girl's guide in manufacturing.

Was browsing the magazine the other day, and came across this.

Sigh. Could not be more true!

Speaking of the dream job, I've finished my probation of 6-month and officially a confirmed employee now :)) Felt like crying when my boss finished tormenting me with technical-related questions and signed the form and handed it to me. Really, I was shaking the whole time.

This is the second time of my confirmation process at a company, and I couldn't help reminiscing my first year experience of working, at my first company. Well, it wasn't even a year - just a few months, but it's how much you've learned that matter.

What more being a girl working in manufacturing.

I actually Googled "girl working in manufacturing" before I started my first day there. It was crazy, I tell you - they have uniforms, safety hat, safety shoes, etc. And in my mind, I was thinking about all those years in primary school, having the guy classmates chopping off wood and whatnots for my Kemahiran Hidup assignments; getting C's in high school Kemahiran Hidup (again!) till PMR..I could NOT be worst at technical skills. The only reason I took up engineering was because I love Maths.

So how did I survive?

Just some points I've compiled, for you girls; who are thinking of enrolling in this industry and don't want to break your feet :

• If you have to wear uniforms, make peace with it, or make it up = we weren't supposed to alter our uniforms in my first company, but I've seen some technicians/engineers do it. But I seriously hate them cause they're freaking big! Even the S size won't fit me :( So be smart.
• We weren't allowed to wear contact lenses (oh, the horror of my life. Possibly the worst rule they've ever made) = but after 1 month, I discarded my glasses and wore clear lenses instead in the hope that no one would notice. Well, some did notice but they just ignored, so I was safe. Again, be smart.
• You're bound to mingle a lot with guys; technicians, engineers, supervisors = be careful of the way they're treating you. They'd tease you and flirt with you a lot; so the important thing is to stay guarded and if it happens, stay away as much as possible. In my case, after this one guy made kisses noise at me, I ignored him for the rest of the month. In fact, the whole time when I was there, I never even spoke to him. Sure, you can report a sexual harassment but it was too much hassle and I figured no one would take me seriously. But really, stand up for yourself if it happens; at least tell your good friends so they'd keep an eye for you.
• No make-up = SERIOUSLY, some companies have this rule. Don't fret, find a colorless/spotless foundation or sunblock or occasionally use face powder, sometimes they're too busy to notice.
• Make friends cause there are usually a lot of engineers and technicians = me and my friends who got into my first company at the same time spent a lot of time together, since we have a lot in common; and we quickly became inseparable. I'd have lunch with them, go out for movies during weekend, carpool-ing with them when we were car-less - so they were the ones who kept me going at the company. I don't think I can survive without them. Darn, getting all emotional now. I miss you guys :"))
• If you have to wear sport shoes (and NO HEELS! Shame.) at work, get the cosiest one. Just think that you'd have to live with it everyday, and put back the heels in your closet for your weekend outing.
• Learn from everyone = even if you're an engineer, doesn't mean you can't ask your technicians to teach you. It shows that you're ready to learn and score points on your social skills. Show them some respect too; as they've had years of experience and would gladly help you wherever they can. So far, I had really nice colleagues in both companies I was in - and they really made my days bearable.
• If you wear scarf, keep it hassle-free = production lines don't really suit for your tangly scarfs, so keep it simple as possible. It'd make you work and move better.

There, the critical ones I could think of for now. Guys, sod off.

P/S : an interesting article on this topic here. If I had attended summer camps like this, I'd probably enjoy being in the industry more.