When you first start your career in water you will be left wondering what role is right. The water industry has several great roles with great pay and benefits. Unfortunately, the first role may not be the sexist. Your initial role will probably be very construction focused. I mean that you will probably have to dig and get in holes. You will get wet and muddy. This is where a lot of people start. This is how you work towards getting your distribution certifications. The work could include swapping out meters. It might be going to the street and clamping up a water leak or repairing a hit hydrant.
The thing I am trying to point out is that it will be back breaking. This is not meant to discourage you in any way. I am trying to be realistic about what you should expect. The great thing is that things begin to change as you gain more experience. You begin to use your head more and troubleshoot issues. You start to use technology more to assist you with your work. These are the reasons we value experience. It is very difficult to hire people that don’t know how to use the equipment. Therefore, we hire people that either know how to use it or could help us with other tasks.
Now, the roles posted will have several different names out there. I am not sure why there is not a universal name used by all agencies. It might have to do with the size of organizations. Nevertheless, you should look for roles that require less than one year of experience, or none needed. Also, look for agencies that don’t require certifications or that give you time to get them. Remember, most of these roles will always need a high school diploma or equivalent. You just need a role that doesn’t ask for too much when it comes to experience or certifications.
Apply as much as possible and don’t give up. Practice interviewing with people. Always be prepared. You never know when the call will come for you to come in and meet with the hiring team.