Mom Tells it Like it Is to Three-Man Interview Panel, Gets Dream Job
I'm blessed to have landed in the energy sector late in my career. Given the knowledge I have now, it's definitely where I would start if I had the chance to do it all again. But my path to power generation was a long journey, and as I mentor young ladies entering the trades today, I encourage them to research all skilled trades before making a decision.
I actually worked in healthcare for 11 years after my first daughter was born. It was after my second child that I decided to go back to school and, even then, skilled trades were not on my radar. In the early 2000s, it's not something women were being encouraged to do — we've come a long way.
I received my associate degree in art, then immediately enrolled at Murray State University where I began working toward a bachelor's degree in organizational communication and leadership. One year of that and I could no longer sustain a household with two small children and mounting student loan debt. I took a job for the state working as a Pretrial Release Officer, and still... it wasn't enough.
A couple of years passed and I was given a tiny role in "security" for a coal mining company in Kentucky. During my time there, I was trained in atmospheric monitoring systems (AMS). This is where it truly all began. No matter how hard I tried, this mining company was never going to let me go underground. I took all the mining classes and received my certifications, but still no chance. An engineer for the company took me under his wing and mentored me.
In a twist of fate I received my AMS license in Kentucky and eventually got a job working in a rock quarry as a heavy equipment operator, which was totally unrelated to atmospheric monitoring, but nevertheless it was in mining and it was on the surface. The surface mining license was worth it. But the harsh reality is that few women were certified, and the rock quarry was looking to diversify. It is the only reason I was hired — plain and simple. They held me back, and I knew I was capable of more, so I joined my first union.
As a heavy equipment operator, the job opportunities were endless. I loved being outside, the pay was great, and I finally felt like I was working in a field where I could grow. Sadly, all great things come to an end. During a company lay-off I was low in seniority so I lost my job. During my lay-off, I put together a great resume with all of my experience and also leveraged myself by adding a CDL to my list of skills. I eventually landed back at the coal mine working on the surface as an equipment operator. The hours were dreadfully long and during all of this time I was battling how to be a strong provider for my family and still be a great mom.
There were so many late nights and crazy shifts. Even though the money was there, I was constantly conflicted about how to carry on in a profitable manner but still be home for my daughters. I knew I couldn't give up though — these jobs are difficult for women to get and I prayed that one day my daughters would understand. That they'd look back and realize it was all for them.
Lay-off after lay-off I was finally hired into a new union, UAW LOCAL 523, where I worked for a metals and alloys company. This was an absolute game changer! I loved it. It was a challenge from day one — and by that I mean starting with the interview! The plant manager was reluctant to hire me; I was convinced I wouldn't get the job, but I did. On my first day they really put me to the test. They didn't think I'd show up the next day but I did. I worked hard, I eagerly learned all the areas of the plant and I never turned down a new opportunity to learn.
It was hot work, extremely dirty, and labor intensive but that didn't stop me.
It didn't last long either... To the shock of all the employees, part of the plant was closed suddenly and we were all laid off. I have to be honest, I was devastated. By now I had been in two unions, three skilled trades and seen so many lay-offs. Luckily, the company who hired me to operate at the coal mine had an opening close to my home and on straight days. My youngest daughter still had a couple of years left in high school and she was in every club imaginable, plus she played volleyball on the high school team and on a traveling team. This job supported me 100%, and for that I will forever be grateful.
In 2019, I decided it was time to spread my wings and invest in myself. My daughter would be graduating soon and quite honestly, I was beginning to fear my hireability because of my age, gender, and the frequent lay-offs. I learned of several big companies in Indiana that were hiring, and I decided to apply to all of them.
All of the hard work paid off again when I was offered a job at three of the five places I applied. I wanted to go big, so I accepted the most challenging of them. I knew absolutely nothing about the energy industry. I was encouraged by many of my peers to accept the challenge and was assured I would not regret it. During the interview, they asked me if there was anything I wanted to add. Of course I jumped on the opportunity to stand out!
I said to the panel of three men: I know you probably have a hundred applicants more qualified than me, but I want you to know that I have a strong foundation to build upon and I'm excited to learn. When you start to question the job changes on my resume, please keep in mind that I chose to make motherhood my priority. I utilized every lay-off to make up for time lost with my children. I also used that time to work on myself, to learn, to grow, to seek better and more stable opportunities. I promised them if they hired me that I wouldn't let them down. And I also assured them that I was perfectly capable of holding my own in male-dominated work environments.
I'm still here today, loving it, learning new things every single day, and building a great future for myself with a company that values diversity and adheres to strong ethics and compliance standards. I could write a book about all of the challenges I've faced and continue to face, along with some great stories about overcoming obstacles.
But the most important takeaway is this: I am living proof that while the road may be long and winding, it's a beautiful drive and worth the trip. I never gave up. As women we must keep our head up our shoulders back and walk fiercely and purposefully in the face of adversity. The journey for me has been beyond difficult, but in the end it worked out better than I could have ever imagined.
Moving forward, not only do I have a plethora of skills and knowledge to share, but I also have the empathy to mentor young women, especially single moms. And the hard-earned experience to advocate for them is literally all I think about these days.
In the past, I have shied away from leadership roles because I feared the responsibility would be too time consuming and would disengage me further from my children. Now that they are embarking on their own journeys I feel empowered more than ever to encourage women entering skilled trades.
I want you to start early, to set really high goals for yourself, to blur-out any and all negativity, get up, show up and grow in your career. Get excited about what you do. I want you to wake up each day happy about going to work! I've said this so many times: I maintain the belief that with a positive attitude and willingness to learn, anything is possible. After all, my degree is art, my background is motherhood (which is not for wimps), heavy equipment, and survival in mostly male-dominated fields.
About the Author: Amy Gardner of Evansville, Ind., works for CenterPoint Energy and is with IBEW #702.