Is Technology a Good Career for Women?

On my first job after I graduated from college I got what I still consider the best career advice. “Find something you are good at, like to do and someone is willing to pay you to do if you want to have a successful career.” Think about that a minute. If you like what you’re doing and you’re good at it, you should be happy. Money is the icing on the cake. Should you go into a technology field? It depends on what you like to do and whether you have the right personality traits to be successful. Let’s look at some of the necessary personality traits.

Curiosity

Are you are interested in how things work? Do you always want to play with a new gadget if one of your friends gets one? Did you take your toys, your VCR, or other stuff apart when you were a kid and then try to put them back together again? Do you secretly watch the science channel because you like knowing “how they do that? If you answered yes to most or all of these questions then you are sufficiently curious for a career in technology. Curiosity is fundamental to the advances made in technology. Most new things are the result of someone asking, “what if…”

Good Analytical Skills

When you look at something and you see a problem or a need, does you mind automatically start trying to figure out a way to fix it or make it better? Have you ever had an idea that you thought would make a great product, but had no idea what to do with it? Do you enjoy solving puzzles? Did you like math or science in school? Do you like to work with your hands? Again, if you answer yes to two or more of these questions you have the analytical skills needed for a career in technology. Jobs in technology are all about making things work.

Patience

Do you get frustrated easily? Do you quit if nothing works after one or two attempts to fix something? Do you find it challenging when something just won’t work? If you answered no to all of these questions then you have enough patience for a career in technology. Most people have heard of or used Formula 409 for cleaning. Do you know how this product got its name? Formula 409 was the 409th formula they tested. The other 408 didn’t work. I think you could say they had patience.

Abstract Thinking

Can you see the possibilities in an empty room or a vacant piece of land? Did you do well on the box making parts of the aptitude tests you took in high school? You know, the questions where they give you a flat picture of an object and you have to choose the correct three dimensional pictures. Are you good at math? If you answered yes to most or all of these questions you have the ability to think abstractly. You need this ability to come up with new ideas and new ways of doing things.

Communication

Can you communicate well with other people? Can you describe in every day words some of those abstract thoughts? Communication is essential in all fields and technology is no exception. You must be able to explain technical things to non-technical people like you manager or his boss. Actually this is an area in which women usually excel.

Conclusion

Gender really isn’t important in selecting a career in technology. The traits discussed above are the real determining factors. If you have those traits, you can be successful. If you enjoy techie gadgets, you can build a career where you get paid to play with techie toys. If that sounds interesting…Go for it!