Klauke wishes all the best for International Women's Day
8 March 2024
March 8 is International Women's Day. A good opportunity to celebrate the successes and contributions of women in electrical engineering. We took this as an opportunity to interview two young female electricians. Sarah (@elektrikerin.sarah) is 18 years old and in her 2nd year of training. She works at Elektrotechnik Stolz in Steinheim an der Murr, Germany. Jenna (@elektroblondi) is 23 years old, has already completed her apprenticeship and works at Heldele GmbH in Salach, Germany.
How did you come up with the idea of starting a career in the trades? How long ago was that?
Sarah: Two years ago, I passed my technical college entrance qualification and still had a year to go until my Abitur. But I didn't feel like going to school anymore and wanted to have a balance - school and a job. Craftsmanship was always clear to me because I didn't want to sit in an office all day. I need power, action, always something different and new challenges, and you simply have all that in a trade. I've also always been interested in physics, math and technical things. My dad is a master electrician and has set up his own business. I've often looked over his shoulder when he's rebuilt things at home, for example. It was always interesting for me to know how electricity gets into the socket and what is behind it. So I decided to train as an electronics technician for energy and building technology.
Jenna: I've always been interested in technology and I've always enjoyed it. After graduating from high school in 2019, I decided to go into the trades and start my apprenticeship as an electronics technician for industrial engineering.
What is the best thing about your job?
Sarah: The best thing about my job is the variety. One day I do rough work, such as milling slots or drilling, and the other day I do finer work, such as connecting designer lamps or wiring sub-distributors. The balance is mega cool. There's always something new, you go to new construction sites and so on. I go home in the evening and see what I've done that day. Even years later, you walk past a house, for example, and you know "my work went into that".
Jenna: I can't say exactly what the best thing about my job is, because I like everything, from the work to the team and the team spirit.
How do people react when you tell them that you work in the skilled trades?
Sarah: Many people say "That's mega, it has a future" when they know that I work in the skilled trades. Most people are really enthusiastic that I'm a woman working in the trades and asserting myself, the manufacturers also think it's great and support me. 99% is positive feedback, so far I haven't really heard any negative things.
Jenna: Most people are shocked at first, but in a good way, because they usually don't expect such a delicate and young woman to work in such a skilled trade.
What is your message to young women who are thinking about entering a trade?
Sarah: Try it out! Just do it and have the courage. Even if many people say it's a man's job, any woman can do it. Sometimes women are even better than men 😉 The skilled trades offer so many opportunities for further training. You should give the skilled trades a chance. And if you realize it's not for you, you can always do something else.
Jenna: That they should be more daring and leave behind the prejudices that exist in the skilled trades.
Do you celebrate International Women's Day and if so, how?
Sarah: I've never really celebrated International Women's Day. But I usually make a post about it on Instagram to encourage young women to get into the trades.
Jenna: I don't celebrate the day, I think women should be celebrated and appreciated equally on every day.
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How did you come up with the idea of starting a career in the trades? How long ago was that?
Sarah: Two years ago, I passed my technical college entrance qualification and still had a year to go until my Abitur. But I didn't feel like going to school anymore and wanted to have a balance - school and a job. Craftsmanship was always clear to me because I didn't want to sit in an office all day. I need power, action, always something different and new challenges, and you simply have all that in a trade. I've also always been interested in physics, math and technical things. My dad is a master electrician and has set up his own business. I've often looked over his shoulder when he's rebuilt things at home, for example. It was always interesting for me to know how electricity gets into the socket and what is behind it. So I decided to train as an electronics technician for energy and building technology.
Jenna: I've always been interested in technology and I've always enjoyed it. After graduating from high school in 2019, I decided to go into the trades and start my apprenticeship as an electronics technician for industrial engineering.
What is the best thing about your job?
Sarah: The best thing about my job is the variety. One day I do rough work, such as milling slots or drilling, and the other day I do finer work, such as connecting designer lamps or wiring sub-distributors. The balance is mega cool. There's always something new, you go to new construction sites and so on. I go home in the evening and see what I've done that day. Even years later, you walk past a house, for example, and you know "my work went into that".
Jenna: I can't say exactly what the best thing about my job is, because I like everything, from the work to the team and the team spirit.
How do people react when you tell them that you work in the skilled trades?
Sarah: Many people say "That's mega, it has a future" when they know that I work in the skilled trades. Most people are really enthusiastic that I'm a woman working in the trades and asserting myself, the manufacturers also think it's great and support me. 99% is positive feedback, so far I haven't really heard any negative things.
Jenna: Most people are shocked at first, but in a good way, because they usually don't expect such a delicate and young woman to work in such a skilled trade.
What is your message to young women who are thinking about entering a trade?
Sarah: Try it out! Just do it and have the courage. Even if many people say it's a man's job, any woman can do it. Sometimes women are even better than men 😉 The skilled trades offer so many opportunities for further training. You should give the skilled trades a chance. And if you realize it's not for you, you can always do something else.
Jenna: That they should be more daring and leave behind the prejudices that exist in the skilled trades.
Do you celebrate International Women's Day and if so, how?
Sarah: I've never really celebrated International Women's Day. But I usually make a post about it on Instagram to encourage young women to get into the trades.
Jenna: I don't celebrate the day, I think women should be celebrated and appreciated equally on every day.
Follow Sarah (@elektrikerin.sarah) and Jenna (@elektroblondi) on Instagram, where they post pictures and videos of their daily work.
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