We lift the lid on the some amazing (and lesser-known) tech jobs for women...
When you think of gender diversity in the UK work-force, science, maths, engineering and tech sectors (STEM) doesn't exactly have the best rep because they're pretty much dominated by men. In fact, government-lobbying group Women in Science and Engineering (Wise) revealed that women make up just 12.8% of the British STEM workforce - an increase of only 0.2% in THREE years.
But don’t let that put you off. We’ve dug a little deeper to find out what benefits (aside from a brilliant salary) you could get in some careers that have traditionally been deemed as ‘not for girls’.
Fancy being… a Fuel Scientist?
What would you be doing?
As a fuel scientist working for an energy company you would be based mainly in a laboratory developing technical research with other scientists and engineers testing the efficiency of fuels and the productivity of engines.
What qualifications are needed?
Studying chemistry and physics at A-level and University are nearly always a prerequsite. A masters is sure to get you ahead too and is sometimes required.
What’s the starting salary?
Typically a fuel scientist earns around £50k after a few years and graduate salaries are around £35k.
Best part of the job?
We got Emma Wyatt, a fuel scientist at Shell to tell us why she loves her job, she said: ‘I really love my career and combining technical innovation and development with a true focus on the end customer is the best part. We cannot spend time and money developing a new product if there is no benefit in it for the customer. We have millions of customers but for most, fuel is a stressful purchase and you can’t even see what you have just spent your money on. If we are able to deliver a new product and really communicate the benefit to customers then we will have been successful.’
Fancy being… a Cyber Security Advisor?
What would you be doing?
Working behind the scenes of various companies to secure and protect their information and data.
What qualifications are needed?
Pathways into this career can be varied and do not always require technical degrees. However, many women study computer science, coding or technology at University, a head for data and analysis definitely helps.
What’s the starting salary?
An information security analyst can expect to earn around £55k a year, with this salary rising by another 15k when you become a manager. According to online recruitment company Monster.co.uk, studying information security is the most lucrative of all STEM subjects.
How do you get there?
Emili Evripidou works as an Information Security Manager at Deloitte and said: ‘I’ve always liked technology and innovation so I took the decision to study information technology and advanced computing. While I was at university I was keen to explore new technologies but after graduating with an MSc in Information Security and a specialisation in cryptography, I had the impression I couldn’t enter this profession. I joined a global technology integrator as a software developer and met the firm’s information security specialists who introduced me to this area. I’ve worked for various companies and flexibility is an important aspect of global consultancy because there are limitless options for the type of work available, the client organisations one can work with and the locations where you work.’
Fancy…working in a tech start-up?
What would you be doing?
Although entirely dependent on the start-up and whether or not it is your own business, working with other entrepreneurs is an attractive prospect for more and more people in the UK, not least of all because of the fast-paced learn-as-you-go culture and perks such as free coffee.
What’s the starting salary?
Although there’s a common perception that working in a start-up environment often comes at the expense of taking a pay cut, figures released by recruitment event Silicon Milkroundabout and job search engine Adzuna.co.uk have revealed that the average advertised salary has jumped 6% in the past year, rising from £39,244 to £41,718. Not bad at all…
How can I get a job in a start-up?
Juliet Wesley, Product Manager at Touriocity told us: 'Working in a startup is incredibly exciting and adrenaline filled. You have to be prepared to muck in and do anything as roles within the team can be very fluid. We offer personalised tours in cities all over the world. I work with our developers to make sure that we are constantly improving the website so that it's easy and fun to use. There are so many start-ups out there looking for enthusiastic young women - you just have to be proactive and get in touch with them. Make sure you pick a field that interests you enough that you can think about it day-in, day-out.'
Which jobs have got you inspired? Tweet us @marieclaireuk