Women have started to enter traditionally male jobs more and more in recent years and decades. Many of these jobs are roles like lawyers, doctors, and financial positions, but many other women may choose more physically demanding jobs, such as being a firefighter or construction worker. Women can face many challenges when entering these roles and can find it difficult to gain the respect that they deserve and climb through the ranks. However, if there is a male-dominated career path that you want to follow, you shouldn’t let your gender stop you. If it’s something you’re considering, try the advice below.

Be Prepared to Fight for It

When entering a male-dominated field, you need to be prepared to meet resistance. Even if you don’t experience direct discrimination based on your gender, you can find that a variety of issues arise with managers, coworkers, and even facilities and procedures. You don’t necessarily need to be a no-nonsense woman who won’t take anything from anyone, but it does help to have a thick skin. You need to be prepared to show that you can do your job well and that you deserve to be where you are. Being able to assert yourself can get you far.

Go Your Own Way

Doing things your own way and striking out alone can be the best thing to do if you want to do something in an area where women are under-represented. If you want to fly planes for a living, learning how to become a corporate jet pilot and taking it into your own hands can get you at least part of the way there. Once you have the qualifications that you need, you can even choose your own path for work. Being a commercial pilot doesn’t have to mean working for an airline. You can also fly charter planes for private customers.

Find Female Mentors

Having support from those who came before you can be invaluable when you’re facing a tough challenge. If you feel alone in a male-dominated workplace, it can be helpful to seek out female mentors to give you advice. They can talk to you about any issues you might be having and offer tips on how you can make a name for yourself in your role. They might be able to help you access opportunities that will help you develop your skills or your credentials or offer you advice on things like going for a promotion.

Create a Career Plan

If you want to make something of yourself and progress through a career, you should have a plan. Creating a plan will give you something to follow so that you don’t lose track of what you want. If you’re scared of not advancing or getting stuck doing the same thing, a career plan is the first step to ensuring you can show people what you’re capable of. Set yourself goals and break them down into steps to achieve them.

It’s not always easy to make it in a field that is traditionally male. If you’re willing to prove yourself, you can reach your goals.