VIEWS & OPINION Women in tech – it all adds up!
Comment by LISA MILES-HEAL, General Manager and Chief Technology Officer of global technology company, Unleashed Software
As a woman running a global business in the tech industry, I feel a personal responsibility to encourage more women into the sector as well as recognising the business imperative in doing so. Sadly, I still see an on-going problem in attracting women into the technology sector – not just in the UK, but globally. In my experience, the reasons for the tech gender gap are not clear-cut. For
many women, it’s a perception or knowledge gap that often begins at an early age. Schools, universities, industry and parents are still failing to show young people the diverse range of jobs and career options open to them in today’s world. STEM careers today are highly creative, requiring understanding people’s behaviours and team-working skills to develop tech- based solutions for the needs of modern-day society. For many women, it’s the lack of successful female tech role models that is
also an obstacle. For others, it’s a lack of confidence in the value of the skills and approach that they can bring to a tech role. At Unleashed Software, we have been involved in programmes to demonstrate to young people the exciting range of options open to them through a career in technology. It’s important to communicate that not everyone has to be a programmer or a coder. As a tech company, we need people who can build relationships with our
customers, problem-solve and manage change – skills that we have no problem finding within our female hires. I want to promote what can be
achieved through technology as a business enabler, as opposed to putting the emphasis on specific technical skills. We run a highly collaborative business, not one where people sit in silence hunched over PCs. I am very happy to say that, at Unleashed Software, our workforce is
approaching gender parity. We have a ratio of 41% women to 59% men and we find it equally easy to hire both female and male graduates. This is not the case at higher levels of responsibility. It’s interesting too when I reflect on my own company’s work. In the past,
inventory management has been all about physical stock control, meaning that roles in this field were largely held by men. Today, the impact of technology now means that these roles have changed to operations management – focusing on systems and solutions where problem solving skills are essential to investigate how assets can be deployed efficiently across a business. Also, many of our customers are now female entrepreneurs so it is important our team reflects this too. There is a real opportunity for industry and education to work together to
inspire all young people about technology careers by developing the skills required to build a rich talent pipeline. After all, the tech sector is global by nature and offers rich and exciting international careers. If you’d like to discuss the issues raised by Lisa, she can be contacted at
lmh@unleashedsoftware.com
The rise of video interviews Comment by SIMON ADAMS, Regional Director for Teach In
Online video interviews, via systems such as Skype and FaceTime, are becoming increasingly popular with schools, and are no longer used just for international recruitment. The benefit of easing the scheduling burden, at no cost to either party, makes video interviews an ideal choice for many.
Here are 5 tips to help you nail your video interview.
1. Maintain good eye contact, posture and body language throughout the interview This is most important tip to follow to ensure you engage effectively and appropriately with your interviewing panel. It can be tempting to watch the video of yourself in the box at the bottom of the screen, but that will mean you never make eye contact with the person interviewing you. Ensure your eyes are on the webcam the majority of the time so that you’ll make direct eye contact with the interviewers. Maintain good posture throughout the interview and be sure your screen is at eye level, raising your laptop with a stack of books
May 2018
if necessary. Lastly, your body language needs to be open, inviting and engaging. Ensure you don’t have your arms crossed or aren’t playing with your hands nervously. Use non-verbal clues, such as expressive hand gestures, and don’t forget to smile!
2. Update your username You may have downloaded Skype many years ago and are still holding on to a username that is far from professional. Before adding the school contact, double check your username and attached email address is one that you feel comfortable with them seeing
3. Dress appropriately for the position This one may seem obvious, but it is really important to dress as if you were attending a face-to-face interview. Firstly, it will put you in an interview mind set and, secondly, it shows the interviewer that you are professional.
4. Find the right location Setting the location for your video conversation is critical. You must find a location with no distractions, good lighting and minimal sound
interference. Set yourself up at a desk or table with a blank background and ensure that you are lit from the front. If you do not have anywhere private apart from your bedroom, do not conduct the video interview from your bed. This happens far too frequently and can immediately put off hiring schools and interviewers.
5. Test your equipment Ensure you do a test run prior to the interview to make sure you aren’t experiencing any internet connectivity issues, that your Skype account is up and running, and that your camera and sound are working properly. There’s nothing that will make you look less organised than not knowing how your equipment works, and schools simply don’t want teachers who aren’t prepared.
Don’t panic at the thought of a video
interview. Just remember it is a chance for you to meet your potential future employer to show them your personality and explain why you want to work at their school.
www.education-today.co.uk 21
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