Hindley's first job was as a junior clerk at a local electrical engineering firm. She ran errands, made tea and typed, and was well liked enough that when she lost her first week's wage packet the other girls took up a collection to replace it. At 17 she became engaged after a short courtship, but called it off several months later after deciding the young man was immature and unable to provide her with the life she wanted. Hindley took weekly judo lessons at a local school but found partners reluctant to train with her, as she was often slow to release her grip. She took a job at Bratby and Hinchliffe, an engineering company in Gorton, but was dismissed for absenteeism after six months.