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One thing we heard over and over again from the trades employers in our focus groups was, “You can teach skills but you can’t teach attitude.”

This year, roofing, plumbing, electricians, civil engineering, and quantity surveying made moneyhub.co.nz’s Top 20 list of jobs to get into.†

There’s a lot of information out there and it can seem a bit overwhelming if you’ve only just started exploring a career in the trades. We’ve saved you some time and googling by gathering some links for some of the things we think you might want to know at this stage.

Based on feedback from the employers we spoke to, here are four things you can expect when you hire a female tradie:

“The trades are fast, exciting and challenging. If you have the people skills you can pick up the tools stuff.” – Grace, Project Manager.

The old myth that women aren’t strong enough to do blokes’ jobs is still around, but it takes more than just brute strength to get a job done.

Māori make up 11% in the trades and there are even fewer Māori women. With multiple genders, ethnicities, and classes to consider, it can be a bit scary for us to make moves into the industry without knowing that it is safe.

Life gives us a lot to juggle. Flexible work arrangements can help you manage it all.

There are lots of ways to look at flexible work solutions and they don’t necessarily mean working less. Flexibility is about helping people to manage their work and personal commitments while also meeting the needs of your business.

Below is all the info you need to take the first steps into getting your career in the trades.

“Don’t give up. Keep asking until someone says yes!” – Billie

Let’s get it right for women on site

“Just treat us the same as everyone else. Everyone is so busy, we are here to just get the job done. But please get a toilet for women on site!” – Holly

“Support women in pregnancy and parenthood and you will have one committed employee.”

It can be exciting to discover that you’re pregnant. It might be a bit scary, too. Every woman’s experience is different. When the initial emotions subside, it’s time to think about practicalities.