Push is on for more women cable technicians

The good ol' cable guy is evolving. Comcast has 80 positions open right now and the company is hoping women will apply for the job.

Comcast believes women are just as capable as men - and bring fresh perspective and skills to the position of service technician.

"It's challenging but I think it is something everyone can do not as hard as it may seem," said Zahna Peterson.

Peterson is part of a growing group of women looking to take on a career traditionally assumed to be a man's job.  She's training to be a cable technician

"I think it may encourage other women to try," Peterson said.

That's what cable giant Comcast is hoping, encouraging women to apply for its 80 open tech positions in Michigan.

"I am very excited and nervous," she said.

Peterson has almost completed the 12-week hands-on training which mainly takes place inside a Roseville facility. 

Each classroom offers hands-on experience from trouble shooting technical issues with internet and TV products, to installation, navigating small spaces - and even climbing 20-foot pole. 
 
"If you are outdoorsy and don't mind getting a little dirty this is a great job for you," said Eileen Lezotte.

When Lezotte, of Flat Rock, first applied, she thought of the job as temporary until she learned about the pay from day one of training, the excellent benefits and potential to move up the ranks.

Over the last four years, she has continued to be promoted and hasn't the "cable guy" expectation stand in her way.
  
"I consider it continuing on the Rosie's, all the women from this area that built that bridge for us so we could do the work we wanted to do that we know we are capable of doing."

"The level of what they have to learn is a hundred fold when I was there," said Scott Monteith.

Monteith, the vice president of field operations started as a service tech and says technology has changed, but the needs of a customer has not. Comcast believes women bring a fresh perspective and unique skill to the service position.

"Typically it has been a very male dominated and we have very few female applicants for these positions," said Monteith. "We would really like to expand that, because they do a great job in the role. They are every bit as capable as their male counterparts and they bring a real customer soft skills work to the role as well. They do fantastically."

And customer service is critical. Comcast trains their techs for that too. 

Zahna says she's ready.