Succeeding in a man’s world

After finishing high school, Crystal completed her Certificate II in Engineering. Excited about a career as a fitter and machinist, Crystal’s next step was to obtain an apprenticeship to secure her trade certificate.

She started applying for apprenticeships in her local area, noting that there were many candidates vying for the same roles, almost all of them male. After a number of knockbacks, Crystal began to realise she was in the minority. In fact, one employer told her straight out that females did not belong in this type of trade.

Undeterred, Crystal kept trying, and after four months she gained an opportunity with Mangelsdorf Engineering, under workshop manager, Tom Briggs. So far, things are going really well for Crystal. Tom says she is making great progress, is a proactive employee and is getting along well with the rest of the team.

Being a woman in a male-dominated industry can bring its own challenges, so Crystal has been assigned a personal Apprenticeship Community Mentor, who regularly checks on her progress and is on hand to handle any issues that may arise during her apprenticeship.

Crystal’s aim is to complete her trade certificate within the next three years. And both Crystal and Mangelsdorf are really happy to have one central point of contact in The Apprenticeship Community for anything that comes up along the way, be it funding, training or mentoring.

If you’re looking for a passionate individual for your new business, or think it’s time to start an apprenticeship or traineeship, why not give The Apprenticeship Community a call on 08 6165 3362. We’d love to hear from you!