Women fill less than a quarter of the jobs (23.6 percent in 2019) in the motor vehicle equipment and repair industries. Only 17.9 percent of dealers and 9.9 percent of maintenance and repair workers were women, so the field is wide open for tremendous growth.

This trend extends from the shop floor all the way up to the C-suite. In 2018, only sixteen women (8 percent) were executives in the Fortune Global 500’s top 20 motor vehicles and parts companies, a small improvement from four years earlier, when there were 14 female executives (7 percent). And the same is true outside of the US—only 17.5 percent of the European Union’s urban public transport workforce are women, and they account for barely 10 percent of EU operations and tech jobs.

The good news? There is plenty of room for women to make a significant impact at the highest levels of this industry. Yes, the current numbers are low, but that opens the door for you to both participate in, and help create a more inclusive future.

Feelings of isolation

One of the biggest struggles is not having the comradery created when working with other women. Social media can help, but that’s no substitute for having fellow women in the room. Many women techs are the only ones in their shop, with no other peers to bounce around ideas with or simply vent their frustrations to.

Skeptical male colleagues

There’s no one kind of male auto technician, and so they will have a wide range of reactions to a female tech on their team. Yes, some will be unsure whether you can do the job, but many will be very supportive. Most won’t really care either way as long as you pull your weight.

Negative work environment

When times get tough, see if you can find support from at least one person in the shop. Embrace their positive energy and ignore the rest. That negativity is really not about you, it’s the insecurity of your male colleagues bubbling to the surface. If it’s too much, find a shop with a more positive and reinforcing culture. There are great working environments out there, looking for workers like you. Know your limits and respect them.

And remember …

Not everything bad that comes your way is because of sexism. If your first weeks or months are spent sweeping floors, taking out garbage, and doing simple work like oil changes, don’t get discouraged. Everyone needs to pay their dues, regardless of their gender.

Stay positive

There will be days when it’s easy to lose faith in the business, particularly when you’re one of the few pioneering women in the field. Take those moments to remind yourself why you got into auto tech and stay focused on your goals. Keep a journal outlining your goals and motivations to revisit frequently. Let writing down your thoughts allow you to work through some of the struggles you face.

Find friends

Yes, there will be troublemakers out there, but many of your coworkers and supervisors want you to succeed. They’re easy to spot, so reach out to them and form your squad. They’ll be there for you in good times and bad.

Don’t forget, it’s supposed to be hard

Auto tech is a challenging business, no matter your age or gender. You don’t get to call the shots in your own shop without first making mistakes, overcoming adversity, and working your way up the ladder.

Curiosity

Become your shop’s resident tinkerer: bring old parts and components home, take them apart, and learn how they work. Then pick your supervisor’s brain with all of your questions.

Humility

Veterans in a shop are ready to help you, but only if you approach them with humility. Show them that you’re willing to learn, that you respect their knowledge and skills and, often, they’ll happily share what they know.

Perseverance

Cars and trucks grow more complicated every year, as does the level of knowledge techs need in order to repair them. Don’t fear these challenges—embrace them. You’ll fail at times in the beginning, but that means opportunities to learn every day. Above all else, become your own biggest fan. If you have a bad day, shake it off. Don’t create negative energy by trash-talking yourself. Always focus on the positive, and put that energy into your work. The more you believe in yourself, the more others will, too.

• TechForce Foundation manages the Brienne Davis Scholarship Fund in partnership with NASCAR. Founded in honor and memory of former NASCAR official Brienne Davis, it provides opportunities for women considering a career in motorsports.
• The Automotive Women’s Alliance Foundation (AWAF) gives four scholarships a year to women committed to the auto industry.
• Women in Auto Care provides several scholarships a year for female students in high school and post-secondary programs.
• The Kris Paper Legacy Scholarship for Women in Technology awards a minimum of $1,500 every year to one graduating female high school senior or returning female college student from the Kansas City area who plans to pursue a degree and then enter a tech field.
• There are other TechForce scholarships and grants you can apply for through their website.

Learn about the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and business opportunities available for hands on careers: