If you are thinking about taking on a non-traditional career path, one thing to consider is that you could be the only woman on your team. If you have never been in that position before it can be a very different experience. You will find yourself in situations you might not have had if you were on a team of women and men.
One of those things is feeling like you don’t belong. You are already in a field that is thought to be reserved for men. Now you might have a team of coworkers that feel the same way. Just remind yourself, you belong there the same as they do. You did the required education and training to get the job. You have the needed skillset. You are a valuable team member.
As with any new job, you’re going to have to prove yourself. This will be more challenging when you are the only woman on the team. Coworkers may treat you differently. They may act like you are not capable of doing the same work as they are.
It will also be challenging to tell whether someone is being extra hard on you because you are a newbie or because of your gender. This will become more apparent as the newness wears off. If you are still having trouble with coworkers after a short while, it’s time to speak up to someone higher up.
It can be very difficult to get your ideas heard when you are the only woman on the team. Women often find that when they express an idea it is overlooked but when a man expresses the same idea it is accepted immediately. You will need to learn to speak up and speak with confidence very quickly. Your ideas are just as important as your coworkers. Don’t give up when your ideas are not heard. Keep saying them until the right people hear you.
You may find that your coworkers tell you what you’re doing is wrong and they will try to tell you how you should do everything. Don’t allow this to make you feel defeated. This doesn’t mean you throw all of the advice out the window. Especially if it’s something you are unfamiliar with and the other person has been around for a while. There could be safety reasons for what they are telling you or just more experience.
Listen to what they are saying and then if it seems to be them just trying to make you feel inadequate tell them “Thank you for your advice, if I run into any issues, I will try it your way” or “I appreciate it, but I feel confident I have this”. If you find you are dealing with this on a too frequent basis and you feel comfortable discussing it with the coworker, it can be a helpful idea. Sometimes they might not even be aware they are doing it. Once you have discussed it with them, or if you were not comfortable discussing take it to someone higher up.
Seek out a support system with other women that are in nontraditional careers. They will be able to relate to what you are going through and can offer advice on what has helped them along the way. Being the only woman on the team will not be easy. However, as you continue to show you know what you are doing and your coworkers can depend on you it will become easier.
Additional Resources
https://www.betterup.com/blog/assertiveness
https://www.femalefactor.global/post/how-to-succeed-in-male-dominated-industries
