Estate agent
The common picture of estate agents isn't very flattering – unscrupulous or greedy people who think nothing of deceiving buyers and cheating sellers. Although a few regrettable exceptions give the profession a bad name, most estate agents just want to make the nightmare of buying and selling property a bit easier for their customers. Admittedly, the job requires a blend of psychological manoeuvring and clever communication skills – but so does any other sales position.
Women make excellent estate agents because good interpersonal skills are essential. One former office worker has been completely hooked by the buzz of the work and the freedom it gives her: 'I love my job because I get to nose around some amazing homes, have the potential to earn some decent commission and I'm helping people find their dream home. I also get out of the office and run my own diary'.
Police officer
The police force is rarely top of an ambitious career girl's wish list. The negative image is partly due to revelations about incompetence and corruption, partly because of the way the police are portrayed in programmes like The Bill. Another problem is money - police salaries have not kept pace with private sector pay, particularly in the south-east.
But the work is much more than crowd control. It's a job that is never the same two days running and one with more than its fair share of challenges and satisfactions. Anyone who shows promise may be recommended for the High Potential Development Scheme. So if you do well, you can expect a pay-off in terms of salary as well as career satisfaction.
A WPC who joined up two years ago says, 'I got sick of staring at the computer and dealing with insurance claims. I Just longed for something more active. My work as a police officer really makes a difference to a lot of people and it's very rewarding. OK, there's stress at times, but what job doesn't have that these days?'
Tax inspector
Do people hide behind the sofa when they see you approaching or vanish at the mention of your job? Better get used to it if you want to be a tax inspector! Although most have no interest in probing their friends' financial affairs, tax inspectors – like police officers – often feel awkward in social situations.
The training is first-rate and the work is interesting if you enjoy working with legal/financial facts and figures. As well as sniffing out scams and corruption, you'll spend a lot of time helping honest people to understand the complexities of the regulations. The pay isn't bad, and, as a civil servant, you have good security and a well-defined path for promotion.
Unlike the widely-held stereotype, many tax inspectors have a wicked sense of humour. 'You have to see the funny side of things' says Marlene, who works in Leeds. 'Otherwise it can be quite depressing searching out people's attempts to flout the system'. But if you're enterprising, you can even change from a gamekeeper to a poacher. After an average of some 10 years with the Revenue, it's not unknown for tax inspectors to double their pay by defecting to private-sector accountancy firms.
Traffic warden
Traffic wardens have a reputation as 'little Hitlers' – inflexible jobsworths who won't let us park for a minute outside our favourite shops. But it's not just about pounding the pavements and writing parking tickets; many traffic wardens derive their job satisfaction from being part of the community and helping people.
Sally, who became a traffic warden five years ago, says: 'I'm a familiar face in the town so people can approach me when they wouldn't want to waste a police officer's time. I feel that serving the public is what my job's all about.' In reality, most wardens do their best to accommodate people's parking needs, especially if they have children or elderly relatives in the car. Many teams of traffic wardens are run by the police and work closely with the local force. They like to see themselves as 'people in uniforms that the public can talk to'. The pay isn't great, but there is flexibility in the hours you work and the job dovetails well with parental responsibilities.
Plumber
Trying to get someone to install central heating, service the boiler or mend a leaking tap? It's not easy – because there just aren't enough qualified people around. It's not only plumbing – there is a shortage of skilled workers in all craft trades. So why haven't thousands of eager women been chasing after their share of the action? Part of the problem is the construction industry's stereotype of dust-covered men in baggy jeans wolf-whistling at women. Quite simply, we are put off by the thought of the woolly beanies, the sexist comments and the poor working conditions.
This image is one of the reasons why more women are being encouraged to learn traditional craft skills. If more women became plumbers, carpenters, bricklayers and electricians, standards would improve and the work environment would become cleaner, safer and more pleasant.
What's in it for us, then? For a start, great career prospects. An apprentice can start on £17,000 a year, rising to more than £25,000 if you become self-employed. There are vacancies at every level, from site workers to engineers or senior management. Elderly people, parents of young children and single women often prefer female plumbers, so there's no shortage of work if you're keen. Flexible or part-time work means the job is ideal for women with young families.
