Episode Details

What do you do when the career you've been chasing takes seven years to become reality? You keep going.

In this episode of Building Confidence, I sit down with electrician and maintenance supervisor Kym to unpack her journey into the trades. From spending seven years applying for apprenticeships, relocating across Queensland, fighting to protect her apprenticeship, navigating health challenges, and stepping into leadership, Kym shares the resilience, determination, and self-belief that have shaped her career.

We also have an honest conversation about transitioning from apprentice to tradesperson, advocating for yourself in male-dominated industries, dealing with inappropriate workplace questions, and why the support you build around yourself can make all the difference.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Finding an apprenticeship after seven years of trying
• Moving away from home to start a trade
• Fighting to protect an apprenticeship and create change for future apprentices
• The realities of TAFE, study, and learning as a mature-age apprentice
• Transitioning from apprentice to qualified tradesperson
• Managing career changes alongside health challenges
• Stepping into leadership within the mining industry
• Building confidence by staying true to your goals and leaning on your support network

Whether you're trying to land your first apprenticeship, navigating your trade journey, or considering your next career move, this episode is a reminder that your path doesn't have to be linear to be successful. Keep showing up, keep learning, and don't let someone else's opinion determine what's possible for you.