What is your name, and what is your job?
My name is Nicole Holley, and I’m a CNC plasma table operator.
What were you doing before you enrolled in WV Women Work’s Step Up for Women manufacturing class?
I worked as a customer advocate for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. That was a really stressful job.
How did you find out about Step Up?
I was googling “adult welding classes,” and Step Up appeared in my search results.
Was there anything from WV Women Work’s Step Up for Women manufacturing class that was memorable for you?
I think the best part for me—and something I’ll probably always remember—is passing both of my NIMS tests. It’s just one of those things that when you get it, you get it.
What made you decide to pursue welding?
It was something that always interested me, and an opportunity presented itself. Whenever I moved away from Highmark, I decided it was as good of a time as any, so I might as well go ahead and do it.
I told a friend I was taking Step Up classes with WV Women Work. She asked her husband if there were any job openings in the shop where he worked. It turns out they actually did need somebody to run their plasma table, so he told me to come in and put in an application. I started a week later.
Everybody at the shop was just really helpful and showed me what to do and how to do it. It was nice to have that support. Every time I had a question, I would just ask, and if no one knew, we could just Google it. We would work together, and we always figured it out somehow.
What advice do you have for other women who want to work in the trades?
If it’s something you really want to do, then do it. There’s no reason to let anything stop you from pursuing something you enjoy just because it isn’t considered a traditionally feminine job.
I was stuck in an office because I thought, you know that’s what women do. We go to work in offices. That just wasn’t for me, and it’s not for everyone. You’re essentially confined to a small area, and you can’t leave or go anywhere. For a while I was working from home, and everybody would say, “I’m sure working from home is awesome.” However, it’s really not as great as you might think it is. You can’t just leave your desk to move around or watch TV. You have to be actively focused on your job at all times, and you’re literally tethered to a computer with a headset.
Also, don’t worry about working with a group of all men. Some women have told me they would feel weird working with a bunch of guys, but honestly, it’s been fun working alongside them. My coworkers are funny, and they’re just so unserious. Don’t let things like that hold you back.
Interview conducted, transcribed, and written by Marlynda Arnett, Program Innovation Leader for West Virginia Women Work.
