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How can we increase the number of women in tech?

Education is the traditional place to start, but diversity initiatives shouldn't end when women reach the workplace

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Education is the traditional place to start, but diversity initiatives shouldn't end when women reach the workplace

Hiring women can be extremely challenging in the tech sector. But it doesn't have to be.

Women make up about half of the UK workforce, but barely 26% of the technology workforce, and the number of women of colour is in single digits. How can you ensure your organisation is trying to boost the number of women in technology, if you have a say in the hiring process? Here are a few recommendations.

Learn to be a warrior

Being an advocate for women in the IT industry has many benefits; the significance of allyship cannot be overstated. There are a number of ways you can support and inspire the women leaders of the future.

First of all, be aware that women in the IT industry confront unique hurdles that men do not. If the female members of your team need to discuss something, sometimes you need only listen.

Second, make sure you are promoting acceptable behaviour among the men on your team. Whilst this is becoming less common, some men in the technology industry are still unsure about how to behave among women at work. If an issue does arise, take care of it as soon as you can in a courteous manner.

Investigate leads outside of your job

Including technology in the curriculum starting in primary school is one strategy to boost the proportion of women working in technology. Be seen in your local community as a technology role model. Mentor girls who are interested to enhance their understanding of career options in the technology industry. Encourage competitions and technology-related classes in education.

Doing this you can cultivate an interest in technology from an early age - and after a time, have a pool of potential workers you already know. Through possibilities for networking in your industry, you might also endeavour to expand your network of local connections. Technology-minded people are usually easy to meet and talk to, and you never know when you could strike gold at the next networking event or service club gathering.

Emphasise female speakers and workshops

Nothing compares to supporting female tech speakers while also fighting for women's rights in the workplace. It wouldn't take much work for you to include a female speaker at your next conference or get-together, because there are many women who work as IT conference speakers. The more women who talk about technology in public, the more women who find an interest in it.

Promote team and role switching

One way that technology has affected business methods in other fields is because technology workers typically operate in teams. If this is how your business operates, encourage your female team members to move around, switch teams and try new things. Women will have the opportunity to try out various projects and roles, but you never know when one of your team members may land in a position she really enjoys - or when someone else's team member will find a passion for technology by working with you. People are far more fulfilled in their employment, according to research, when they are free to move about and try out various roles.

Identify success ladders & mentors

Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, your situation won't last forever so consider planning for succession. You should consider developing an outstanding woman on your team for your role right now. If you are a team leader, you would want women who are mentored in technology to stay in the company longer so organising mentors for female staff is helpful.

That geeky stereotype can be changed

Not everyone who works in technology is a nerd. The time is now to publish images of women working in tech who don't conform to the stereotype of a tech geek on social media. Publicise initiatives that support women in tech, like Black Girls CODE. Any time you come across a post, a story, or a picture of a tech-related woman who defies stereotypes, you can share it.

The more you are prepared to take risks, the more women will want to work with you. Share any gender-specific information you may have on the proportion of women working for your firm. You should also let people know that your business supports diversity, since this makes women more likely to join. Be honest if your firm doesn't employ many women. Tell them that one of your top priorities is fostering diversity in the workplace, and you will attract more qualified applicants.

If you feel disheartened, keep in mind that there are more women working in technology than there were just a few years ago, and that number is still climbing. By encouraging women to work in technology and assisting them after they have a job, you can contribute to the continued improvement of the situation. The probability that you will encourage women to work is greatly increased if you promote a female-friendly atmosphere.