Candice TillmanIf a woman finds that for some reason she is burned out in her former job or the work does not bring her pleasure, she should not be afraid to change the field of activity. Nowadays, everyone has access to a lot of resources. Therefore, a girl of any age can get an education and build a career in IT. Where to start?
In any business there are three main components of success for self-realization: motivation, self-confidence and the ability to self-education. To master one of the IT professions for girls, you need to train yourself to self-discipline. Set a goal and start to pick up the pieces of knowledge that will be useful for future work in IT. And what else should a woman do to make a career in IT?
Understand what you want to do
You need to choose the right profession, so the work would bring pleasure. If a girl does not know in what direction she would like to work, you can try yourself in different professions. The IT field is very large, with a huge number of companies and many specialties. Any woman can find a profession just for herself, you just need to choose the area that is really interesting to her. Good managers realize that any project will only benefit if interested people with different views on the problem solve will work on it.
Always learning
To succeed in IT you should think proactively, not be afraid to get new information and systematize it correctly. And you must also learn to keep your mental eye forward, to the goal, and understand how many steps to take to reach that goal. Then you have to make a plan and find relevant literature or courses that will give you the knowledge and help you to reach that goal. It’s also important to be able to find the right information when you need it.
Communicate with different people
Communication is another important factor, the soft-skills. There’s an old saying that you have to be able to do everything, but you don’t have to do it all yourself. It is important to be able to communicate with people, to accurately and clearly explain your thoughts to them, so it is necessary to develop communication skills. Working in information technology, a girl will have to deal with different people, including technical specialists, managers, businessmen and clients. These people have different education and different technical level, but most importantly, each of them has different expectations. Each of them needs to be approached in a different way.
Monitor internships and job openings
Contrary to popular belief, you can get a job with a company even without the relevant experience. It is worth periodically sending your resume to companies, and to do this, you need to keep track of job openings and internships. Sometimes it is possible to get a good job in a good company and then make a career in it. Many foreign companies offer grants and internships which are available to Russians. Why not give it a try?
Participate in different IT events
Often Russian or even foreign companies organize gatherings for IT people. Such events take place nowadays not only in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also in other localities. Just imagine that the most advanced employees in IT sphere gather in one place and they are ready to share their secrets and important information with you. You should definitely go there, get acquainted and communicate with new people, look for like-minded people.
Ask for help
If a woman does not yet have the opportunity to go to hangouts, you can communicate in social networks and do not be afraid to ask for advice. Many girls who work in IT are communicative and willing to share their experiences with their fellow countrywomen. Also on the network, you can meet famous people, talk to us or even meet. This experience is sure to benefit you.
Find a coach or mentor
Mentorship is gradually coming to Russia and is yielding great results. You just need to find a person who will take up teaching the girl (for a fee or free of charge) all the wisdom in the area of interest. You can get acquainted with a future coach or mentor in social networks, you just need to write to him and offer to meet. Most people will agree, that’s a fact!
Develop flexibility of mind
It’s never too late to learn and develop a growth mindset. If you don’t already know what a growth mindset is, now is the time to Google and learn the meaning of the term. People who develop a growth mindset treat problems as life lessons and never pass up in the face of setbacks. One must constantly learn something, be flexible and resourceful, only then can a girl build a career in It on a par with men.
