Becoming a female handyperson in a male-dominated field: You’re too old for that

Jenn Riedy doesn’t shy away from difficult tasks. Before spending 15 years as a stay-at-home mom raising children while also working part-time as a childbirth educator and doula, she worked for Air Products, an industrial gas supplier in Pennsylvania.

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For nearly 13 years, Riedy worked as an Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Specialist and chemical laboratory technician for Air Products. Then she worked for the Morning Call as an EHS subject matter expert, where she conducted incident investigations, audits, and industrial hygiene monitoring. “I did a lot with OSHA and EPA compliance,” she said.

When she started a family, she transitioned out of the industrial industry, co-founded Informed Beginnings, an organization that certifies and provides support for childbirth educators, and opened Knitted in the Womb, where she teaches group and private childbirth classes to expectant parents. But several years ago, she needed to make a major change.

“I got divorced,” said Riedy, “and while I submitted many resumes over five years and tried networking, I only got two callbacks on my resumes. One came from Air Products, but they determined that they couldn’t rehire me because of a technicality. And the other callback came from Amazon, which offered only $40,000 for a position that required working overnight shifts. I wasn’t willing to do that, especially since I’d been earning nearly $60,000 when I left the workforce.”

I particularly like working for single moms who’ve put off repairs because they don’t know how to do them.

Jenn Riedy

Switching gears

Instead of sending out dozens or even hundreds more resumes, Riedy decided to hang out her own handywoman shingle and go into business for herself. She’d already had success with her earlier businesses and decided it was worth a shot.

“I didn’t — or couldn’t — entertain any fears about changing careers at this stage in my life because I really didn’t have a choice,” said Riedy. She’d assisted her ex in flipping a handful of houses and completed many renovations in her own homes, including painting, completely rewiring and replumbing a cottage, and installing a new kitchen and bath, insulation, drywall, and windows.

“I developed a variety of skills and confidence in my abilities,” she said. “The biggest issue I’ve faced so far is that it’s a male-dominated field, but honestly, people have been very receptive to a female handyperson.”

Her adult children, however, were a bit skeptical initially. “My oldest daughter, who’s in her late 20s, kept recommending jobs she thought I should apply for, but they’ve all become quite supportive,” said Riedy.

Rewards and regrets

The most rewarding part of Riedy’s new career? Seeing the change in a home. “I particularly like working for single moms who’ve put off repairs because they don’t know how to do them,” she said.

Looking back, she says she wouldn’t have been a stay-at-home mom for as long as she was. “Unfortunately, with as many children as I had, maintaining a full-time job wasn’t possible, so ultimately, many of my career choices were dictated by the lack of a good education when I was growing up about healthy relationships,” she said. “I didn’t recognize the red flags in the man I married, which included the red flag of never telling me how many children he wanted — even when I asked him directly.

“He resisted getting a vasectomy when I didn’t want more children, which resulted in more pregnancies, even while I was on birth control. It was only when we were approaching divorce that he admitted to always wanting a big family. The religious environment I grew up in also taught wives should submit to their husbands,” she said.

While Riedy thinks she would have continued her previous career, her current career gives her the flexibility to meet the needs of her children. “I can take off whenever I want to and take as many vacation days as I’d like,” she said. “I can work 20 hours one week and 50 hours the next. I have much more career over my schedule than a corporate job would allow.”

Her advice

If you’re in your 50s or 60s and considering a career change, Riedy encourages you to think outside the box. “Don’t be afraid to make your own job. Talk to other people who are doing what you want to do and look for mentors.”

_{“You’re Too Old For That” is a regular series that explores inspiring activities being pursued by those over 50 years old who feel you’re never too old to do what lights you up. Are you doing something inspiring? Do you know someone who is pursuing a passion in their older years? If you or someone you know is 50 years old or older and should have their inspiring story told, please email the editors at Nifty 50+}

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