This week are shining the spotlight on Amber Peterson! Amber is a Carpenter Apprentice for JP Cullen. We sat down with her to learn a little more about a career in the trades and her journey.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
What I enjoy most about my job is being able to see the project you’re working on grow from being on paper to becoming reality. I also enjoy the flexibility of the job and the room for advancement is huge. Most of your training is hands-on and there’s so many tricks and trade secrets to learn. Going through the apprenticeship and even being out of it, you get to meet so many people and you’re all connected through the same environment. You get to learn about your coworkers’ personal experiences, and it makes you feel like your part of something bigger.
What sparked your interest in the construction industry?
The main thing that got me interested in the trades was my brother, who’s been in the carpenter’s union for some time now. I was able to shadow him at his work a few times and really enjoyed it. I also like the fact that you can go into the trades straight out of high school and not have to worry about getting a degree and can have little to no experience starting out.
What advice would you give to women interested in construction?
Some advice that I would give women that are thinking about entering the trades is to just go for it. Entering the trades as a woman can be scary and very challenging. Don’t give up on the idea just because it doesn’t seem like the normal thing to do. I can’t sugar coat it and say it’s going to be easy because it’s definitely not. You’re going to be faced with many challenges and personal struggles. Everything that you gain along the way; friends, strength, and confidence. It’s well worth it and all of your hard work does pay off in the end. So don’t be afraid to join the trades because you think you can’t do it. Because you can.
What do you enjoy about working at JP Cullen?
I really like that JP Cullen pushes me to be a well rounded individual instead of focusing on one specialty.
What are your favorite hobbies?
My favorite hobbies are hunting, fishing, trapping, and pretty much anything that involves the outdoors! I also enjoy photography.
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