Women in ICT field

October 9, 2012|Interesting Facts| No comments yet

There was a time when it was widely felt that women were at a disadvantage in ICT – Information and Computing Technology. However, with more and more young women earning college degrees and entering technical fields, this is no longer the case. In fact, there are several ICT specializations where women tend to predominate. Some examples include graphic design, technical communication and the emerging field of user experience design.

However, women should not feel that they are at a disadvantage in the ICT hiring process – even outside the areas where women are common. Naturally, most job seekers realize that they are protected by strict federal anti-discrimination laws during their job search. In turn, the job seeker’s contribution is to develop a resume that effectively and concisely discusses what they can offer a given employer. The basics of effective resume writing are useful in all situations.

Here are some things for women pursuing ICT careers to remember when preparing a resume:

1) Focus on Achievements, Not Duties
Achievements are individual accomplishments that stand out and tell your future employer about your skills. Duties, on the other hand, merely rehash day-to-day minutiae; all the low-level activities that every person holding a similar job title deals with every day. To give an example: If you are a sales professional with a $5,000 per month quota, reaching that quota is your duty. Reaching $10,000 a month is an achievement and represents the kind of information that makes a difference.

2) Offer Quantifiable Data Whenever Possible
In ICT, hiring decision-makers thrive on mathematical detail. They appreciate knowing indisputable quantitative facts behind your achievements. In many positions, it will be easy to compare the state of technical resources at the time you were hired and the time you left to see what positive changes you contributed to. If you made changes that caused your network to run 10% faster, reduced trouble calls 25% or resulted in 13% greater user satisfaction, all of these things put your performance into context.

3) Demonstrate Competence and Confidence in Communication
Although stereotypes are usually problematic, understanding them allows you to find advantages. ICT professionals, both male and female, are generally believed to be poor communicators. On the other hand, the opposite belief is “generally” held about women – that they are more communicative and empathetic than men. Your resume serves as a visual representation of your ability to communicate, so work hard to tailor it to the reader’s needs. Using graphic design principles like cuing and emphasis can help.

To develop professionally in ICT, it’s necessary to think like a senior ICT leader and begin building your path to the executive ranks at the very beginning of your career. Doing so means balancing technical skills and people skills without giving short shrift to either. With skill, dedication and patience, women in ICT can progress just as far and just as fast as their male counterparts; ICT is an industry where creativity and ability count for more than anything else.