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How to enter the IT industry? Technology is female!

Working in IT is still a desirable option. The industry is growing rapidly and becoming increasingly open to different roles. How to find a job in IT? What to look for, who to learn from? Discover specific tips from experts associated with the Pozitive Technology conference.

Let’s start with research!

Technology is female, but it’s not as good as it could be. What does that mean? Anita Borg, an activist for increasing the representation of women in technology fields, said in 1995 that by 2022, women would make up half of IT employees. Now it’s 2023, and the situation is not so rosy. What do the latest statistics say? A 2023 survey of the IT community – which surveyed programmers in Poland – found that only 18% of them are women. The survey covered more than 10,000 people. According to Eurostat data, women in the IT sector account for only 18% of employees. However, looking at statistics from within IT companies, we learn that over 46% of women in the IT industry hold non-programming positions [‘Start-ups, Venture Capital and New Technologies. Does Gender Matter?’ – a report prepared by Talenti in 2023.]

Why do we need more women in technology teams and why do we care about diversity?

The results of research prepared by Make IT Safe, among others, emphasise that diversity in business teams increases their operational efficiency. In addition, it enables them to make better decisions and contributes to profit growth. Technology design by women also takes into account different points of view, not just the male perspective. In the context of diversity, it is not only the gender perspective that is important, but also differences related to origin, age, neurodiversity, etc. [source: “Diversity wins. How inclusions matters?” McKinsey&Company report from 2020.]

You can also check how the lack of representation of a given group affects a given product. An example? Give a phone to an elderly person. Will they be able to read all the text on a small screen, written in small font?

How to start working in IT?

Think about what you want to specialise in. AI, machine learning, or perhaps cybersecurity, data analysis or project management? IT is not just about programming.

It is worth using different ways to build your career path:

  • Internships, if you are at the beginning of your career.
  • Working on your own project: an application or game that helps you build your portfolio.
  • Courses and certifications that support your learning. These could be courses in cybersecurity or computer networks, for example.
  • Participation in conferences, meetups, meetings with experts and practitioners. You can ask them what is important in creating an IT CV and who they are looking for in their company. You will also learn what to look for and how to stand out in a job interview.
  • Career change: check if there is a possibility of changing industries in your company. Are there any positions that interest you and where you see yourself?

It is a myth that everyone will find their place in IT. A person who is insightful, focused on continuous learning, problem solving, and above all, patient, will do well here. You need a lot of motivation and determination, especially when you start working in IT.

Initial roles in IT: what can you choose?

There are more and more roles in new technologies. We can start with the most well-known ones: tester, data analyst (data analytics), project management, product owner, business analyst. Some require analytical skills, while others require the ability to organise work, good communication, etc. Other roles that combine creativity with technology include all UX roles, such as UX designer and UX researcher.

Project Management Officer – a project support role. Junior Scrum Master – another position, on the borderline between project coordination, support and problem solving. There is also the AI development path. It is still worth remembering the role of a developer, i.e. a programmer, although many people consider this to be one of the more difficult paths.

How to start looking for a job in IT?

  • The first step is to update your CV.
  • Next, it is worth creating a profile on LinkedIn. Does it include all your experience and skills? Highlight the key information.
  • Add a professional description and specify your career goals – what position and area of IT are you interested in? Enter this information on LinkedIn.

Preparefor the job interview.

Inspiration, trends in IT

Data Science, Data researcher, cloud solutions, AI, Machine Learning, Python. New roles are constantly emerging. Perhaps in the future there will be a role of AI ethicist, who will focus on integrity and security in the implementation of AI.

Another important trend is sustainable development in technology, as mentioned by Gartner. It includes technological skills and knowledge in the field of sustainable development. Another branch of IT is game development – it is growing rapidly and is an interesting option for programmers and graphic designers. The process of changing careers is common in the industry itself, as it is so dynamic and fast-growing.

Learn more about switching to IT:

We invite you to follow our partner programme #MamoPracujwIT and the content collected on the mamopracuj.pl portal.

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This article was written after a conversation with Agnieszka Czmyr-Kaczanowska (14 November 2023, “Technology is a woman. How to enter the IT industry and develop in it?”), CEO of Talenti, employer branding expert and co-founder of Mamo Pracuj, with experts associated with @pozitive technology: Joanna Ochocińska, recruitment and selection expert, IT recruitment specialist at Capgemini, Katarzyna Sobocińska, economist, investment project specialist, Investor Service Office, Poznań City Hall. Gabriela Gil – marketing specialist, responsible for brand image on the internet, Project Leader, pozitive technologies. Ewelina Hernik-Wegner – manager and leader in the area of product and software development at Allegro.