ShadowTech June 2017

Thank you to ARA and CDC who co-ordinated a wonderful day for girls of Christchurch to visit various IT businesses.  Access to some organisations has become more difficult with Health and Safety regulations, so we feel grateful to have been part of this programme.

The purpose of the day was to provide a chance for girls to better understand what career options are available in the technology industry.  The environment is becoming more chic and creative and there is movement away from it being so “boys-ey”.

E = (Q + S + WE) x C

[Paul Redmond University of Leeds] - employment is qualifications, skills and work experience all providing opportunities for many connections.

This is a growing industry where organisations are seeking talent and diversity.  These girls have an opportunity to be in a very well paid job and be snaffled up by companies to bring a balance by providing a female perspective. A recent visit by Makayla Montgomery in her first year at University, confirms that women in IT are in demand.  Already Makayla has been offered two internships and she is only six months into her graduate degree.

Eight year 9 - 11 students participated in ShadowTech programme. After a morning of short talks from young graduate women, the girls were matched to a business and visited this company in action.  On their return, the feedback from the girls found many workplaces relaxing and a positive environment to be in.  Many organisations went out of their way to consciously think about the feel of their workspace.  Businesses value the wellbeing of their employees - happy workers were much more productive.  Some workplaces were also viewed as being too quiet for some girls, and they felt uncomfortable in such a focussed space.

Click on the link to hear student feedback [goo.gl/GavCe4]

Caitlyn Wickham, Hattie Compton-Moen, Holly Macdonald, Lucy Johnston and Yani Rutherford, Mia Wright, Rosie Lester and Heather Laing.

Often networking is underestimated.  Surprisingly 70% of jobs are not advertised.  So, who you know can be more important than what you know. Some of the keys to success in this industry are being empathetic and putting yourself in the shoes of your client.  ShadowTech day was a start to making connections and building understanding of what a job in IT looks, feels and sounds like.

The final message to everyone was “Do what makes you happy!”