Survey: IT women want management training

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Many female technologists feel that they need to develop their career management and business skills, according to research from womenintechnology.co.uk.

The online job board and networking group for women came to this conclusion after surveying 304 female IT workers at a recent event it hosted. It found over two thirds, (77 per cent) felt they did not have sufficient skills to manage in a political workplace environment, while almost half said they struggled with achieving a work/life balance.

Of those that believed they had the necessary skills and work/life balance, most cited age and professional experience as key factors. For example, one said: “Through experience of managing projects and programs, liaising with stakeholders from different parts of the organisation and at different levels of seniority. Working in merger environments and outsourcing programs have helped as well. I have also had some executive training.”

And another said the "ability to identify political situations, to ensure my work takes account of them and to know how best to deal with them if it begins to have a detrimental effect on my work or environment," would help achieve their goals.

A further 53 per cent said they had been the victim of labelling, stereotyping or sabotage in the workplace. One female technologist surveyed said: “Being female, you are often labelled incorrectly in the IT world.”

Another advised: “Do what women always do… over perform… outdo the critics. But this is energy sapping and not always productive. I have learnt and continue to learn not to take it all too seriously or personally and to reflect the [negative] perception back from where it came.”

Many also said they found it difficult to manage the image of power when in a position of influence. One said key traits here were confidence, knowledge and straight talking. But they added: “[This is] fine if your reputation and work is known and respected, but how can I grab this as a contract employee, even with significant experience?”

Maggie Berry, director of womenintechnology.co.uk, said: “It’s obvious at all of our events that these women are intelligent and hard-working, but just need help in developing certain skills to allow them to really push their careers in the right direction.”

In response, the organisation will be holding W-Tech in February 2009, in association with the British Computer Society to help arm women working, and hoping to work, in IT with useful career and business management skills.

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