Many mothers have a difficult time readjusting to the workforce after one year of maternity leave. But what if you spent years – decades even – caring for your family and then decided to go back to the workforce?
Maria St. Jean was in that very position. After 20 years of being a homemaker, Maria decided to return to work, out of a desire to both provide for her family in a more stable way, and to find a career that was challenging, rewarding and allowed for continuing education. It wasn’t an easy find.
“When I entered the work force I worked at three other jobs that were not related to the water industry and I also joined my local Volunteer Fire Department.”
After trying a few things, Maria found her niche in Water Treatment Maintenance and Operations in Timmins. Her role is to maintain and monitor the equipment for water treatment at the facility and the satellite stations, monitor the chlorine levels, pressure readings and water flows throughout the city. She also takes water samples, and manages continuous documentation and record keeping.
After four years with the Timmins water treatment facility, she cites observational skills, consistency and ingenuity as the top skills to be successful at her job. One of the best parts of the job? “Almost every day there is a new aspect of the job to learn. There is basically never a dull moment.”
It’s definitely a career that fits the bill for continuous learning and challenge. Maria points out that one of the biggest challenges is the continuous learning. She is required to keep up with Ministry of Environment regulations as they change, as well as ensure she takes all the right courses to maintain her license.
Very often, when we meet women in skilled trade or technology careers, they talk about having to work extra hard to prove themselves among the men. Maria was a different case entirely – the major obstacle she encountered was herself. “The biggest barrier I had to overcome was my own insecurities that I might not be able to learn all of the aspects of my job at my age. But the more I studied, the more courses I took, I realized that was not the case.”
Maria finds her work rewarding, and has succeeded in the endeavour to pursue something allowing for continuing education. Her favourite part of the job is that it opens travel opportunities to her. Her skills can take her across Canada, or into the U.S.
“Keep an open mind. There are unlimited possibilities for young women who want to get into a trade. With a trade you have the ability to cross borders, carry your skills to different countries or simply provide a better life for yourself and your family. The little bit of time it takes to train in a trade (most of it is on the job training), pays itself back almost immediately. I started in the water industry at 44, the doors this career has opened for me are countless to date; just imagine where you could be starting at [a young] age!"
Maria mentored students at this year's Networking Dinner for Women in Timmins on March 29, 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment