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What’s it like being a woman in the construction industry?

We’ve all been to networking events where people ask “What do you do?”.  When I tell people that I’m a construction manager, they often want to know what it’s like being woman in the male dominated construction industry.  That’s when I share my experience with an early mentor in the industry.  

Not long after starting my construction management firm, I was referred to a contractor by a mutual friend who thought he’d be a good mentor for me because of his residential and commercial construction experience.  He was skeptical to meet me because whenever he had met a women that had gotten into the construction industry, it was with the goal of finding a husband and not because of a keen desire for the work.  After learning more about me and my inspiration for becoming a construction manager he came to the conclusion that I was the “real deal” with no hidden agenda.  That set the tone for a successful mentor/mentee relationship based on mutual respect.  

What I admired about my new mentor was that despite his initial skepticism, he never inferred that I was not capable of doing the job of a construction manager because I was a woman.  In fact, since I was focusing on the residential remodeling market and since women initiale 80% of home improvement purchasing decisions, being woman could be an advantage.  However, he did let me know that until there were more women working on job sites, I would encounter skepticism and unconscious bias since historically women in the industry were employed in office roles and not in the field.

Homeowners prefer working with someone that listens more than talks and makes them feel heard.  The fact that I happen to be a woman that possess these characteristics has helped lower their anxiety and build trust early on.

So, to answer the question “What is it like being a woman in the construction industry?”, it’s awesome helping people bring their dream homes to life.