Jan 18, 2017
Contrary to popular belief, women don’t need to be coders or programmers, to get a great job in the tech industry, says guest expert, Allison Esposito. The tech industry is full of sales, marketing, and engineering positions that need to be filled. Even if a woman has never worked in the tech industry, she has transferable skills that apply to tech jobs.
Breaking into the tech field can be difficult because big tech companies have so many competitive applicants. It can be hard for a person to stand out, especially if they don’t have any experience in the tech field. Allison suggests women apply to smaller startups, to gain experience and to build their resumes.
The gender gap in the tech world is quite large. It can be seen in small startups, all the way up to big companies. Big companies report a ‘Pipeline Problem,’ which means they don’t believe women are out in the job market, or that their skill level is not up to par with the men applying for the same positions. Allison doesn’t believe it’s a pipeline problem, she thinks it is a connection problem.
To see where you might fit in the tech world, consider what you are already doing, and see where your skills fit. To make the switch to a career in tech:
- Make sure you are using the product or service of the company you wish to work for.
- Jot down what you would do differently if you worked for the company.
- Join online groups, and follow people who have the type of jobs you want.
- Absorb as much as you can in the media and at meetups.
Women can often be intimidated to attend IT meetups because they don’t feel they fit the traditional mold of young, male IT employees. Allison says if you go to a networking event with small goals and low expectations it will be less intimidating.
Pro Tip — Make a list of the companies you want to work for, and start building your network within those companies.
Allison Esposito Bio
Allison Esposito is the founder of Tech Ladies, a community that connects women with the best jobs in technology, and companies with the best women tech makers. Allison is also a branding and marketing expert, who has worked for Google, Foursquare, and other tech firms.
In 2017, Allison will be gearing up her product roadmap and event calendar for ever-evolving Tech Ladies Community.
Ben’s Job Search Resource:
Ben’s resource this week is the blog post, Top 8 Signs an Employer is Family Friendly. Ben consistently receives questions from parents about how to find out if a company is family friendly before they apply for a position. This article is loaded with tips, including look for a company with a high percentage of female executives and female employees.
Jenna’s Find Your Dream Job Listener Question:
Jenna, Ben, and Mac offer advice to Mindy Hoffman, who asks today’s Listener Question, “How to ask for a raise without seeming pushy, yet maintain your assertiveness?” The Mac’s List team recommends Ramit Sethi’s Ultimate Guide to Asking for a Raise and Negotiating Salary, the podcast episode with Jeff Weiss, 3 Steps to Take in Any Job Negotiation and the Josh Doody episode, How to Get Your Next Raise.If you would like the team to answer a job-related question, email it to
If you would like the team to answer a job-related question, email it to jenna@macslist.org, or call her at 716-JOB-TALK. If we use your question on the air, you will receive either a copy of our new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere or a Mac’s List Coffee Mug, your choice. Or, if you’ve found a job resource you think everyone should know about, send it to ben@macslist.org, and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job.
Ben and Jenna’s segments are sponsored by Land Your Dream Job Anywhere (to be published February 1, 2017). The book offers practical, actionable, and proven tools to help you get clear about your career goals, find hidden jobs, ace your next interview and more. Join the pre-publication list and get the first chapter of this useful resource free.
If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support!Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.
Tweetables:
“Get the first chapter of the Mac’s List Land Your Dream Job Anywhere book free.”
“You don’t have to code or be a programmer, to get a job in the tech field.”
“‘Salary negotiation,’ and ‘wing it,’ are two phrases, which should never be linked together.”