Got yourself a space at the next IT's not just for the boys! event? Read Chelsea's top five tips!

Name: Chelsea Sievewright
University: University of Abertay Dundee
Degree: Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures


My top five tips for attending IT's not just for the boys!

If you've secured a place at IT's not just for the boys then you'll find these tips useful in your preparation for the day.  I've attended 3 times and managed to make some great contacts and I also bagged an internship with PGDS!

1. Do your homework
You're getting a rare opportunity to meet big companies at an all day event so read up on them, all of them. You may find a company you've never heard of before is offering your perfect job.

2. Be bold
It business dress, this doesn't restrict you to wearing black and grey. Look smart but stand out whether that’s a with a red blouse, or a blue pencil skirt.  There are a lot of black outfits at the conference and you want to stand out to employers.

3. Ask questions
Come up with questions for the companies you are interested in, and ask them.  This will make you look keen and show your engaging with the company, employers love that.

4. Network Network Network!
This is the most crucial part of the day.  This is where you make an impression, get email addresses and LinkedIn info. Make sure you approach all the employers you want to in this session as this is the part that will land you a job.

5. Keep in touch
Great, conference is done, you think it went well. Now is the time to email those employers and remind them of you. Say how great it was to meet them, thank them for the information they gave you and tell them you'll be putting you application in. This way they can look out for your name. If they have offered to look at your CV then grab the offer and send it. If they've said you can add them on LinkedIn then get adding!

Good luck at the event, you'll have a blast and it can be great for your career if you make the most of it.

Since attending the event with us, Chelsea has gone on to achieve so much more!
Winner of the TARGETjobs Computer Science Undergraduate of the Year Award 2015
Worked as an Information Risk and Security Consultant with PGDS as a result of attending our IT's not just for the boys! event.
Named "Women of the Future" by Equate Scotland in their "Leading Women of Scotland" Publication.
Chelsea is now the Head of Information Security at Education Scotland and a prominent STEM ambassador.

More information on the next IT's not just for the boys! can be found here.

Attending an event with us? Check out these top five tips on how to prepare and make the most of the day!

We spoke to Davina on her top five tips on how to prepare and make the most out of the day!

Name: Davina Bodley Scott
University: University of Exeter
Degree: IT Management for Business with industrial placement

My five tips for attending a TARGETjobs IT’s not just for boys event...

1. Research companies attending the seminar. Do your homework before you get there. Research is key. This will give you an idea of the companies that most appeal to you, allowing you to prioritise. It's also a great way to show to the recruiters that you have an insight into their company and are genuinely interested.

2. First impressions. Dress comfortably but smart and arrive promptly. Don’t be afraid to approach a representative with a handshake and smile. Good eye contact is essential showing you’re engaged in the seminar and networking event. This helps representatives remember you for the right reasons. Don’t be shy this is your chance to make contact face to face with leading recruiters.

3. Cover ground. Make an effort to speak to as many companies as possible. Circulate and don’t hang back. Don't be afraid to ask questions, "no question is a silly question". This allows you to build a picture of the company and where your place may be within it, allowing you to compare and contrast all the opportunities. Though remember, when you have spoken to a recruiter know when it’s time to move on, let others have a chance. Don’t outstay your welcome.

4. Network, network, network. Be prepared to network. It's difficult for everyone especially if it feels unnaturally pushy and out of your normal comfort zone but that is essentially why you are there.  This networking opportunity allows you to create links within top companies, which will be invaluable in your journey to find your internship and employment within a leading company. Remember to make a mental note of who you are speaking to and which firm they represent. These are invaluable contacts.

5. Take notes. Take a notepad and pen and jot down people’s names and contact details and any notes of value and particular interest. When you have left the seminar make quick notes of who you met and what you learnt as an aide memoire. This information will help your employability and give you valuable insight into how the application process works.

Now you know how to ace the day, make sure you're there! Click to find out more!

Adeela talks about her day at IT's not just for the boys!

Name: Adeela Saalim
University: King's College London
Degree: Computing & Internet Systems

I applied for “ITs not just for the boys!” after receiving an email from my university careers office and I was very lucky to be selected and invited to the event after going through the application process.


On the day, Katy from TARGETjobs Events welcomed us and talked us through about format of the day. Then guest speaker Kate Taylor took the stage and spoke about building “Rapport”. It was an excellent learning to takeaway and apply in your personal and professional life. After a networking lunch, where we put all of Kate's top tips into practice, Nathalie, keynote speaker talked about overcoming the hurdles being a woman and how to achieve what you yearn for.

Next, it was time for Team Challenge, this session was an excellent understanding on how to brain storm ideas and be part of a team to deliver a task. Skills session was very helpful as it provided an insight into what skills must be acquired by the graduates to be successful in technology industry.
The last part of event was panel Q&A where questions were answered beautifully by women expert in their fields. Event was wrapped up with an opportunity to talk to employers and other attendees over drinks.



It was an exciting day for me, packed with learning and knowing about opportunities available  for women. I must say that Target Jobs is doing an exceptional job to give this chance to women to explore what they can do with their degrees. I would recommend it to girls who are currently studying or have finished their degrees to attend at least one of the these events. It is a fantastic opportunity to find out what employers are looking for and how you make yourself more employable by standing out among thousands.

Sound like something you want to be a part of? Click to find out how to join us at our next event!

Jennifer proves that being pro-active is the key to success!

Name: Jennifer Brett
University: University of Birmingham
Course: Economics
Event attended: IT's not just for the boys! November and Nottingham 2014

I attended TARGETjobs IT’s not just for the boys! event in November 2014. My reason for attending was simply to gain an insight into the industry and the kind of opportunities that it could offer. Personally, the best part of the day was the opportunity it gave me to network with recruiters in an informal, relaxed environment.

At the event, I was very impressed with GE, the representatives were very enthusiastic about their work and informed me of the excellent structure of their rotational programs. The event allowed me to have a great general chit-chat with them about their work and the kinds of attributes they look for in candidates. Upon leaving the event, I felt as though the culture at GE would be one, where I could really fit in.

The event was very insightful and had been much more useful than other careers events I have attended in the past, afterward, I felt enthusiastic about my future and applying for jobs in the technology sector. A few days later, I received an email from GE encouraging me to apply. I applied straight away and soon received an invite for the online testing. The testing was challenging, but it was best to be confident about your answers and go with your gut feeling. A few weeks later, I also received emails from IBM and CHP Consulting following up from the event, but GE had been quick to respond and I progressed through to the final stage within a month or so. In January, I was offered an opportunity to begin a year placement with GE as an ITLP Intern.

I believe that being successful was partly due to being pro-active. I followed up with the people I had met at the event on LinkedIn and I did extensive research on the company to ensure that the role was right for me, throughout my interview, my passion about working for the company showed.

My best advice is to be confident and self-aware, I do not come from a technical background, I studied Economics at University but didn’t let this hold me back. Be confident about the skills you have built upon throughout your study and through extra curricular activity, and demonstrate how you can relate these skills and experiences to the particular job you are applying for!

Are you looking for opportunities for next year? Join us on 20 March at the final IT's not just for the boys! of the year!

What I gained from attending IT's not just for the boys! and why you should apply

Aminah tells us about her day at IT's not just for the boys! 

Name: Aminah Sayed

University: Queen Mary, University of London

If you want to be inspired, have exclusive information about what recruiters expect from applications, or want to simply find out what’s right for you, then the TARGETjobs IT's not just for the boys! event is a must to attend.  

From job recruiters to senior representatives, you will have the chance to hone your network skills to gain a valuable insight into how their company operates. This is truly a unique experience, so if you have any questions and want them answered first hand by those that work in the industry, come along!

I have attended job fairs in the past, but my experience at IT’s not just for the boys! is one that definitely stands out. As soon as the event started, I realised that it was no ordinary job fair. Why? Because not every event is packed with a variety of activities, essentially covering every aspect you may want to learn about. There was everything from motivating speeches, to Q&A panels, to networking with recent graduates who were once in the same position as you, and everything was organised perfectly to allow students to have a taste of everything. I gained skills that I would not have otherwise learnt; companies gave out useful information sheets and held intimate group talks detailing exactly what they are looking for in candidates. I was also given tips from recent graduates working for the companies I was interested in applying to, and was able to discuss my current application, effectively allowing me to improve my chances of getting noticed.

Motivated and inspired, I left the event fully recharged. On the train home I was eager to get onto my phone to look through the new opportunities the event had opened up to me, and have since been in contact with a few of the companies. I came away with more information and confidence than I went in with, and I look forward to the future possibilities that may lead on from this event. 

All in all you have nothing to lose so do make sure you apply!

Click to find out more about how you could attend the next event.

We catch up with Anouska Fox one year on...

Here's me, listening intently,
 at IT's not just for the boys! back in 2013

Name: Anouska Fox
Job Title: Graduate Consultant
Company: SunGard
Event attended: IT's not just for the boys! - October 2013
University: University of Manchester

I attended IT’s Not just for the Boys 2013 event; a few months later the graduate recruiter for SunGard contacted me to encourage me to apply and I applied for a consultancy role in Energy Trading & Risk Management. You can read about that part of my story here!

A year on and I’ve now been in the role 5 months – during which I had a two month comprehensive training programme on the software, financial markets and European Gas & Power markets which allowed me to develop a great breadth of knowledge. After training I began work on the ETRM implementation for a major Scandinavian energy company where I focussed on designing and building interfaces between our ETRM system and third party software.

I’ve loved working at SunGard so far, I’ve been given responsibility since the day I completed the training, personally owning designs and responsibility for build and testing. I’ve found it to be a really welcoming and open company; no one is ever too busy to share knowledge and it’s a really social environment.

I’d completed a few work experience placements during school and university – and while I’d really encourage these as an opportunity to gain insight into an industry you may want to work in – I still had no idea what to expect from my daily role. In consultancy your tasks are often highly dependent on the phase of the project; during discovery I’ll be conducting business analysis to determine the clients requirements, design is where the solution is determined and then build and test you are bringing this idea into fruition!

My role is within the technical team but I only spend about 20% of my time doing traditionally technical work such as coding – although I have gotten the chance to learn Groovy and SQL.  One of the things I enjoy the most is the collaboration with other project team members and the client; you have to really understand the businesses operations and requirements from the system. Drilling into client’s requirements and determining the best configuration is my favourite aspect of the job. It is important to stay aware of what the other team members are doing or you will not understand the project at a high level.

Outside of your day-to-day role I’ve also found there’s loads of other great stuff to get involved with, I’ve helped organise socials to outdoor ice-skating, drinks and the ping pong bar Bounce! We’re also organising the first International Women’s Day for SunGard London, where we’re going to have a Senior Women in Technology panellist session – coming full circle back to IT’s not just for the Boys!

Attend the next IT's not just for the boys! on March 20, and we could be posting your success blog this time next year! 

My IT's not just for the boys! Experience - the application process

Name: Emma Wilkinson
University: Loughborough University
Degree: Computing and Management BSc

I found out about IT’s not just for the boys! through my University at Loughborough. I have always been fascinated by technology and how it impacts on business, however I did not want a role in development. This was the perfect opportunity to find out what some of the largest companies offer other than development roles.

The first step of the application processes was to fill in an application form, it was more straight forward than placement and graduate forms, so don’t worry! Details required consist of; contact details, which university you are at, grades in English and Maths at GCSE, UCAS points and the class of degree you are predicted to obtain. You are also asked to attach your CV to support your application along with a paragraph of around 200 words describing why you would like to attend the event. If you have a passion for technology then this is easy, remember to include key points like work experience you have had in technology and why you want to learn more. Make sure you show that you can offer something different from the other girls applying.

Within a couple of days of sending off your application you will receive an email, if you have been successful, inviting you to book at telephone interview online. The word interview can sound a little scary, however it was more like a friendly chat. Make sure you have prepared for the interview, look up which companies are going to be attending the event. You may be asked to say which company you are most interested in seeing and why. Try to be innovative with your answer, find something out about the company other than their graduate scheme. For example, I was looking forward to meeting Barclays and I know they have introduced ‘Digital Eagles’ into their branches in the last year, this fascinated me as it was related to my final year project at university.

Within a week of the telephone interview you will receive an email, if you have been successful, inviting you to the event. Simple!

Good Luck!
Emma Wilkinson

Now you know what to expect, what are you waiting for? Click here to find out about how you could attend!

IT's not just for the boys! A moral initiative to create gender equality in IT

Name:  Kavitha Chandrasekaran

University: King's College London

Degree: MSc Computing, IT Law and Management

It all started on one fine day. I was looking at TARGETjobs website and something caught my eye. It read "IT's not just for boys!” 

Immediately after reading what it is all about, I was dumbstruck. I have been in the IT field for more than six years before doing my Master’s degree but so far I had no idea about an event focusing on women in IT existed. I had worked in several teams surrounded by men and almost every time I was the only woman in the group. There were so many instances when I felt it would have been really nice to have more female co-workers in the IT field for both professional and personal relationships.

Having said this I was still in a dilemma over whether to apply or not. So many questions were running through my mind like , ‘is this going to be another job fair with employers in the stalls?’ ‘Will I be able to have a one-one conversation with the employer?’ etc.

In spite of all these dilemmas I applied, as I was interested to network with other young women in technology as well as meet the employers. It was a simple online application form including a short paragraph reasoning the inspiration behind to attend this event. Shortly after that, I was booked for a telephone interview. I was still thinking how the interview will go - will it be a traditional one based on competency questions?

On the scheduled day, I received a call from Katy, who was friendly immediately from "Hello" till we ended the conversation. All the scary thoughts about answering the questions were long gone after speaking to her. She genuinely wanted to understand my motive to attend the event and explained to me about what will I gain.

After the telephone interview, true to her word, Katy sent me an email the same day stating I was successful and I received the information about the venue and other information required to get me there.

On THE day, I was a bit nervous about meeting employers and new people but the excitement got over the anxiety. I reached Bloomberg HQ well before time.  I saw few other women walking towards the building and waiting. After the initial ice-breaking introduction, we went inside a Victorian building and in complete shock to see a fully functional hi-tech infrastructure with coffee machines which was a pure gadget by itself, large fish tanks, and unlimited refreshments. The hospitality of the event's organisers can never be matched. I doubt I will meet such a charming and cheerful group of organisers ever again; they were welcoming every single person, especially much needed for few ladies who travelled all the way to London from further afield like Scotland and Ireland for the event.

Once we were registered we were given ID cards and had headshots taken for use in a CV book after the event. Soon after, we were listening to inspirational and motivational speakers like Nathalie Nahai and Kate Taylor. Later, we were separated into several groups with one employer heading that group and asking us to create an app. The employers had great attention to our brainstorming session and gave us loads of tips to get the teamwork up and running. Once we "developed" the concept of the app, we were asked to present it in front of the rest of the employers and we were much appreciated for our ideas.

Post Team Challenge, each group had their 'one-one' time with all the employers. One of the employers was saying about the application process, another employer was discussing on preparing a great CV and the common mistakes and so on. We had 3 sessions of around 20 minutes on different skills topics. After that, we had a question time with a panel of senior women from each of the companies. They were really genuine and enthusiastic to answer all the questions we had. I learned that it’s possible to become a senior manager or director of a top company, if you have the drive to succeed.

As the day was drawing to a close, we had a chance to meet the recent graduates of many companies and they gave us an insight of how is it inside the organisations and they gave us some many important tips on the interview processes.

I can't end this blog without mentioning the fantastic lunch we had and the goodies we had to take home, something from each event partner! :) Kudos to the TARGETjobs Event team for all thier efforts and supports! I recommend each and every young woman in the field of IT (whether you are studying it or not) to attend this event to have a real insight and how you can succeed in life, without compromising your personal life.

A BIG THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!!!

Fancy attending the next IT's not just for the boys! click to find out more!

Top five tips for attending IT's not just for the boys!

Katie Higgs attended IT's not just for the boys! and here are her top tips for anyone planning to attend!

I attended the IT’s not just for the boys event where it was held at the beautiful premises of Bloomberg’s HQ in Finsbury Square.
I would thoroughly recommend this event to any other female who has an interest and a passion in technology.
I gained lots of invaluable advice from all the companies, recruiters and past graduates, so here are my top five tips to make the most of this exciting experience.

1) Networking - make the absolute most of the people that you will meet at this event.
Whether it is the recruiters, the guest speakers, the past graduates or the other students, you need to make sure you take the opportunity to ask a lot of questions, to get a feel of all the companies and to not be afraid to be yourself.
This is your chance to make the best impression with all these people, some of whom have been in the same position as you, may offer invaluable advice and be able to answer any questions you may have about graduate schemes.


2) Preparation prior to the event - planning and researching the companies attending the event is essential.
Knowing about what the companies specialise in, what they look for in their employees and what opportunities they have to offer will go a long way before the event.
This ensures that you are prepared when talking to the companies and allows you to ask any specific questions that you may have discovered during your research. It also shows the recruiters that you have a keen interest in their company and tells you what the recruiters will be looking for on the day.

3) Make the most of the activities on the day - any activities or challenges that are set will allow you to shine, so use the challenges to show off your skills.
On my assessment day we did a team challenge working in small groups to come up with a solution which we then presented to a panel of recruiters. Here you need to be aware that the recruiters will be assessing you on your skills and contribution to the challenge.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert what is important is how you use your attributes to your advantage to make sure you portray skills that the companies are looking for.
Make sure you use this session to ask the recruiters any questions that you have about their company or graduate schemes.

4) Mental preparation - make sure you get plenty of sleep so you are relaxed and raring to go on the day.
Ensure that your travel is organised in advance so you don’t have any troubles on the day and therefore avoid making any bad first impressions by turning up late or in a mess.

5) Have fun - don’t forget to enjoy yourself whilst making the most of the day.
You will come home exhausted but absolutely exhilarated at the same time from all the useful information and advice that you will have come away with.


Will you be joining us?

Dani attended TARGETjobs Events IT's not just for the boys! last year and made some great life-long contacts!

Name: Danielle Walsh

University: Northumbria University

Degree Title:Ethical Hacking for Computer Security

Waking up on the day of the “IT’s not just for the boys” event left me feeling anxious and excited all at once! Grabbing a coffee amongst the busy London crowd, I approached Bloomberg HQ in London contemplating what other female geeks were like. Prior to this event, I never had the pleasure of knowing any other females with the same passion in technology as me.

My intentions for the event were not to get a graduate job or placement, as I had already secured a sponsorship with my placement company before I arrived.  My goal was to network with other female geeks! My wish was granted as I approached the buffet table and met Dagmara. Dagmara introduced herself as a mechanical engineer and I introduced myself as a software engineer studying “Ethical Hacking”. We immediately clicked and laughed about debugging problems - and what it’s like to be one of few girls studying male-dominated subjects.

Moving into the bright conference room, the day continued with meeting lots of incredible peers like Raluca who shared her love of web application programming - who now works for Microsoft (congratulations)! For me, the chance to meet Kathryn Parsons, founder of Decoded, was such an honour as she filled me with inspiration to share the love for coding and celebrating her success was unbelievable.

Although I did not wish for a job, the companies who attended showed a lot of interest and did pass out invites for assessment centres/interviews! I gained a lot of knowledge from the companies about how to be successful in interviews and skills companies like employees to have. I can only hope that I have been able to express how truly amazing the event was, from meeting wonderful women geeks, being inspired, eating great food and knowledge gaining from tremendous companies.

Long behold, Dagmara is now one my best friends and came to my city of studying (Newcastle) to do her placement. Since then we go travelling and work on coding projects together in our spare time. Looks like IT’s not just for the boys gave me a friend for life! Thank you for the opportunity!