Women In Trades Wednesday - Zoe Taylor
Zoe has been working in the landscaping industry for three and a half years and already has many achievements under her belt. She couldn't see any career progression or the ability to level up or up-skill in her previous jobs, so she was determined to try something new. After deciding she wanted to work for a reputable landscaping company, she came across a job advertisement for a Garden Maintenance Team Member with Aspen Landscapes and has never looked back. “A massive thanks to Stu, Jodi and the crew, for having me.”
After only one year in the role, Zoe was already working on big projects and had upskilled to a team leader position. During that first year at Aspen, one of her coworkers suggested she would benefit from doing an apprenticeship, which she decided to proceed with through Primary ITO. Zoe, now three and a half years later, has achieved a Certificate in Horticulture, a Certificate in Amenity Horticulture Level 3, a GrowSafe certificate, and a Chainsaw Certificate, just to name a few. Gaining her role as Team Leader has been her most proud career achievement, but she says there’s such a big sense of achievement every time she finishes a project or job.
On a general day at work, Zoe does a range of tasks to keep her busy: garden maintenance, soft landscaping, hard landscaping, training and teaching planting and staking techniques and safe use of landscaping equipment to the newbies at her company. “I love landscaping and the variety in the work I do. There’s such a sense of pride when you see the before-and-after results.” It’s clear she loves her job and we asked her what she loves most. “When you find those other weirdos that you just mesh with and work with so well and they make every day just that much more enjoyable. Seeing that stunning before-and-after snapshot of a space that you have transformed and the client loves it.”
When she chose to try her hand at landscaping, seeing other landscapers and companies post amazing photos and videos of their projects, from start to finish, really inspired her to get into the industry. “I said to myself, 'I want to be a part of that'.” Although there are always things that we wish we had known when we started, Zoe shared that she wished she had remembered not to take life too seriously. “Sometimes products and materials don’t arrive on time, and sometimes you run out of time and have to call it a day and come back again tomorrow and finish the job – it’s not a race, it’s about quality and what the client wants most. You don’t have to exhaust yourself in order to be successful, you just have to be consistent.”
Of course, there are challenges to overcome when starting out in a new industry. Zoe had a bit of doubt and criticism from others in the trades, such as starting out at the bottom, on a low wage, and doing jobs that weren’t so pretty and were physically demanding. However, looking back now, she has really enjoyed seeing her huge progression. “I’ve really enjoyed going from someone who couldn’t even lift a standard wheelbarrow or woolsack full of green waste onto the back of a ute or truck, to doing the entire day's garden maintenance rounds on my own if a co-worker was away sick, including load ups, pack ups, garden overhauls, loading and unloading mulches, stone, base course etc. You end up turning into such a machine!”
Zoe has some fantastic advice for those wanting to start out in a new trade: “Grab life with both hands and just do it! Don’t think you’re underqualified just because you’ve never done it before. I started with no experience and already have three certificates under my belt and got made a Team Leader in less than three years. Equally, the paper doesn’t mean anything if you can’t be consistent, so show up and put in the mahi and they’ll never want to get rid of you. Ignore the looks you might get at times – they’re just jealous they don’t look this good in tradewear.”
All about supporting her fellow wahine out there, no matter the trade, Zoe suggests we all follow each other online (Zoe’s IG: @landscaping_lady_nz) and keep up to date with what's new out there. “We’re all just a message away if you want to chat or have any burning questions about the different roles in the trades etc. Sign up for the meet and greets, go have a beer with your crew and get to know them. Encourage people to talk and give a listening ear at times, they’ll really appreciate it.”
Zoe confesses she is definitely obsessed with her job and regularly needs to take a break from landscaping but, equally, it's just because she enjoys it so much. “I have been neglecting getting out on my longboard (surfboard) for ages, so that’s next on the agenda.” Zoe’s passion leaps from her words and I have found it a pleasure to write about her in this month’s Women In Trades Wednesday. We wish you the best of luck with your future career, Zoe.