Career Tips for Women in Technology

Career Tips for Women in TechnologyCareer Tips for Women in TechnologyHere are two facts The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be 1.2 million computing job openings in the United States between 2012 and 2022. And according to a study by the American Association of University Women, the percentage of computing jobs held by women has declined.A third fact That last trend can be reversed. It needs to Theres already a shortage of skilled IT talent, which means theres demand for women in technology (and men). Research by Robert Half Technology shows that 67 percent of U.S. CIOs face recruiting challenges, particularly for in-demand roles in areas such as software development, security and networking.Women who want to work in IT, but lack technical skills and experience, shouldnt let that derail their plans to make the transition from their current field, says Kelly Napoli-Floto, senior director, enterprise customer support, for Robert Half. The IT profession is so d iversified today, she says. There are many different avenues for women in technology to explore many more than when I entered the field in the 1990s.A former accountant, Napoli-Floto hadnt even considered a technology career until fate threw her a few curveballs. For women considering an IT career, but are having difficulty visualizing how it might unfold, her story may serve as inspiration.An unexpected pathIn the early 1990s, a Robert Half staffing specialist suggested that Napoli-Floto use her strong soft skills as a recruiter. Napoli-Floto took that advice, and within a few years had become a division director for Accountemps. Then one day, she heard about an opportunity that sent her in yet another new direction.Robert Half welches rolling out a new software solution companywide and needed people to learn the technology and serve as trainers, says Napoli-Floto. I thought that sounded exciting. So, I volunteered and spent the next two years traveling all over the country.As par t of the rollout, Robert Half established an IT desk - which needed a manager. Once again, Napoli-Floto found herself pursuing new possibilities I welches hired for the role, even though I didnt have a lot of technical knowledge at the time. But I understood the challenges people in the field would face using the new technology.That was 1999, and Napoli-Floto has stayed the course in IT ever since, advancing her career at Robert Half. I fell into IT, but once I was there, I knew it was for me, she says.Making the transitionOver the past 16 years, Napoli-Floto has binnenseen a lot of changes in technology, and in the workforce that supports it. When I started the help desk at Robert Half, only men were applying for the positions I needed to staff, she recalls. Today, we have several women on our team, and in other IT roles in the company. I also see many more opportunities opening up for women in technology, generally.Napoli-Floto suggests that women who need to build technical skil ls consider starting out in a nontechnical IT role. Look for opportunities on teams focused on business transformation, she says. These groups help businesses figure out how to use technology to improve operations and innovate. This can provide a great training ground for anyone who wants to break into IT.And dont let education be a barrier to entering the field, says Napoli-Floto For many tech roles, you dont need a four-year degree. Earn a certification, and build out your skills through on-the-job training.Additional tips for making the move to ITLearn simple coding. Even if you dont want to be a programmer or developer, understanding the basics like HTML and JavaScript can prove to be invaluable knowledge in your future IT career (and may help to catch a hiring managers attention). Look to beginner-friendly resources like w3schools, Codeacademy, Khan Academy and Google University Consortium.Study the hiring market. Look to resources such as Robert Half Technologys Salary Guide t o learn about in-demand positions, what employers are looking for in top candidates, and what abilities could help you earn a higher starting salary. Robert Halfs Salary Center can also provide insight into what types of industries are adding tech positions in your local area.Target tech companies and startups. Remember, tech companies are businesses, too, and need many functions to support their operations. Look to break into unterstellung firms by applying for roles similar to what you do now. Startups can also provide a more direct path to a tech role. These innovative businesses tend to encourage employees to expand their skill sets on the job so they can help support the business as it grows.Leverage your network. Let your professional contacts know youre considering making a transition to an IT career, and ask for guidance. Use sites like LinkedIn to find and join groups related to your interests in technology, or geared for women in IT. Also, consider attending industry netwo rking events to introduce yourself to the tech community.Your assignmentIn our previous post, we explained that in the coming months we will be providing readers with optional assignments intended to motivate people to think about how they, as individuals, can help to grow womens influence in the tech sector.The first assignment was to join a professional network or membership association that actively promotes the advancement of women in the technology profession. If you did this, please share your experiences in the comments. Which organization did you join? Why? We want to hear your story.This months assignment Add at least two people to your professional network who you believe can provide valuable insights as you launch or work to advance your career in technology.Are you currently transitioning to an IT career from a different field - or have you already made the move? Share your experiences in the comments.

4 reasons you didnt get the job, and why you should be happy about it

4 reasons you didnt get the job, and why you should be happy about it4 reasons you didnt get the job, and why you should be happy about itRegardless of your work experience, prestigious degrees or how well you prepared for the interview, at some point, we all get rejected for a job opportunity that we really wanted. Despite the bruise to our egos, often behauptung rejections are blessings in disguise.Over the course of my career, Ive worked with many executives that looked back later on the dream jobs for which they werent selected and realized that they avoided a major career mistake. With hindsight, they see that landing those jobs would have put them in the wrong environment or led them off course.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBut if youre currently experiencing the sting of rejection, here are four reasons to take into consideration when pondering why you didnt get the job and why you should be grateful for it.1. You werent qualifiedThe point of taking on a new opportunity is to learn new things and increase our career trajectory. This frequently drives us to target jobs for which were not (yet) fully qualified. I encourage my clients to interview for these kinds of stretch opportunities.But the reality is, there will be times when the company needs to hire someone that can hit the ground running with minimal growing pains. If you arent that candidate, you should be grateful that they didnt hire you. I know it hurts to get the thanks, but no thanks message, but theres nothing worse than starting a new job with incompatible expectations of what you can deliver and how fast you can come up to speed.Be glad you dodged this bullet and keep interviewing for other stretch roles. Dont become discouraged. The next position may be a better fit.2. They werent ready for what you had to offerBeing over-qualified is a real problem and you may have stumbled on an organization that isnt ready for the skills and expertise that you bring to the table.I know this sounds like the classic, Its not you, its me breakup line, but its a true reality that you would have become frustrated trying to bring your talents to a work environment that wasnt prepared to take advantage of them. This is most often true when an organization says during the early interviews that they want to be best-in-class or make a significant cultural shift, but as they get to know you and your skills better, they may realize that they dont truly want (or simply arent ready for) the amount of change required to help you be successful.Again, this is a gift. You want a track record of accomplishment and this job would have set you up for failure.3. They didnt want to pay you what youre worthSometimes, not getting an offer seems unbelievable. You loved the culture, youre clearly qualified and they seemed to be just as interested in you as you were in them. Then you get the news th at no offer is coming they gave the job to an internal candidate or someone more junior. Its baffling.But dont let it shake your confidence. Often this has to do with a mismatch between your compensation expectations and what they hoped to spend on the role. None of us want to work at a place where we have to beg them to pay us a reasonable salary. In addition, if the company was willing to let you go and hire someone cheaper, they probably werent as committed to the business objective you would have addressed.And, not only would they have paid you less than you deserved, but they also wouldnt have valued your work as much as you would have liked. You should be glad you werent offered this job because you might have taken it.4. You didnt really want itBe honest with yourself Was this really your dream job or are you just ready to get away from the stress of your current job? There have been times in my career where the latter was true and I just wanted a way out.I convinced myself to interview with a company I liked, but for a job I knew I wouldnt enjoy. Ive accepted offers from companies I already suspected werent a good cultural fit for me. Were either of these true for you? Did you really want this job? And if not, how might you have sabotaged the process? Were you slow to respond or did you fail to follow up? Were you brutally honest in answering interviews questions in hopes that they might reject you?The good news is, they did. Youre one of the lucky ones. Be grateful.Kourtney Whitehead has focused her career on helping people reach their work goals, from executive searches to counseling to career transitions, through her positions at top executive recruiting firms and consulting companies. Her site, SimplyService.org, is an online community focused on supporting the creation of spiritually centered work lives. She is a sought-after speaker and podcast guest. Her new book, Working Whole, shares how to unite spiritual and work life.You might also enjoyNe w neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Free Entry-Level Resume Templates

Free Entry-Level Resume TemplatesFree Entry-Level Resume TemplatesAn entry-level administrative assistant resume keeps things simple. These basic resume designs and formats focus on you and your accomplishments, not fancy formats. These designs also enable you to make the best use of white space and help to balance your formal training and professional experience. Take a look at our entry-level resume examples to binnensee how you can write and format a winning resume.Create ResumeEntry-Level Administrative Assistant ResumeCustomize ResumeIndustry SnippetsBy using our free entry-level administrative assistant resume templates, you will learn how to write a strong resume to launch the career you want. Entry-Level Pros and ConsOur free entry-level administrative assistant resume templates are designed to meet the needs of applicants who want to highlight their education, accomplishments, and hands-on experience acquired through internships, student work, or volunteer work.Pros Strong o rganizationPros Easy to readCons Format is not memorableCons It might be obvious that this is your first resumeResume TextGeraldJones123 Street,City, ST, 12345 (123) 456-7890 (H) (123) 456-7890 (C) emailisp.comProfessional SummaryAmbitious Administrative Assistant with strong writing, communication, and customer service skills, seeking to take next career step with an organization offering opportunities for professional advancement. Formal training in business administration with comprehensive experience in using MS Office Suite to achieve day-to-day business goals and optimize workflows. Success in developing efficient business processes to streamline workflow and enhance organizational performance.Skill HighlightsOffice administrationWorkflow optimizationCalendar managementFile and records managementTeam leadershipCorrespondence and reportingProfessional Experience9/1/2015 CurrentAdministrative Assistant InternLandmark Strategies Chicago, ILProvide comprehensive administrative and secretarial support to enable day-to-day business operations.Collect, calculate, process, and submit travel expense reports to accounting department for approval.Develop and initiate workflow optimization strategies, cost control initiatives, and electronic reporting systems.Schedule and organize meetings, teleconferences, and travel for company leadership.Manage Senior Vice Presidents calendars, agendas, and itineraries.Prepare complex reports such as budget and abverkauf reports to facilitate decision-making by company leadership.Manage office supplies and equipment schedule preventative and reparative maintenance to maintain equipment and minimize operational disruptions.3/1/2014 12/1/2014Administrative AssistantOld St. Patricks Church Chicago, ILDelivered high quality administrative support to church, including copying and distributing booklets, flyers, and pamphlets.Contributed to maintenance and cleaning of church and church facilities.Worked with church leadership to cr eate weekly bulletins.Participated in community outreach activities to promote church and strengthen relationships between church and community.Education and TrainingRobert Morris CollegeBusiness Administration Studies 2016Chicago, IL