‘Glam’ Crane Driver Was Shunned When She First Walked On Site, Before Showing That Being A Woman Has Nothing To Do With Whether She Can Complete Her Job

By Rebecca Drew

 

THIS GLAM female crane operator spends her days on construction sites where at first some MEN REFUSED TO EVEN TALK TO HER but now she’s ‘one of the guys’ and leaves people shocked when they find out what she does because of her immaculate hair and makeup.

Growing up, crane operator, Jessica Bruintjes (27) from Ridderkerk, The Netherlands, was surrounded by people who worked in construction as her family owned a crane rental company but never thought she wanted to do the same.

When Jessica turned 18, she decided that she wanted to work for her family’s company and when she told her mum about her intentions she assumed that Jessica wanted to work in the office, where there were no vacancies at that time.

After telling her parents that she didn’t want a desk job but actually wanted to operate the crane, her dad assumed that she would change her mind, but she proved him wrong and achieved her truck driver’s licence and hoisting certificates.

Incredible pictures show Jessica in her Spierings Crane which can reach a whopping 82ft on building sites where she spends her days fitting window frames, pouring concrete and sometimes setting up stages and sets for big events.

When she started out as a crane operator some men on sites refused to talk to her or accept her as a female on a building site but now she gets on well with the men she works with.

People are shocked when Jessica tells them she’s a crane operator as they don’t expect someone who takes time doing their hair and makeup to drive a crane but she wants to inspire other women into the male dominated industry.#

“I have grown up in a family where many of my family members worked for RKB, the onshore crane rental company currently owned by my parents. Until I was 18, I never had the intention to become a part of the RKB work family. However, I suddenly changed my mind and it became my dream to become a crane operator,” said Jessica.

“My first choice was to work for RKB, in my family’s company, so I shared my new dream with my mother and she told me that there was no open vacancy at the office and wanted to leave it at that. However, I said I didn’t want an office job, but I wanted to operate the crane.

“My dad thought it was a temporary dream and that I wouldn’t stick with it. Obviously, I have proved him wrong and successfully achieved my truck driver’s licence and hoisting certificate.

“Going up in the elevator and climbing into the small cabin might fill some people with fear, especially when it is windy outside. However, once you are settled down, you have an amazing view. I feel so powerful when I’m in charge of it and I love it.

“Some people didn’t like the idea of a woman operating a crane. I have even experienced that some men refused to talk to me but when people are negative or refuse to work with me, I just laugh about it. I tell them very nicely that if they want to finish their job, they have to communicate normally with me and that always works.

“After some time, people started to get to know me and I am currently one of the ‘guys.’ I often surprise new people when we talk about my career as many people, wrongly believe, that if you do your makeup and your hair, you will not choose a career as a crane operator.”

Jessica shares her lifestyle as a crane operator on Instagram with her 5.3K followers and hopes to inspire other women.

“Being a part of this industry gives me a lot of satisfaction and happiness. I recommend other women to expand their career options and to look at jobs in this industry. Women are just as suitable as men,” she said.

“Even though crane operators are predominantly men, I really like working with them. Men are very different to women, they are straightforward and have a strong opinion that they do not mind sharing. I had to get used to it at first, but I continued to be myself and now I feel very welcome and at ‘home.’

“I want to show my love for this job and I hope to inspire other women to join the industry as well! We live in 2019, so why shouldn’t a woman become part of a, currently, dominated male industry?”

 

For more information see www.instagram.com/jessicabruintjes