Women In Construction

September was one of the biggest months of my life. I handed in my notice as a full time Civil Engineer to focus on my dream of becoming the face of property in Northern Ireland.

I am now finding investment properties for my clients full time. I find buy to let properties for those that do not have the time or the knowledge to do it themselves. Some are ready to rent, some need a little TLC and others need a full renovation.

This business leads me into a different area of construction with working on residential projects and solving all the issues that come with it. I just love it.

I became involved in the construction industry shortly after finishing my engineering degree. I was always asked why I chose it as a career path as it “was a very strange thing for a woman to do”.

In short, I love to solve problems. What better career to choose than being an Engineer, where your entire working life is dedicated to finding solutions to some of the world and your communities greatest problems. Why do you have to be a man to get involved in something so important, rewarding and enjoyable? The answer is, you don’t!!

Sure, I was only one of three girls in my University class and when I started working in the industry I was only one of very few females involved. Of course, at times, this was challenging but who doesn’t love a challenge! Getting respect in such a male dominated environment is difficult at the beginning. In my experience, it does not come as easy as it does for our male counterparts. I believe that in order to be taken seriously I have had to prove my worth, prove I am capable of my job and that I need to be consistent with it.

I have seen far less competent men in the industry get further, faster and with less obstacles than females that probably deserved the same opportunities. If I am honest, I believe that I have been on the receiving end of that scenario myself.

The good news is, times are changing. Society is changing and there appears to be a real push for females to enter the construction sector. I really support this and have recently given talks at schools to try and encourage the uptake of females into Engineering. For the foreseeable future men will outnumber women in this field and to be positive about this, I would say that if you do your job and do it well, then you will be easier remembered by all. I have heard others saying that you shouldn’t have to fight for respect in your job because you are a woman and this is correct but you should have to earn respect no matter what your gender is. The inequality is not that you have to earn your respect whilst others do not.

Since starting my property business I have came up against prejudice, disrespect and some just darn right rude men but I have also came across the same qualities in females in the industry. I like to believe that gender is not important and the quality of the job is the primary focus. If you are rude, disrespectful and useless at your job, then I do not care whether you are Clare or Clive.

I believe now is a great time for women to get involved in Engineering and I have two daughters myself, who I would love to see become some of the worlds greatest problem solvers.

It is also a great time to get involved in property which has historically been a male dominated industry. If you do not have the time, knowledge and are maybe afraid to get involved, get in touch and I can solve those three issues for you.

Stand tall ladies, stand together and we can change the world. The women before us have and so can we.