Women in Trades Getting it Done at Orleans

Each March, Orleans Technical College celebrates National Women in Construction week by honoring its women graduates. Many of our female students did not necessarily envision a trade school in their futures. Some have started out in office jobs. Others have expressed they were in jobs with low earning potential or little advancement opportunities. They wanted a change.

Our Orleans Tech women in trades students debunked the stigma in this historically male-dominated industry that it is a man’s job to take care of repairs, maintenance, and construction of homes, buildings and commercial properties.

Althea, Laura and Melissa graduated from Orleans Tech and are moving on to pursue their careers in various areas of construction. Although each of these ladies came across Orleans Tech while looking for a switch from their current jobs, all had been seeking an area where they could use their creative skills and move away from routine, monotonous work every day. All three had very little to no experience in the field, but Orleans changed this for them, and now they are certified in building trades work.

In the videos below, Althea, Laura and Melissa each give insight to their individual journeys into their career path.

Althea was formerly a baker, but the single mother wanted a career with more potential for earnings to support her family.

Laura enjoys carpentry because she loves “creating something out of nothing.”

Melissa found her old job tedious and boring; now she enjoys her job working with her hands.

You can train to begin a new career in the trades in just 6 months at Orleans Tech! For more information about our upcoming courses and how to get started, please complete the request form on this page.

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