came to working on things, changing oil or tires and basic mechanics to keep the vehicle running. While I was in the military, there were very few female mechanics. So, I became friends with my male counterparts; that’s when I really found my passion for building things and fixing cars. As a woman, you are in the minority; what has your experience been like? What can be done to hire more women? I feel like many women are intimidated when it comes to this line of work because it is a very male-dominated field. And from my experience, not all men want a female in the shop. When I was in the military, I had men refuse to help me because I’m a woman. They made it known that they thought a woman should not work in a mechanic shop. I don’t know if it’s because they worry that females could outshine them, or if they were scared because maybe a female would pick things up a little bit quicker or possibly slower, and they would have to help out. If you can look past those types of experiences, there are good people out there. There are good men who are more than willing to help you out and give you a hand to get you moving in the right direction. The guys I work with now have been very good to me. I’m just like one of them; they don’t see that there’s any difference. You can’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. As my mom says, “You’ve got to bite your ego a little bit because you’re not going to be able to do everything.” That advice applies to everyone. I enjoy what I’m doing because it gives me a chance to stand on my own. I have a set schedule, and the pay is good. I’m happy with what I’m doing, but I am always looking for opportunities to learn more. In fact, my boyfriend works on Dodges, and I’m a Ford person. I’ve learned quite a bit from him about working on Dodges. What do you love about the industry? There is so much that I love about this industry, especially when I have been able to fix something — I’ve taken it apart and put it back together. It brings a great sense of accomplishment. What would you change in the industry if you could? It might sound funny, but I sometimes feel that when the industry decides to build a new vehicle, it doesn’t look at it from the mechanic’s perspective. I feel that engineers sometimes place certain components in hard spots for mechanics to reach. On occasion, I find myself thinking, “Why would they do this? or “Why put that one thing there and not leave any room to get to it?” I hope that, as new vehicles are being designed, a mechanic or someone with experience in the industry who has dealt with design difficulties is consulted or has the opportunity to provide feedback. What advice would you pass on to someone entering the industry? My best advice: If this is a career you are set on, don’t let the bad days or harsh comments get to you. Keep moving forward; you’ll find that there are many people who are decent and will help you along the way. Don’t get scared or give up on something that you want to do. 30 MONTANA AUTO DEALER
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