Women in IT: Interested in peoples thoughts..

Teamhar

Hey guys,

This isn't going to be controversial! I AM the woman in IT who is interested in opinions and thoughts! I'm an IT engineer: university education, industry certified, experienced, personable and all in all people and clients agree I'm pretty good at my job. I've got good business analyst and consulting skills, a great trainer and have interesting skills that are in demand- Sharepoint, SQL and Microsoft Dynamics packages among others. Even the practical stuff- my cabling and comms are a thing of beauty and I rarely bemoan my broken nails.

I'm recently out of work and actively trying to find something else- a change from field engineer to sys admin- and I'm finding it damn hard to even get interviews. I don't know if its because my CV screams "Irish" and therefore expensive to hire or because I'm a woman in her 30s who, in the eyes of a potential employer, may feck off to get married and have kids (not happening). I'm thinking that because even though its illegal, I was actually asked that at an interview last year! I'm not mad on recruitment agencies, preferring to go straight to the employer, but even when I do send CV's to those vultures for jobs which I'd be perfect for, no response. Its strange.

Any guys out there with a similar background finding it hard at the moment? Or is my paranoia justified in some way? I was planning to end my IT career in a few years to start my own non-IT business anyway, but not yet! When it does end, I want it to be on my terms.

Thanks,
Tara

NullZer0

Teamhar wrote: »

Hey guys,

This isn't going to be controversial! I AM the woman in IT who is interested in opinions and thoughts! I'm an IT engineer: university education, industry certified, experienced, personable and all in all people and clients agree I'm pretty good at my job. I've got good business analyst and consulting skills, a great trainer and have interesting skills that are in demand- Sharepoint, SQL and Microsoft Dynamics packages among others. Even the practical stuff- my cabling and comms are a thing of beauty and I rarely bemoan my broken nails.

I'm recently out of work and actively trying to find something else- a change from field engineer to sys admin- and I'm finding it damn hard to even get interviews. I don't know if its because my CV screams "Irish" and therefore expensive to hire or because I'm a woman in her 30s who, in the eyes of a potential employer, may feck off to get married and have kids (not happening). I'm thinking that because even though its illegal, I was actually asked that at an interview last year! I'm not mad on recruitment agencies, preferring to go straight to the employer, but even when I do send CV's to those vultures for jobs which I'd be perfect for, no response. Its strange.

Any guys out there with a similar background finding it hard at the moment? Or is my paranoia justified in some way? I was planning to end my IT career in a few years to start my own non-IT business anyway, but not yet! When it does end, I want it to be on my terms.

Thanks,
Tara

Just a quick reply I guess -

As far as changing direction to sys admin, those jobs are getting more scarce at the moment.

Of course, if you are exceptionally good in a particular area that others are not then you have a better chance. Do you do much unix/linux work?

The direction I want to go is CCIE/Unix over the next few years. Of course its beneficial to know windows too.

Mighty Biffo

Hi Tara, I'm in a slightly similar position. I'm still employed (Thankfully) in a combined IS/IT role. 6 women graduated in the same class as myself and at this moment on 2 are still in any form of IT. Some were the best in class. Where I work there would not be any real anti female bias. There is talk of promoting a girl into one of our IT positions as her knowledge and experience learning from us in our company is such an advantage. SO good luck in your search!!!

Tallon

My girlfriend was looking for a job in IT about five months ago so I got her in where I work, she got promoted yesterday and she loves it.
She learned way quicker than any of the other 15 lads she started with and they knew about IT already
Very proud of her!


Tallon

Teamhar

Thats great news, but would she have got the job without your recommendation?

I'm looking for something mid-level to senior to go along with the experience I already have. As a field engineer, I was working and supporting Windows infrastructure including AD, Exchange etc with a lot of networking support, diagnosis, server build and repair. Its that I'd like to stick with but as one poster said, not a lot is being advertised in the area of sys admin at the moment. I really, really don't want to do 1st level tech support or phone or anything like that as its a step backwards and the money would obviously be brutal as well. I'm a hands-on person so field engineer would be fine too but this time, for a decent company.

I dunno. Guess I'll just have to wait it out for another couple of months. As an experiment, I was half-considering rejigging my CV and changing my name from "Tara" to "Dara" and resending a number of applications! If people think I'm a guy straight away, as the CV lands on the HR desk, the "woman-marriage-kids, left in the lurch with a load of servers" thing doesn't even cross their minds and I might at least get some contact.

fricatus

Large American companies are better places for women working in IT, I would think.

I work in IT for an American company and we're fairly evenly balanced between the genders. Being male or female here is really not an issue - at least no more than being from Kilkenny or Tipperary!

There are women at all the levels; indeed the top man in the IT organisation in the States is a woman! Moreover I've never ever heard a sniff of any woman being underpaid vis-a-vis any male colleague. Same goes for promotions - it all seems to be done on merit.

That's not to say that everything's perfect, but I'd say that approaching the large US mutinationals is probably a good bet.

bullpost

Don't think you'll see too much bias these days and would imagine its more the economy thats the problem.
I'd make sure your CV emphasises those skills which will make you appealing as a sys admin.

Good luck with it.

Teamhar

Yeah, thats my impression too. I have an interview with a Canadian company on Friday. Its not something I'd really be that into, but at least I was asked and I'll go along for the practice. North American companies are certainly a lot more enlightened when it comes to a lot of things. Not saying they're perfect, but definitely better at getting the balance right.

With regard to the gender bias, if I were still in my twenties, I would have agreed that its not much of an issue these days. Now that I'm in my thirties, engaged and though kids aren't on the agenda, a future employer can't ask so they're free to think what they like.

If nothing happens over the next couple of months, as a Canadian citizen myself, I think we'll be making our way over there. I've already had a good offer, but held off until my partner made his mind up. We might not have that luxury when the money runs low in a few months.

waraf

Teamhar wrote: »

As an experiment, I was half-considering rejigging my CV and changing my name from "Tara" to "Dara" and resending a number of applications!

Why not just put your the initials of you first and middle names rather than pretending your a bloke? Then if someone does call they won't be wondering why you mispelled your own name on your CV

Teamhar

Ah, its not something I was seriously thinking about doing, but it would be an interesting experiment. If I changed the address and the name leaving he rest of the CV as is, and send it along a couple of days after I send in my "Tara" CV. I wonder who, if anyone, would get the phonecall?

I don't think just initials would work- its a bit shady, isn't it?! Whereas not a huge leap between "Dara" and "Tara". Even a potential employer phoning a previous employer for a reference. The two names sound pretty much the same over the phone!

I could live with Dara!

Ha ha!

waraf

Teamhar wrote: »

Ah, its not something I was seriously thinking about doing, but it would be an interesting experiment. If I changed the address and the name leaving he rest of the CV as is, and send it along a couple of days after I send in my "Tara" CV. I wonder who, if anyone, would get the phonecall?

I don't think just initials would work- its a bit shady, isn't it?! Whereas not a huge leap between "Dara" and "Tara". Even a potential employer phoning a previous employer for a reference. The two names sound pretty much the same over the phone!

I could live with Dara!

Ha ha!

Just get the operation and be done with it

Tallon

Teamhar wrote: »

Thats great news, but would she have got the job without your recommendation?

yeah she would... wouldnt have got promoted without my help but yeah, she knows enough!

jackhammer

Teamhar wrote: »

I'm not mad on recruitment agencies, preferring to go straight to the employer, but even when I do send CV's to those vultures for jobs which I'd be perfect for, no response. Its strange.

Some recruitment agencies advertise bogus jobs just to harvest CVs.

waraf

Tallon wrote: »

yeah she would... wouldnt have got promoted without my help but yeah, she knows enough!

I'm not judging but this is kind of the problem in Ireland. It's very much about who you know when it comes to securing jobs/promotions. As I say, I'm not judging as I have been as guilty as anyone of using family/friend connections to my advantage in the past but it doesn't exactly make for a level playing field.
Also I have freinds who will be very swayed by a person's looks when it comes to hiring. Not so much in the IT area where knowledge is king but more in the general admin field.

bonnieprince

Hi teamhar

I had worked as a field service engineer for 10 years in IT, made the jump to sys admin two years ago and it was jumping from the frying pan into the fire! Stuck behind a desk with nowhere to run literally. Missed meeting customers,not all of them mind you (who became friends and the challenge of callouts). My new boss was pushing me towards middleware type stuff which i did not like and got no training whatsover. My colleague was a lady and very good at her job. Have never cpme across many women in IT role. Anyway my new boss kept pushing my buttons so it made up my mind to leave and start college to pursue a different career, working part time and doing college fulltime, still doing some IT work on the side. Hope this helps in some way, just saying sys admin was not for me even though i had always hoped it to be.
best of luck.
bp.

KStaford

Teamhar

There are a number of initiatives run by the biggues trying to attract women into IT.
Microsoft in partiucular have alsmost made this part of their business stratrgy
http://www.microsoft.com/emea/women/default.mspx

They also run events just for women in
www.irelandgirlgeekdinners.com

Might be a good network for you to get involved with.

El_mariachi

If your interested, Microsoft Ireland currently have several openings in many different areas, including one - Head of Technology Adoption which I whole heartedly recommend applying for if its something that would interest you.

Check out http://www.microsoft.com/ireland/careers/ for more details

TechieEddy

I've nothing to add except I think women in IT are are a real turn on for me