>> Why it's important to use your talents >> Jessica's career choice

Jessica left Castle Hall School with 12 GCSEs at grades A to C in 2007. She'd already decided that she didn’t want to follow the more ‘traditional’ route of A levels and university.

“I’ve always been more practical and I particularly enjoyed my Electronics lessons at school”, says Jessica. “Earlier in Year 11 I discussed all of this with Steve, my Personal Adviser from Calderdale & Kirklees Careers, and he was able to get in touch with the JIVE Project in Bradford and help set up a work experience placement with Kirklees Building Services. This confirmed that training to be an electrician was something I really wanted to do. Now that I’ve started as an apprentice electrician with Kirklees Building Services I’m really enjoying it – everyone is very helpful and supportive. I’m looking forward to qualifying in four years’ time.”

Jessica is currently working with Kirklees Building Services four days a week and is already beginning to gain a lot of practical experience – “more hands-on, like fixing security lighting, wiring boilers and helping sort out electrical problems that Kirklees tenants report to us”, as Jessica puts it.

One day a week, Jessica also attends Bradford College along with 17 other trainees in her group working towards their NVQ qualifications. Jessica is the only female electrician taken on by Kirklees Building Services this year, although they are keen to recruit women into all areas of construction and currently employ five female construction apprentices.

So how would Jessica encourage more females to take up non-traditional jobs? “Well, I would say that you need to think things through for yourself and don’t simply follow the crowd or the usual routes. Broaden your ideas out. It’s helped that I enjoy Maths and Science, and I’ve also appreciated the support I’ve had from my teachers and parents. Being an electrician is something I knew I wanted to do for myself, but I’ve also had a lot of support from Steve, my Personal Adviser.” Chris Waters, Jessica’s supervisor at Kirklees Building Services is equally impressed with her determination to succeed. “Jessica has settled in here extremely well and we have high hopes for her”, he says.

Are you a young person working in a non-traditional job? Would you like to encourage others to use their skills and not just take up a career because it is what other men or women do? Get in touch with us via Shoutabout.