Emily has two college degrees, one in business and one in theater. After college she looked for jobs where she could apply the skills she learned in school, but after working in customer service and at a coffee house, she decided to do some soul searching to find her true career path.
Emily thought a lot about what she enjoyed about her high school and college classes. “I realized that I missed building things,” she said remembering her theater tech classes where she got to build sets and learned how to weld.
Emily did some research online, looking into several different building trades careers and decided that the Ironworkers registered apprenticeship program looked promising. She visited the union hall, took an aptitude test and interviewed with the union. “In my interview, I told the Ironworkers that I know it’s a tough job, but I wouldn’t have applied if I didn’t think I could do it.”
As a 2nd year Ironworker apprentice, Emily’s favorite part of her job is structural work – securing beams by bolting them together. “Working makes you better. In the beginning I felt like I was doing everything wrong, but the journeymen take the time to correct me when I make mistakes. You learn from them, and they are happy to help you.” Whether it is on a lift or out on a beam high in the air, Emily knows she’s found her career.