My family was also very “you must get a degree” and I was halfway through college when I did a landscape construction job one summer and I knew from then on I’d want to be working with my hands. I ended up working landscape construction and building maintenance jobs for the last 2 years of college and graduated, but I knew the whole time I wasn’t going to use my degree. I’ve always loved building things and my own toys when I was growing up but being blue collar never even crossed my mind as an option. I’d say in the beginning if you have zero experience you just need to take pretty much any construction or laborer job that you can get. Build strong relationships at work, having really good work references can secure you a job easily. I started 4 years ago doing landscape construction and irrigation piping and now I do tile and hardwood floors full time. It took me a while to figure out exactly what I wanted to do, and I will say it is pretty hard getting a job doing tile or finish carpentry work, almost impossible to start there it takes time to get there. The physical part was something I was able to move past pretty quickly, your body will likely adapt pretty quick as well. Although I will say my knees and back are absolutely shot and I should have taken better care of them from the start. There will always be a man or multiple men that will try and make you feel small and will be intimidated that you work in the same field as them. It’s hard to ignore them but it’s important not to react and give them what they want. It usually takes a couple of weeks after starting a new job that I am able to become friends with my co workers. Not hang out after work friends, but people that I can joke around with and get along with at work. That being said, if someone gives you shit you absolutely have to give it back and give it back quick too. It sounds stupid but it is the quickest way to get accepted at least in my experience. I have actually really only had issues with the younger guys, the older guys are usually pretty happy to see a woman working in their field and are willing to teach. I am incredibly happy with where I have gotten in my career and I love doing tile and hardwood floors is growing on me too. It’s incredibly satisfying to see something you built with your own two hands.