Georgia gives her top five tips for attending an IT’s not just for the boys! event.

Name: Georgia Barker

University: Lancaster University

Degree: MSci IT for Creative Industries

I attended IT’s not just for the boys’ event and it was by far one of the most worthwhile and valuable experiences I’ve had. Through this event I secured a telephone interview for a summer internship and I now have a clear idea of the company and graduate job I am hoping to acquire.

In order to make the most of the day here are my five top tips:

1. Take a pen! – There is so much valuable information that you will learn on the day and you will want to take note of them. Event partners are more than happy to give out email addresses and sometimes phone numbers so make sure you have a way of noting them down!

2. Do some research – It will make you stand out to the event partners if you know what you are talking about! Do some light research on each event partner that you are interested in and it may be helpful to research the speakers on the day also! Being positively noticed will make you more appealing to the event partners, and may help secure further discussions with the employers.

3. Be friendly – This event isn’t just about meeting possible employers but is also about meeting other talented and creative women. Make friends! Any connection is a good connection that could help drive your future. The forums for the events are great ways to advertise positions and ask each other questions so make the most of it!

4. Be confident – Employees like people who are confident within themselves, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be an amazing public speaker, or that you have to boldly introduce yourself to everyone, but I am more meaning that you should take pride in yourself. Dress smartly, as this gives of a good first impression, and speak calmly and clearly.

5. Have fun – Finally, just enjoy yourself! This is a great networking event and provides some great opportunities but just make sure you have fun! A smile is a girl’s best accessory!

Find out about our next IT's not for the boys! event HERE!

Sara tells us about her role with Cognizant

Name: Sara Al-Badri
University: University of Greenwich
Events attended: IT's not just for the boys! November 2013 and March 2014

So this time last year I was in a real dilemma…I was coming up to finishing my degree with no job to fall back on once graduating. I’m not sure about you, but I really struggled passing any of the psychometric tests to get through to the next stage. I had been applying for graduate schemes on TARGETjobs and found they had networking events – one being ‘IT’s not just for the boys’. I loved the idea of having a full day meeting employers that were there solely for us, fellow students in the STEM group, and most importantly networking!

The day consisted of meeting motivational business woman who sat on a panel, talking about their personal journeys and were truly inspirational – and made me want to be successful so much more. A happy coach (who only wore bright colours and made you dance!) left you really motivated and the greatest part of the experience, was the exposure you get to global employers. A couple of the sessions you get put into groups based on your skill set, and have short activities with employers based on how you problem solve/communicate/pitch. They saw how you worked and how you would fit into their company.

Now I am 7 months into my role at Cognizant, working in IT Infrastructure and now put those skills that the recruiters saw in me (at the event) into practice every day. I work within a large team both onsite and offshore daily, so it’s a very global and diverse culture we work in. From the start, I was given many responsibilities to project manage and be exposed to many roles that included: managing an offshore team to create some material in a restricted deadline for a launch, working with very senior members to create a brand re-launch, organizing events/presentation material/operational work/work with our marketing team to create material for clients and so much more...

Learning is something I do every day and has been a very smooth transition from university life to the real working world. There are challenging moments, but the most important thing and advice I can give you to take away, is that you’re not on your own, go to one of these events as it changed my life and build your network around you. Good luck!

Cognizant (and Sara!) will be joining us at the next IT's not just for the boys! event on March 20. Fancy attending? Apply now!

Zartasha works for ATOS, she gives us a run down of a day in her life...

Name: Zartasha 
Year of graduation: 2013
University: Warwick
Degree:  Sociology
Joined Atos: 2013
Job title: Graduate Service Manager

My background 
During my final year at university, I was looking into opportunities that would enable me to apply my new skills in the IT industry. I was also interested in a role where I could approach projects from multiple perspectives. 

Atos stood out as a place where I could develop, in an environment where I would be constantly challenged, yet provided with a great deal of support. I joined Atos Worldline shortly after completing my degree, and from the very beginning there has been a great deal of exposure to commercial, technical and operational areas.  What I really enjoy about my role is that no two days are the same. 

My tasks vary greatly, from assisting with audits to interacting with customers. What's more, everyone has been very welcoming, helpful and I've gained my ITIL qualification, making the transition from a non-IT background much easier. This has really encouraged me to take on more responsibilities and gain exposure to an even wider range of areas within the company. 

My job summed up
My job is all about ensuring our services are delivered within the agreed framework. I currently work on one key customer, who is a rail service provider. My role isn’t technical, but I’ve gained an understanding of networks and how credit card data flows which has really helped me. I’m in charge of setting up VPN connections for TIS (ticket issuing systems) suppliers. I work closely with various technical teams in Atos and client side. Most of the tasks revolve around the payment processing hub, to make sure it’s compliant by deploying security activities, which I do myself, or make sure they’re done by another member of the team or my line manager if they’re particularly complex! 

A day in my life:
0900-1100:
Checking emails and my 'to do' list, followed by coffee. Meetings can start as early as 9am, so I may well take my coffee into one of those. I’m currently helping out with the mandatory data audit, which has been my favourite part of my job so far. I’ve been shadowing a PCI Quality Manager, who has been hosting an audit, giving an overview of how the system works and what we need to look out for. It’s given me a real insight into what the PCIDs audit involves, and what things you need to make sure run smoothly. 

1100-1300:
I join weekly calls for our account, which is based in India, so it is an insightful experience and a good opportunity to learn about different work cultures. 
By midday, a few of my colleagues and I usually head out for lunch and catch up on the day. More coffee!

1300-1500: 
Tracking the account’s finances and reporting to my manager, then customer calls. If there's an issue with a component in our account’s system, I could be assisting my manager by following up on the status of an incident and liaising with the technical and internal network team. 
More coffee!

1500-1700: 
This is a good time to follow up on any changes raised and catch up on recurring operational tasks. 

1700-1800:
I am part of the steering committee, which maintains the 'Graduates & Interns' space within the Atos social business network, Blue Kiwi. So, I contact other graduates to arrange profile interviews, to post on the space for other Graduates to learn more about different areas of the business.

Zartasha and her team will also being joining us at IT's not just for the boys! at our Nottingham event!

Anushka Joshi is a Business Development Executive for London Stock Exchange Group. She's coming to October IT's not just for the boys!

Two years ago I graduated with a masters in chemistry from the university of Warwick. I am now a Technology Product Manager at London Stock Exchange Group. 

I am frequently asked the following two questions: 
1. Why did I switch from chemistry to financial services/technology?
2. What made me choose LSEG?

Let us begin by tackling the latter. Why LSEG: first and foremost, the brand sells itself. If I was to attempt to make sense of this vast and ever evolving financial landscape we operate in, this was the place to do it. I like to be in the heart of the action, and at LSEG you most definitely are. 

Next, we shall address (1). It was time for a change of scenery after several years working in a chemical laboratory, and the highly topical nature of financial services was very appealing. I am naturally inclined towards logic, reasoning and problem solving, and this paired with my growing interest in the economy fostered the transition away from chemistry. We no longer see the same levels of correlation between fields of academic interest and career path. With this in mind, many recruiters seek aptitude over knowledge, and genuine interest over the conventional discipline (this is not to make light of those formidable candidates whom possess all of the above). 

I joined LSEG, and perhaps unsurprisingly, found that my skills and interests were well suited for a role in technology. I am a scientist. I fundamentally like knowing how things work, and finding the solution. I now work on connectivity (fibres, IP addressing, global hubs and network infrastructure etc) and on a wide range of technology projects on a global and client facing scale. I not only have the stimulus of data analysis, problem solving and learning new technologies, I do client facing work, financials and legal and regulatory analysis. 

It is promising to see increasing numbers of women in technology. Without casting too far back in memory, I recall the iconic picture of women celebrating the Mars mission in India. Obama has recently appointed a new CTO. A woman. Whilst jobs in technology are not necessarily at the forefront of people’s concept of a career in financial services, their relevancy is undeniable. The calamitous IPO of Facebook in 2012. The hacking scandals which fill our media. The flash crash of 2010 which saw $1 trillion of shareholder equity wiped in minutes. Technology is front and centre, and that’s where I want to be..

Chikku Thomas, a Software Engineer for M&S tells us a little about herself and a day in the life of her role

Multi tasking, quick learning, a creative mind, fast paced and who love change; surely, these are characteristics that are second nature to us girls. As a software developer within the international development team at Marks and Spencer, my role demands all of the above and more within a day’s work.

As part of the ‘Agile’ team, my role is focussed at developing and improving our country specific websites to drive revenue from un-tapped markets. The typical workday starts off with the team stand up meeting where we plan our tasks for the day. The rest of the day is a mix of activities; no two days are similar. The day is split between liaising with business analysts to understand requirements and developing and testing the code. We work in two weekly sprints at the end of which we release code to production. This quick paced approach enables us to deliver changes and improvements to our customers faster.

The work environment here is casual and energetic. We celebrate our success, learn from our mistakes and constantly strive to deliver better results. The software team is highly supportive and always encouraging to learn and develop. We are given our 10% time in a week that is dedicated to personal development.

I see it as a privilege to work for Marks and Spencer, a company that takes pride to be a traditional British retailer. It is an amazing opportunity to see the effort that goes behind selling products to customers, from analysing the needs of the customer, conceptualizing and design of product to delivery. The focus always being to make lives of our customers that much more easier and comfortable.

To give you a brief background of myself, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunication engineering and have over two years’ experience of working within the IT industry. I started my career working as an associate developer for an Indian company and joined Marks and Spencer last year through their graduate software engineering scheme. The journey so far has been intriguing and filled with varied experiences. In today’s world where everyone is highly dependent on technology, I see working in this field as an opportunity to contribute to society whilst being able to work in a relaxed fun filled environment. IT is definitely not just for the boys!

 

Looking for a way to get ahead of the crowd when applying for grad schemes and internships next year? Senior Project Manager, Katy Phillips, has offers some key advice to stand out from the competition in a positive way when putting together applications.

As a team, we view thousands of applications each year from students looking to attend our events. Because spaces are limited and demand high, we ask each candidate to submit a CV and a 200 word paragraph on why they want to attend. This is a great opportunity to practice the key skills needed when applying for jobs and placements later in the year and also gives us an insight into the applicant and whether they’re a good fit.  

 Here are my top five tips on how to put together an application that’s memorable for the right reasons!

   

1. Spelling
     This is number 1 for a reason! I simply cannot put enough emphasis on how important spelling, punctuation and grammar are. An application is a first introduction to you and first impressions count! Make sure you proofread in addition to using spell check to look for any auto-correct errors such as ‘from’ being auto-corrected to ‘form’.

2. Attention to detail

Most application forms will ask for key information, and you can be sure this is for a good reason! All our events ask for a CV which is 2 sides of A4 and contains details of your latest grades. When you’re competition is high, attention to detail about seemingly small matters like this can go a long way!

3. Check the criteria

You wouldn’t believe how many boys tried their luck at applying for our female only events last year, or those who spent time on tests and questions for the Undergraduate of the year awards only to be told that they didn’t fit the criteria outlined on the initial website. Reading this through before you apply could save you a lot of time, and also tell you exactly what the recruiters are looking for, allowing you to really tailor your application. This brings us nicely to…

4. Sell yourself

I’m yet to come across an application that doesn’t offer an opportunity to write a little about yourself and why you wish to apply. This is your opportunity to display passion, knowledge and drive to the reviewer. Your text should always be tailored to the opportunity you’re applying to. If it’s a job, write why the company and the role interests you, if it’s an event, look at which companies are attending and explain a little about what it was which sparked your interest. Try to use as much of the word count (if given) as possible and avoid one sentence answers like ‘I want to apply because it looks like a good opportunity’, we know it’s a great opportunity, but why do you think so?

5.Ask the experts

Websites like TARGETjobs are great for gaining ideas and advice on what to include on your CV, and perfecting more complicated employer application forms. There’s a plethora of information available if you take the time to look for it, for example here: http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/applications-and-cvs

Applications for our autumn series of events are open now and I’m sure if you follow the advice above you’ll be well on your way to the next stage, which for us involves a telephone interview - but that’s another blog…

Want to know more about our events? Sanjana came last year and wants to apply again! All applications for TARGETjobs Events are now open!

When I got to know about IT's not just for the boys! event last year, I was really keen on attending it. After a very friendly interview, I was fortunate enough to be invited to attend. The event was held on the 18th October 2013 and it also marked my first visit to the Bloomberg, London office. The day started full of enthusiasm with a talk from a happiness expert and success mentor, Alexandra Watson; her short session bought immense positivity to the event. I still remember her words, which I always try to inculcate in my life; may it be "Confidence - Fake it till you make it!" or "Hide or Shine"! Afterwards we heard from Kathryn Parsons, the keynote speaker, who showed us the brighter side of being an entrepreneur by sharing her life experience as the co-founder of Decoded with all of us. Her session was really motivating and I am sure it must have given a lot of encouragement to women who are willing to start their own business and bring a massive change to the industry.

Other activities all through the day gave me a lot of chances to interact with other girls and get to know about their career aspirations and also make new friends. Moreover, I managed to make many professional contacts, as many recruiters from reputed companies also attended the event, which has proven to be useful for finding work placements. The advice given by various recruiters has definitely helped me to present myself as a confident girl in the industry, as it is also said, IT’s not just for the boys! In short, in one day you will gain many small experiences that will definitely help you with your future endeavours. 

The benefit of attending the event doesn’t end here. It is just the beginning. After the event, TargetJobs forwarded all the attendees’ resumes to all those companies that were present. This proved to be highly beneficial for me, as I was contacted by companies, like EMC, Morgan Stanley, BP, Bloomberg, etc about their roles and offering me their direct contacts for future references. Moreover, I was invited to attend a fast track event at EMC and was fortunate enough to receive a positive response regarding my graduate role.

I enhanced my communication skill during the event as I got an opportunity to interact with so many people under one roof. This one day event gave me a lot of confidence to face interviews and assessment centres for various companies. Eventually, I was successful at gaining an offer from Goldman Sachs and Schlumberger for the summer 2014. I decided to proceed with Schlumberger as per my interest.

Lastly, I look forward to applying for the 2014 event as I believe there is still a lot left to learn. If you are fortunate enough to get a chance to attend the day. Make full use of it.

Sanjana Narang is studying (MEng) Electronic & Communications Engineering at the University of Bristol attended IT's not just for the boys last autumn  

All our events for the 2014/2015 academic year are now OPEN to applications! We look forward to receiving applications from Sanjana and many more of you!