Take Every Opportunity You Can - Abbie-Rose Powell Building Confidence - Episode 170

What if choosing a trade could open more doors than you ever realised?

In this episode of Building Confidence, I sit down with fitter by trade and Women in Trades Project Officer Abbie to talk about the incredible variety a trade career can offer—and the lessons she's learned along the way.

Abbie takes us from discovering automotive at school and applying for almost every apprenticeship she could find, through her fitting and turning apprenticeship at BlueScope Steel, working in manufacturing and underground mining, and eventually stepping into a role where she now helps other women find their own pathway into the trades.

We also have an honest conversation about what happens after you finish your apprenticeship. Abbie shares the unexpected challenge of finding work as a newly qualified tradeswoman, why employers need to rethink their expectations around experience, and why sometimes a rejection from the wrong workplace can be a blessing in disguise.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Discovering the trades while still at school

• Applying for apprenticeships when you're not completely sure which trade you want

• What it's really like completing an apprenticeship with a large employer

• Learning to think for yourself when support isn't always available

• The huge variety of work available as a fitter

• Working in manufacturing and underground mining

• The challenge of finding work as a newly qualified tradesperson

• Why employers need to give inexperienced workers an opportunity

• Moving from working on the tools to supporting other women entering trades

• Taking advantage of training, licences and every opportunity offered during your apprenticeship

Whether you're considering a trade, currently completing an apprenticeship, or wondering where your qualification could take you next, Abbie's story is a reminder that your trade doesn't lock you into one pathway. Stay curious, take the opportunities in front of you, and build as many skills as you can along the way.