Danielle Rumsey at Skillfinder

Let's speed up getting to gender equality in tech

IT is still one of the industries that is faltering when it comes to gender equality - we need to pick up the pace on fixing it now. While things are slowly getting better, gender diversity will be a prerequisite for a company to thrive in the future, so it's down to everyone in the sector to stop dragging their feet on this issue.Diversity in the workforce means better financial performance and a stronger reputation, which in turn increases the quality of potential new employees.It also means diversity in skills; companies are looking for ways to distinguish themselves by adding value to their brand, product and staff.Is IT still a difficult industry for women?· Women in the IT industry find balancing work and personal life is difficult, even more so for women who have or wish to have a family.· Many women reported that adjusting to the company environment was difficult, eventually leading them to losing interest in their job.· There are only five women CEOs among 41 tech companies included in the Fortune 500 list.Why are we still focused on women in IT?The first and most obvious answer is that women and men are equal. However, it seems this alone is not enough to change the hiring process, therefore here are a few points to help incentivise hiring managers:Strengthening team dynamics: Women have a proclivity in uniting people and draw together opinions and proposals; favouring the creation of teams, participation optimisation of the decision-making process.Improved work environment: A diverse workforce better reflects a company’s client base thus providing better knowledge on consumer preference; according to Forbes, women worldwide influence up to 80% of purchase decisions.Increases revenue: According to Mckinsey&Company, if women get a chance to work at their full potential, they will add $28 trillion to the global GDP by 2025.Individually, businesses benefit from diversity and inclusion programs; A 2014 MIT study on workplace diversity noted that companies with a lower gender polarisation increased their revenue by as much as 41%.How do we attract more women?- Your job ads should reflect the image of an inclusive and welcoming culture so that women consider sending their application.- Mention specific skills that women associate with such as collaborative working style, interpersonal skills, time management, flex working hours etc…and have a clear recruitment strategy to deliver that message.- Companies should promote and implement leadership and skill development programs for women as well as be transparent about their maternity policies. - Include more women in the actual hiring process which can immediately reflect on the company’s reputation.

Apprenticeships a Story of Success: Danielle Rumsey

Apprenticeships a Story of Success: Danielle RumseyHow did you become an apprentice, where did you find out about it? After deciding to leave college I began to have a look online at the options open to me. I came across a company called Hawk Training based in Twickenham - a company which provides apprenticeships programs in the UK. Why did you decide to become an apprentice? I decided to become an apprentice as I was eager to be independent and quickly as possible. I was not keen on the idea of having lots of debt looming over me after university; I saw a way to earn money whilst also obtaining qualifications. Why should someone consider becoming an apprentice? You should decide to become an apprentice if you want to earn money whilst still learning. They are great for individuals who are perhaps more “hands-on” learners, and want a great platform to start their professional careers.Many apprenticeships are seen as a viable alternative to a University degree, especially for individualswho aren’t keen on the idea of more classroom learning. What was the process of becoming an apprentice like?Very straightforward. I applied to Hawk Training and was invited to an open day. I was then scheduled in for an interview with Skillfinder and eventually got the role of apprentice resourcer! Everyone was supportive – It was clear they were there to help me, not make a profit. What was the experience like?Everyone at Skillfinder was very welcoming and gave me tremendous support. I really enjoyed the experience and would recommend it to anyone. I learned so much in such a short space of time, and quickly matured to a city working professional. Furthermore, I was earning very good money for such a young age; this motivated me to keep pushing on and pursuing my goals. Where are you now in your career?I completed a 2 year apprenticeship at Skillfinder when I was 17, and joined another recruitment company when I was 19 to be a Recruitment Consultant. I worked at that company for 3 years, and then left to return to Skillfinder as a Senior Recruitment Consultant. I now specialise in IT recruitment within Switzerland and have an array of clients that I work with. I have opened many doors for myself and my apprenticeship gave me the platform to do this. I gave myself a very comfortable life at such a young age and have had lots of fun with the well earned money that I have made