The prevailing media image that the IT sector is a men's world is no longer accurate. More and more organizations are working in diverse and multidisciplinary teams. But while companies are actively looking for staff, women are still being overlooked. Meanwhile more women in IT can solve the enormous staff shortage and ensure better products. How can companies make women enthusiastic about a job in tech?
The IT sector is crying out for people. The accelerated digitalization of society has made it clear that good digital skills are important. In the past two years even more ICT-jobs have been created than before the crisis. HeCA-ICTreports that in 2020 there were approximately 100.000 women with an IT-job. And in 2021 the number of women in the ICT sector rose by over 6,5 percent. Despite the enormous growth, women remain a minority within the sector. Men still make up 84 percent of working ICT’ers in the Netherlands. Within Europe the Netherlands ranks on the27th placewhat concerns the number of women graduating in ICT. It is a very low ranking: the study was carried out in 32 countries.
To close the inequality gap between men and women, it is important that more women start working in the IT sector. Diversity in the workplace is not only a way to solve the urgent shortage in the workforce. It is also a boost to morale and productivity. Research shows that with a diverse group of IT professionals better products are made, you create a better working environment, and employees stay with the organization longer.
Various organizations in the Netherlands are working hard to reduce gender inequality in the sector. Because the number of women in the sector is so low, an enormous potential of new employees is being missed. That's why the Techionista Academy trains women in a short time for a job in the tech sector. These are roles such as data engineer, data analyst and business intelligence professional. The Dutch IT company Avanada pays all costs for the different training programs.
In Amsterdam givesIronhack, provider of IT education, nearly four hundred thousand in scholarships to women who want to work in the IT sector. Women can participate in various bootcamps where they are prepared in 9 or 24 weeks for jobs in Cybersecurity, Data Analytics and UX/UI Design.
By now many companies are aware of the benefits of diverse IT teams with more women. How can companies broaden their talent pool with female IT professionals?
The prevailing media image of the IT sector must be adjusted. Show that women work in board positions and other visible roles in your organization. Female employees can share their stories through lectures or open days to inspire the younger generation to pursue a job in IT.
When the term ICT is mentioned, the image of the programmer or system administrator quickly comes to mind. But ICT is a broad field. The interaction between user and automation, for example, requires people who can make the translation to make IT accessible to the 'average user': soft skills are therefore important. Focus on these skills when recruiting.
With inclusive job postings you can attract more women. Often titles are used such as 'rockstar' or 'ninja' and this generally does not appeal to women. To make a job title inclusive you can, for example, put (m/v/x) after the job title. Words such as 'ambitious' and 'results-oriented' are also perceived as masculine. The software company Atlassian has, through theadjustmentof the choice of words in job postings, attracted 80 percent more women.
Retraining is a structural solution to the shortage of ICT personnel. Offer female candidates the opportunity to retrain for a job in the tech sector. Organizations such as the Groningen-based Femture offer women the opportunity to participate in a four-week bootcamp.
There are several ways to create an inclusive work culture where women feel comfortable. First of all, assess male and female employees using the same criteria. You can also develop a mentoring program in which senior employees support younger, female employees. Also make use of your network and actively invite women to apply. And finally, many women in the Netherlands still work part-time. Offering flexible working hours makes the IT sector more attractive to women.
