website and find out what is involved with the apprenticeship. Find out as much as you can about the trade and talk to folks you may know who are working in that trade. If you’re at school, talk to your careers counsellor and try to get a posting through the Gateway programme. Put together your CV and make it interesting, think outside the square and sell yourself. Tell them why you want to learn a trade and what attracted you to it in the first place.

Do many employers hire women?

Yes, and painting and decorating have the highest percentage of women across all the trades, with just over 23% being women. This is a generalisation, but most women have an eye for detail.

What kind of resources are available for women in trades?

There are a heap of support groups which can provide a wide range of resources and support, such as National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC), Women In Trades (WIT), Waihanga Ara Rau and Women In Decorating (WID), which is a new community and is part of Master Painters. These are all communities that offer information, encouragement, and connection for women in trades.

How can I meet and connect with other women in trades?

By being a part of one of the communities mentioned above is a great way to network and support one another. They can offer webinars (which provide technical and professional development), fun evening get-togethers and online chat rooms.