How Woman Have Changed the Technology Industry

How Woman Have Changed the Technology Industry How Woman Have Changed the Technology Industry This post is the first in our new Women in Innovation series. Why focus on women, specifically? Because they will have a significant impact on the success of the technology industry in the years to come.The U.S. tech sector is facing a shortage of skilled technology talent In a recent survey by Robert Half Technology, 67 percent of chief information officers (CIOs) said it is somewhat or very challenging to find qualified IT professionals. And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2022 employers will be looking to fill more than 1.3 million computer and mathematical job openings.However, by helping to address the so-called gender gap in its workforce - that is, increasing the number of women working in technical roles that require specialized skills - the technology industry has an opportunity to alleviate, if not resolve, its talent crisis.Ample room for growthSome of you m ay wonder, Is the gender gap in the technology field really that significant? While many women throughout history have made tremendous contributions to and pursued successful careers in tech and related fields, women have long been a small population in that workforce. Consider these recent statistics from the BLS23 percent of computer programmers are women7 percent of software developers, applications and systems software professionals are women5 percent of network architects are womenIn time, the number of women in technology positions of all types will hopefully increase significantly as more women pursue degrees and careers in tech.Accelerating changeAccording to recent research by the Center for Talent Innovation, only 38 percent of women in the United States who work in platzdeckchen (science, engineering and technology) organizations get leaderships endorsement for their ideas, compared to 44 percent of men.Fortunately, there are many people and organizations trying to connec t women with the right resources to help them succeed. Just some examplesSheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook, recently announced that Facebook plans to launch a mentoring program specifically for women in technology. Facebook and other companies are partnering with Telle Whitney, president and CEO of the Anita Borg Institute, a social enterprise on a quest to accelerate the pace of global innovation by working to ensure that the creators of technology mirror the people and societies who use it.Million Women Mentors looks to grow the interest and confidence of girls and young women to persist and succeed in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs and careers. By engaging one million mentors, male and female, Million Women Mentors is working to increase the percentage of high school girls planning to pursue STEM careers U.S. young women pursuing undergraduate degrees in STEM fields and U.S. women staying in STEM careers.National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT), a gemeinntzig community of more than 575 universities, companies, nonprofits, and government organizations nationwide, is committed to increasing womens participation in computing and technology. As NCWIT notes on its website The lack of girls and women in computing and technology represents a failure to capitalize on the benefits of diverse perspectives in a world dependent on innovation, it can bring the best and broadest problem-solvers to the table and at a time when technology drives economic growth, it can yield a larger and more competitive workforce.In the months ahead, well track the progress of initiatives like these through our Women in Innovation series. We will also explore how women, including famous women inventors, have been catalysts in the tech industry, and how leading women in technology are transforming the sector now. And well take a look at best practices that organizations are applying to recruit, develop and retain women techn ology professionals, and encourage and invest in their ideas.Finally, each post in this series will end with an assignment. This is our way of motivating readers to think about how they, as individuals, can help to grow womens influence in the tech sector. The first assignment Join a professional network or membership association that actively promotes the advancement of women in the technology profession.Check out our other posts on women in technology here and here.

8 Sneaky Sales Techniques to Try in Your Next Job Interview

8 Sneaky Sales Techniques to Try in Your Next Job Interview8 Sneaky Sales Techniques to Try in Your Next Job Interview When you think about it, closing a abverkauf deal and scoring a job offer really arent that different from one another. In both cases, you have to identify the right contacts, thoughtfully reach out to them and convince them that you, above all others, are the right person to help them solve their problems. The only difference is, while salespeople pitch prospects on a product or service, job binnenseekers are pitching prospective companies on themselves as a candidate.Given the parallels between the two, job seekers can learn a lot from salespeople. In fact, there are a number tips, tricks and best practices that have emerged in the sales world over the years that those in the market for a new job should keep in mind as they start submitting applications.We reached out to a handful of sales and career experts for their favorite examples of sales te chniques that can also be applied to the job search - try them out today to set yourself apart from the competitionWhether youre trying to sell a product or apply for a job, you need to take the time to do some research on the opportunity at hand first.No salesperson would ever call into a prospect without thoroughly researching the company and tailoring their approach. Your job search should be no different, says Jeff Monaghan, Marketing Lead at staffing firm Akraya, Inc . Your resume, titelbild letter and any emails you send should have content specific to the company and position you are applying for.Novice job seekers and salespeople often think this will take longer, but a generic mass blast will yield far less results than an informed, targeted approach.In my 20 years in the staffing business, I can tell you that you will get better results taking the time to customize 10 resumes and cover letters than submitting 30 that are generic. You might spend more time on the 10, but it will result in a shorter amount of overall time to land that perfect job, Monaghan adds.Salespeople often talk about prospects in terms of gatekeepers versus decision-makers. Decision-makers are those who will have the ultimate say in whether or not they will purchase a product or service, while a gatekeeper is somebody who serves as an obstacle in the path to the decision-maker (think an Executive Assistant compared to a CEO). In order to streamline the process, salespeople often try to reach out to the decision-makers from the get-go.For job seekers, recruiters are gatekeepers, Monaghan says. Sure, they source and screen candidates, but they rarely have the final say in the hiring process. For that, you need to reach out to the hiring manager (or above).Figure out who runs the department of the job you are applying for and email them directly. Cant figure out who that person is? Go even higher. Are you applying for a marketing position? Check the website to see who the VP of Marketing is and email them directly, Monaghan advises. Chrome extensions like Hunter will help you find email addresses. Just make sure your email is short and to the point and really showcases why youd be a great fit. The VP will likely refer you to the manager. You have now been referred to the decision maker and are on your way.One strategy savvy salespeople use is the SPIN technique (Situation, Problem, Implication, Needs-payoff). This is a way of engaging a prospect by identifying what their pain points are, and discussing how you can address them.SPIN selling is a proven sales methodology and is based off a comprehensive study of over 35,000 sales calls, says life and career coach Nick Hatter . Hatter recommends that job seekers wishing to leverage this technique ask the company what the situation is with the role, what are their key problems as a company and how those problems affect the company (eg. time, money, stress, etc.). Then ask them how the company could benefit if those problems could be solved. Finally, ask them that if you could help solve those problems, what would stop them from hiring you.One thing the best salespeople and the most effective job seekers have in common they both prioritize building relationships with others. As the old saying goes, its not about what you know - its about who you know. One easy hack for developing an instant rapport with your interviewer is to mirror them.Mirroring is a technique in which one person actively adopts the behaviors and mannerisms of another person, attempting to become their mirror image. It is based on the premise that individuals subconsciously trust and like people that exhibit similar qualities, says Mollie Moric, career advisor and hiring manager at ResumeGenius .This isnt to say you need to change your entire personality, but even something as small as mimicking an interviewers hand gesture or repeating a phrase you hear them say can earn you points.If done successfully, candid ates form a bond with the interviewer that will make them more likely to be selected from a long list of interviewees. This is an especially helpful technique when candidates are looking for a way to stand out in a crowd of equally qualified and personable competitors, Moric adds.Another classic way of endearing yourself to a sales prospect is complimenting them. After all, people do business with who they like, and its pretty hard not to like someone who makes you feel good about yourself. However, you need to make sure it comes from a genuine place.Flattery really can sell - as long as it is sincere. Perhaps the company did an impressive project a few years ago, or maybe they have a high profile client or they have a prestigious award. Tell them how youre really impressed by the company because of it, and what you loved about it, Hatter recommends. Directors, C-Level and founders love this kind of flattery, as they feel they can take some of the leistungspunkt for it given they o perate at such high levels. It also shows youve done your research on the company, and youre not just applying for yet another job, which makes them feel more special.Many companies with an active sales presence will highlight case studies on their websites to show prospects how theyve been able to help similar clients in the past, which in turn allows prospects to envision how the company might be able to help them. As a job seeker, you wont be expected to produce case studies, but you can share anecdotes that illustrate your prior success.Just as salespeople tell of how their product or service has solved a problem for X number of customers, or how it saved them on average X dollars per year, show how you have advanced company objectives for your previous employers and clients, recommends Christopher K. Lee, career consultant and founder of Purpose Redeemed . Tell stories, and where possible, quantify them to show the scale of your work. At the end of the day, most employers (i ndeed, most people) are risk-averse. You want to make them feel confident that hiring you is undoubtedly the right decision.Sure, companies want to get to know you - but you should also show that you want to get to know them.Top sales pros listen to their prospects more than they do talk at their prospects. Creating this conversational attribute is unlocked by informed curiosity and asking questions, says Zac Kerr, VP of Business Development at Sales Rabbit .This is especially important to keep in mind when your interviewer inevitably asks if you have any questions for them.Use online research to arrive at a few questions that are from your heart and mind, so when asked they are felt , not just heard. Then, when the interviewer responds, be ready to ask another question that unfolds or unpacks more detail about what they just said, Kerr adds. An easy method to quickly formulate questions on the fly as to ask a what, why, when how question, i.e. What caused that to happen? Why di d you feel that way? What did you do about it? How long did that last?It might not be the most creative or fun task, but following up with a prospect can (and often does) mean the difference between radio silence and a successful sale - and the same is true for job seekers. Follow-up emails offer an opportunity for candidates to ensure their application has been received, thank an interviewer for their time, reiterate their enthusiasm for the role and restate what makes them an ideal candidate for the position, Moric explains.There are two scenarios in which it is appropriate for a candidate to use follow-up correspondence to communicate with a hiring manager. The first is if a candidate has not received a response one week after a company has stopped accepting applications for the position. In this instance, the candidate should send a follow-up email confirming their application has been received and restating their interest in the position, Moric continues. Second, a candidate should send a follow-up correspondence within twenty-four hours of receiving an interview. In this instance, many hiring managers use follow-up correspondences after an interview (or lack thereof) as a way of actively assessing a candidates proactive work ethic.While theres no universal way to guarantee that you get a job offer, there certainly are a number of things you can do to improve your odds. Who knows? Using these tried-and-true sales techniques might just help you get that much closer to your dream job.

The 5 best jobs for ambiverts

The 5 best jobs for ambivertsThe 5 best jobs for ambivertsKnowing your personality helps when trying to find a satisfying job. While some people easily identify themselves as introverts or extroverts, others possess tendencies toward both sides. If youre among this group,commonly called ambiverts, recognizing this dual nature can be critical to career happiness.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreSince ambiverts get their energy from both extroverted and introverted activities, the key is tofind balance between the twothat feels natural for them, says professional career advisor Melissa McClung, owner ofLBD Careers, LLC(and herself an ambivert). I personally find my balance by combining training and consultation (extroverted) with strategic planning and social media management (introversion).Fortunately, there are many jobs and careers for ambiverts that make use of their interestin g place on theintrovert-extrovert continuum. Heres a look at five jobs for ambiverts that tap into their diverse needs and strengths.Best Jobs for AmbivertsParalegalWhy might a career as a paralegal prove intriguing to ambiverts? Activities such as interviewing witnesses, collaborating with lawyers, and serving as a principal point of contact for clients require comfort around people. However, conducting legal research, drawing up and proofreading documents, and assembling material for meetings indulges an ambiverts solitary, focused side.Public Relations ManagerFor ambiverts who enjoy mixing up which face to put on, PR offers quite a bit of diversity. Traveling to unfamiliar places, attending networking events, and boldly promoting clients appeals to extroverts. Thoughtful strategizing, crafting promotional material, and writing reports are more up an introverts alley.SalespersonThink extroverts make the best salespeople? Studies showambiverts actually lead the packin performance. While their extroverted side enables comfort around new people and sufficient assertiveness to seal the deal, their introverted nature makes them good listeners who pick up on customer desires and potential barriers to finalizing the sale.Likewise, ambiverts understand both extroverted and introverted customers. This empathy allows an ambivert salesperson to adjust behavior accordingly to come off as neither pushy nor boring, making it a great job for ambiverts.TeacherStanding up in front of a classroom and engaging with students certainly corresponds with an ambiverts social side. However, teaching involves plenty of solitary, thoughtful tasks as well, such as planning out lessons and grading papers. Virtual instructor positions appeal to some ambiverts. Such jobs still involve interacting with learners but in a less socially overwhelming environment.Virtual AssistantBecoming a virtual assistant can fit the bill for administrative professionals who enjoy interacting with others but not in the bustle of an office. The remote setting provides introvert-friendly quietness and solitude perfect for focusing, while tasks requiring interaction with executives, vendors, and customers allow ambiverts their people-fix.Whether you identify as an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert, FlexJobs has you covered. Withflexible and remote job listings in more than 50 categories, somethings bound to strike the perfect chord with your individual personalityThis article first appeared on FlexJobs.com.