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Women's Success Stories
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VALERIE BROWN "As a women I can do anything I put my mind to. Finishing something that I started and getting my degree has given me confidence, it has put a little pep in my step!" |
Career Quick Look
| Salary: | $15 - $30 per hour | Education: |
| Years in Field: | Less than one year | El Camino College (plans to complete her A.S. Degree in the Summer of 2008) |
| City/State: | Los Angeles, CA |
Getting Started: Valerie Brown had a successful career in the insurance industry for over 20 years while she raised her children as a single parent. Although she made a good salary in this field, once her children were grown she felt she had gotten too complacent in her job and she wanted a new challenge, so she enrolled at El Camino College. She originally planned to become a radiology technician, but at a career fair she was invited by staff of the Women in Industry and Technology (WIT) program to tour the HVACR program, which really impressed her.
When she later determined that HVACR was a better match and would also provide a great salary, she moved into that program. She found that she really enjoyed using her hands, fixing things, and figuring out how to solve a problem, and that she didn't mind getting dirty. In the second year of the program, she was hired as an HVACR Service Tech trainee, and after three months on the job, she landed a Building Engineer position at ABM Engineering, which she was about to begin at the time of this interview. There, she will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining many building functions at a single location.
Education: Valerie took a variety of college courses earlier in her life, but once her children were grown she decided to complete her A.S. degree and enrolled in El Camino College. While she had planned to enter the medical field, she was drawn into the HVACR program through the Women in Industry and Technology program, where she took advantage of the amazing array of services for women who choose the HVACR program and other fields in which they are underrepresented. During the course of her studies, she obtained work as a trainee with the help of a very encouraging professor at El Camino, who also served as her mentor. Valerie plans to complete her degree in the summer of 2008. She says that the skills, knowledge, and encouragement she received during the HVACR program prepared her for many aspects of the trainee position, but also notes that some things are best learned hands-on once you get to the actual job site.
Greatest Professional Achievement: Valerie sees her most notable accomplishment to date as being able to demonstrate her competence as a woman in a field which has been dominated by male workers. She enjoys being able to satisfy her customers, and she gets many positive comments and compliments about her work.
Barriers: Valerie has noted that customers often expect men to do HVACR work, and may believe that men are more competent. She has enjoyed changing these perceptions by doing her job well and meeting her customers' expectations. On occasion, Valerie has had to ask for help with lifting heavy equipment, but her co-workers have been quite responsive.
Working with Men: "As a woman you have to prove yourself," says Valerie. "Men don't think you're capable." She has found that once the men understand that she has brains and as much to offer as they do, they accept her. She notes that while working with male trainees she has been able to help them solve problems they face, which has also increased her credibility.
Advice for Women: Through the HVACR program at El Camino, Valerie has learned that "as a woman I can do anything I put my mind to. Finishing something that I started and getting my degree has given me confidence, it has put a little pep in my step!" She advises other women that "whatever your dream is, go for it, don't waver. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it." Asked for tips she's learned about how to deal with working with so many men, Valerie advises, "Be yourself. Don't try to be a she-woman. If you know you can't do something, say so. Learn from others, and be teachable."
Typical Workday/Environment: In her job as an HVACR Service Tech trainee, each morning Valerie reviews her assignments for the day. Using a company vehicle, she picks up parts from a warehouse and heads for the customer location. As a trainee, she works on mainly refrigeration and air conditioning units, and she typically goes on two to three calls per day to commercial and residential locations. Typical calls might include installation of new equipment, regular maintenance, and repairs. Work environments may include roofs, attics, basements in both commercial and residential locations, and walk-in refrigeration units in restaurant kitchens. Job responsibilities are varied, and may include welding, brazing of copper tubing, working with condensers or evaporation coils, cleaning vents, checking refrigerant levels, changing belts or gaskets, lining pipes, cleaning ice machines, and trouble-shooting repairs.
Career Ladder: Since she's new to the field, Valerie has not yet decided how she will direct her career in the future. At present, she thinks she may want to join an apprenticeship program or move into project management in electronics, but she wants to get more experience to see what she enjoys most. Because of both the current shortage of workers in this field and the variety of work environments open to workers with HVACR skills, Valerie is very optimistic about advancing her career.
Professional Associations: Valerie recently joined the Institute of Heating and Air Conditioning Industries Inc.
Hobbies: Because of her school, study, and work schedule, Valerie has not had much free time lately. When she finds the time, she enjoys watching football games, exercising (especially walking), taking drives along the coast, and just relaxing.
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