Women in the IT industry are finding it more difficult
to get into IT than to progress through the ranks according to a
survey by a UK training company.
The Training Camp questioned 100 women across a
range of levels in the IT industry. The survey found 67% felt
getting on the IT career ladder was a greater challenge than
climbing it, while 52% believed they could move upwards faster
compared with other industry sectors.
Claire Taylor, a systems administrator at APT Solutions agrees
that getting into IT is by far the greater challenge. She says
although it’s a challenge for a woman to demonstrate her
suitability in such a male-dominated sector, career prospects are
enormous for those who persevere.
Rob Chapman, CEO at The Training Camp, says the aim of the
survey is to stimulate debate about what can be done to bring about
change. He suggests one of the things employers could do is promote
aspects of the jobs in the industry that are likely to appeal to
women.
“Jobs like project managers and software developers require
people who are organised, creative and good with personal
interaction, but these aspects of working in the IT industry tend
to be skirted over,” he says.
Chapman argues that increasing the number of women who apply for
IT jobs will help increase the number of women in the sector, which
in turn will make it easier for
women to break in going forward.
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