Girls and crafts don’t go together? You bet they do! On the occasion of “Girls’ Day” on April 28th, 2022, our customer service representative Kim tells us about her “atypical” career path and proves that we should finally break away from classic role models.
Educational work is women’s business, men do physical work. There are still professions that are linked to deeply rooted gender images. Girls’ Day was established in 2001 to break down this way of thinking. This is a nationwide, annual day of action in Germany, on which girls have the opportunity to get a taste of “classic” male professions. Since 2003, Boys’ Day has given boys a corresponding insight into “typical” women’s occupations.
One success story of Girls’ Day is the career orientation of Kim Döring, who has been part of the WUM Brand Spaces team as a key account manager since 2020.
Hi Kim, you had a good experience with Girls’ Day, tell us!
I took part in Girls’ Day for the first time in seventh grade. Back then, I got to look behind the scenes at Westdeutscher Rundfunk (a western German broadcasting station). Originally, I wanted to learn more about working in sound engineering, but I ended up loving it in the carpentry.
In eighth grade, participation in Girls’ Day was mandatory at our school. I quickly decided to spend this day in a carpentry.
And did you enjoy it there again?
Totally, working with wood still fascinated me and was a lot of fun. In the summer, I then did a whole week’s internship.
After that, it was clear that I would definitely do my three-week school internship in the ninth grade in a carpentry again. During the internship, I was directly offered an apprenticeship, which I of course accepted!
Wow, Girls’ Day has really awakened a passion here! Did you have any contact with crafts before that?
I already enjoyed crafts with my father as a child.
When I decided to train as a carpenter, my family also said that it was in my genes. My grandfather, whom I apparently resemble very much in character, was a carpenter as well.
After your apprenticeship, you decided to continue your education.
Yes, I completed my technical baccalaureate and was actually oriented toward interior design. At school, however, we received documents from vocational academies, including the Berufsakademie Melle. There I completed my dual studies as an engineer for wood technology with a focus on furniture/interior design.
So you even have conquered two “male domains”, first craft training and then also an engineering degree!
I think everyone should follow their own passion, regardless of whether it corresponds to social norms or not. Apart from the fact that these should no longer exist in our age.
Absolutely!
After graduating, you started your career in trade show construction, first in project management and now for two years as a key account manager. To what extent can you apply your experience from woodworking here?
My practical experience has given me a good sense of what works and what might not, so I can advise my customers accordingly. It also helps that I can understand the production processes and can estimate the workload accordingly.
In addition, you’ve already stepped in at our carpentry to prevent production delays when several colleagues were down at the same time due to covid-19. That’s team spirit, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you once again!
And thank you very much for the interview, Kim!
At WUM Brand Spaces, every person is welcome, regardless of gender, nationality or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual identity. That’s why we welcome initiatives like Girls’ and Boys’ Day, which help make the working world more inclusive.
We are always happy to welcome new colleagues who enrich our team. We offer interesting tasks in production, design and commercial areas, so that each person can contribute their individual skills in the best possible way.
Click here for our job offers.
