A female apprentice technician at a Nissan dealership in Northern Ireland has praised the team there for helping her achieve her career goals.
Shanice Murray, 22, from Seskinore, County Tyrone, is employed at Pat Kirk Nissan, Omagh, and enjoys the friendly and supportive atmosphere at the business which she says compares favourably to a previous place of employment.
Interested in all things automotive – particularly rallying – from a young age, she says: ‘‘When my car broke down and I couldn’t fix it myself, I started to consider learning about the mechanical side of things.
‘‘But before coming to Pat Kirk Nissan, I’d had a disappointing experience at a previous workplace where the owner had told me to come out of the garage, go to the valeting bay and ‘leave the work to the lads’.
‘‘It was insulting – I went home and cried. It made me feel low and discriminated against. I even wondered whether I should continue in this industry if that was the way things were going to be.’’
Instead however, Shanice decided to use the experience as a launchpad for success in the male-dominated service and repair world.
Last year, following the successful completion of her Level 3 Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair at South West College (Omagh campus), Shanice won the Apprentice of the Year Award.
She recalls feeling shocked but pleasantly surprised: ‘‘I asked the tutor if I was getting special treatment because I was female. He assured me that wasn’t the case, it was because of the quality of my work and my dedication. I must admit it was a great feeling!’’
Shanice joined Pat Kirk Nissan Omagh earlier this year and said: ‘‘I’m really enjoying it. I feel part of the team here as they respect me and they see me as a mechanic. I want to work my way up and become a master technician.
Best candidate
“I think the involvement of women in automotive repair and maintenance needs to increase, and that will be great to see. One day, I’d love to become a lecturer in the field and use my influence to inspire more women to pursue their passion for cars.”
Shanice also has some advice for aspiring female motor mechanics: visit local colleges that run vehicle-related courses. She says: “I found that by following my initial passion for cars and car maintenance, a variety of pathways opened up for me. I’d certainly encourage anyone who shares those interests to find out what is on offer.”
Liam Lynch, Service Manager at Pat Kirk Nissan, said: ‘‘I employed Shanice as a technician purely because she was the best candidate – her gender played no part in my decision. Since joining us, she has become an integral part of the team and I couldn’t be more delighted that she feels happy and fulfilled in her work.
‘‘I wish Shanice all the very best and I’m sure she will have a long and successful career with Pat Kirk Nissan Omagh.’’
The video below, kindly supplied by Pat Kirk Nissan Omagh, tells Shanice’s story brilliantly:
