Tuğba Çelik (42), a human resources manager at a shipyard in ANTALYA, received a 'welding master' certificate with the 'Mothers in Industry' project she participated in when she felt unhappy in her job. Çelik, who left management and returned to the shipyard where he worked as a welding master, said, "I now come to my workplace with my welder uniform, gloves and mask, where I used to wear suits and high heels."

Tuğba Çelik, who has been working as a human resources manager at a shipyard in the city for 3 years, took responsibility in the recruitment, training and organization processes. Çelik, who has worked in the education, food, tourism, shipbuilding and shipyard sectors in his 22-year business life, worked at a desk for years. Çelik, who started to question her job, participated in the 'Mothers in Industry' project implemented by Antalya Organized Industrial Zone Directorate to increase the employment of women in industry. After the training, Çelik passed the Professional Competence Certificate (MHK) exam and became a gas welding master. Çelik, who resigned from his position at the shipyard in Antalya Free Zone, where he worked as a manager, started working as a welding master in the same workplace.

Stating that she graduated from the Department of Business Administration and completed her master's degree in the field of 'Human Resources', Tuğba Çelik said, "I am 42 years old, I am married. The last 3 years of my 22-year business life were spent in management. I worked as a manager in the education, food, tourism and finally shipbuilding and shipyard sectors. My life was spent running around in the office, between walls, in front of computer screens and in meetings. During this process, I asked myself, 'Am I happy in this business life?' I asked the question. My answer was 'no'. While I was thinking about this, one day I came across the 'Mothers in Industry' project of Antalya Organized Industrial Zone Directorate. I met and talked to them. "I learned that they were recruiting female welders and providing training, and I got involved in this project," she said.

'I BECAME A MHK CERTIFIED GAS WELDING MASTER'

Explaining that they received intensive training within the scope of the project, Çelik said, "We worked day and night within the scope of this project, completed our training, learned welding. We took the MHK exam, passed the exam successfully and now I received my certificate as a MHK certified female gas welding master. I resigned from the shipyard where I last worked as a manager in Antalya Free Zone. I now come to my workplace as a welding master with my welder uniform, gloves and mask, where I used to go to my workplace with suits and high heels."

'WELDING MACHINE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN'

Stating that women can be successful in every field in the industry, Çelik said, "I am proud to have achieved this job by showing an example of courage, leaving my career aside and saying that women can do this in an industry dominated by men, in order to set an example for many women. The welding machine does not discriminate between men and women, it focuses entirely on the mastery of the job. Being able to do this job skillfully is a job that we women can achieve, regardless of gender discrimination. I am happy. It is not managing anymore; being in the business, in production, makes me very happy. The other woman who does this really makes me happy." "I'm proud of my friends, I'm also proud of myself," he said.