Women Empowering Women in Technology (Part 1)

Especially for people transitioning from other industries, women can problem-solve and add value, offering an employer or a client well-rounded experience and knowledge. With the ability to broaden their scope and without the limits of location, women have access to leadership roles that they otherwise would not have, as long as they are optimizing themselves in their job searches.

Stepping outside of yourself and representing effectively to a potential employer with a "bold voice" rather than conservatively toning down abilities is a skill that takes development. Our recruitment team often helps candidates match with jobs to which they would not otherwise have access, one reason being that they had never considered their applicability to a career in technology before. After the thought of a new career has been implanted in the mind of a tech professional, the challenge becomes finding the right next opportunity to capitalize on skills and experience.

To fill skills gaps in your resume, arguably the best place to start is by volunteering your time with a non-profit organization in your industry. As Cindy Reeder, points out, when you give your time, you will gain experience in areas you want and in areas you did not expect. More tools in your toolkit means a better ability to get past the ATS system and through a first interview based on your merit. 

As you contribute to your ecosystem your network will grow wider, and more developed relationships will follow. Making yourself a more marketable professional is another skill that does not come naturally to everyone. Even the most talented tech professionals need help from a recruitment specialist to bridge the gap between them and their ideal job. Those who take initiative and drive their own career development end up with more satisfying, well-paying, and rewarding jobs.

Qualifying certifications matter more in some professions than in others. As Cindy says, certain jobs in the Salesforce ecosystem like engineering and senior administration call for formal training, especially because Salesforce as a community is so welcoming to members without a tech background.

For those entering the job market from other industries, proficiency in your job and tenacity in your search can take the place of a non-technical background and formal training, as Krystal Carter says. However, Krystal and Cindy agree that deeper knowledge of the inner workings of a system and how changes impact overall function is a distinguishing factor when evaluating qualifications for a position and ability to communicate at a higher level with other professionals. 

Alternatively, hands-on experience demonstrates proof of applied conceptual understanding and execution of duties. Deeper knowledge of the inner workings of a system and how changes impact overall function is a distinguishing factor when evaluating qualifications for a position and ability to communicate at a higher level with other professionals. Showing value-added as an end-result to a company or project with the ability to recount the experience and discuss lessons learned at all levels can be a deal maker or breaker in a competitive job market. Often, companies would rather bet on a candidate with a proven understanding of the real-life implications of applying a skill to a business with other team members, vendors, and clients.

Cost can be another barrier to obtaining formal training in technology. Certifications and a college degree are both difficult, and employers place different levels of value on each, but one is significantly less time-consuming and expensive than another. "Skilling up" for your career can be done through volunteering, certifications, learning by doing, or networking through perceived gaps in your skill set. 

Another creative way to learn the skills necessary to succeed in tech is to teach yourself in less conventional ways. Rakia told us how she used to sit in a bookstore to learn coding, and became a full stack developer before the term had even become universal. Learning from experiences, researching cutting edge practices, conquering imposter syndrome, and adding skills as they are needed can lead your career in the direction of success.