The Role of Women in the Tech Industry Today

The Role of Women in the Tech Industry Today Tech has always been a predominantly male industry, with iconic male entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg gaining the most recognition for their contributions to  the sector. However, women are playing a huge part too and more and more women are entering both regular and high level positions in tech, with the big global firms such as Apple, Google, Facebook, etc. hiring women 238% faster than men. Coupofy have taken a look at some of the  most successful women in the industry and their roles as founders, leaders, and venture capitalists, to produce this infographic on the role that women play in the tech industry today. How many women are working in tech? 20% of all tech start-ups across the world were founded by women. Chicago, Boston and Silicon Valley have the most tech start-ups founded by women. The number of women working for Facebook grew by 84% in 2015, compared to a  16% increase of men and  83% more women joined Microsoft in 2015, compared to 17% of men. The worlds most powerful women in tech In 2014, 17.4% of CIOs in Fortune 500 companies were women and 6 of Fortune 15 companies have female CIOs. Woman represent 7% of the worlds richest tech billionaires. Rebecca Shanahan is CEO of the fastest growing company led by a woman, growing by  $469.4 million in 3 years. Zhou Qunfei, founder of LENS, is the richest female tech billionaire and is worth a huge $7.5 billion. Women in venture capital Only 4.2% of venture capital investors in the US are women. 5 of 100 investors in the Forbes Midas list of the top venture capitalists are women. Why do women leave tech? 30% blame working conditions, such as long hours, a low salary and no opportunity for career progression. 27% put it down to work-life-balance, stating they do not have enough time with their family and there is too much travel involved. Some of the other top reasons were a loss of interest in their job and problems with the company environment. 24% of women who leave a tech role go on to a non-technical role in a different company and 22% become self-employed in a tech field. How to retain women in tech Offer mentoring programs and networking opportunities, can help staff to seek encouragement and assistance from others in the industry. Flexible working hours will ensure staff feel like they meet a good work-life-balance and have time for commitments outside of their jobs. Providing opportunities for personal development is a large factor that people look for in a job and scope for promotion will improve retention rates. [Top Image Credit: Shutterstock]

10 Reasons to Ditch Outlook and Excel for Recruitment

10 Reasons to Ditch Outlook and Excel for Recruitment If your recruitment process relies on Outlook and Excel then you could be losing good candidates, and worse still, having a negative impact on your bottom line.  As anyone recruiting with Outlook and Excel will know, providing a seamless and standardised recruitment process is difficult. And because of this, losing good candidates and potentially their business as a consumer â€" is a very real and present danger. But it doesn’t have to be this way technology is freely available to help you streamline your recruitment process. It won’t cost you anything but will bring huge benefits. If you are still finding it hard to give up on Outlook and Excel, then we have created a list of 10 reasons to let go of the old ways of recruiting in order for you to embrace the new: 1) You are losing candidates in the process: Keeping track of candidates and where they are in the recruitment process is a tricky business. This is made worse when you lose sight of which hiring manager they have spoken to and when. The upshot is that candidates can quite literally get forgotten and end up dropping out of the process. 2) You are wasting time repeating the same tasks: Recruiting using email and a spreadsheet means that you have to spend a lot of time copying and pasting. From job descriptions, to email confirmations, the recruitment process involves many repetitive tasks.  By automating these tasks you could be spending more time on the tasks that really matter. 3) You provide a low-quality candidate experience: If your recruitment process has gaps in it, then think about what that’s like for the person applying for your job. The candidate experience is critical for recruitment, and business success at the very least candidates expect timely updates on where they are in the recruitment process. Currently, 58% of them say they don’t receive those regular updates. 4) It is difficult to promote your vacancies: As if the internal admin wasn’t difficult enough, you then have to promote your vacancies. This will include manually uploading jobs on to career sites and amending job ads as and when required. Despite the effort, you won’t realise any benefit from your content through search engine optimisation. 5) Staying compliant is a real challenge: The recruitment process â€" like many other business processes â€" comes with its fair share of rules and regulations. That means your recruitment efforts need to comply with local employment laws as well as following data protection regulations. Recruitment technology helps you stay compliant and ensures candidate profiles are only accessible to relevant colleagues. 6) It is almost impossible to report on your recruitment activity: Disparate systems make reporting on recruitment activities nigh on impossible. And without measuring your activities and their impact you have no way of understanding what’s working, what’s not and how you can improve things. The new breed of free recruitment technologies offer reporting as standard, so you can immediately find out how well your recruitment efforts are working. 7) It is hard to create a talent pool: How easy is it for you to identify the right talent when a new job has been created? Are your email folders and/or spreadsheet a help or a hindrance when you need to review previous candidates? Chances are your talent pool is simply an Excel list of names which in itself will tell you very little. 8) Recruitment admin takes up too much time: If you use Outlook and Excel to recruit then you will be spending too much time on recruitment admin. If you automate the tedious admin tasks you then have time to focus on what really matters: sourcing and interviewing high-quality candidates. 9) Your time to hire is longer (and therefore more expensive): Using disparate systems to recruit will make the process longer. As well as having a negative effect on the candidate experience you could end up incurring costs as a result of having to hire temp staff or contractors. Cut the time to hire and you immediately save money. And having all your stakeholders connected to one single solution makes collaboration much easier, thereby reducing the time to hire. 10) You are wasting valuable business time: Remember, the more time your colleagues spend on recruitment admin, the less time they have to spend on their day job. Centralising your recruitment process means line managers do not have to be so involved in the recruitment process â€" and that will be good for business. Outlook and Excel make for an inefficient recruitment process and a poor candidate experience. But no organisation wants to spend more on recruitment than it absolutely has to and no organisation wants to get a reputation for having a poor recruitment process. The answer is to invest in the new breed of recruitment technology that streamlines recruitment admin, keeps you on the right side of the law and that provides all the recruitment tools you need to create a great candidate experience. Author: This blog post is provided by Remy Verhoeven, Co-founder of Qandidate.com.  Feel free to drop me an email at remy@qandidate.com or follow me on Twitter @remyverhoeven.

Confused About Skincare Lets Clear it Up!

Confused About Skincare Lets Clear it Up! Guest Post:  Board Certified NYC dermatologist Dr. Kally Papantoniou, who decodes it all.    Her bio follows this article. As if skincare isnt confusing enough now we see another trend;alphabet creams. BB, CC, and now DD creams first gained popularity in Korea, and have recently caught on in America. What do all those letters stand for, and what do these creams actually do?   How BB Creams Began BB creams are short for beauty balms or blemish balms. They were first developed in Germany by a dermatologist who wanted a single cream that would protect skin and provide coverage after laser treatments. The all-in-one formulation became a sensation in South Korea and then spread throughout Asia. The average woman in Asia goes through seven different steps taking care of her skin, says Dr. Papantoniou. The BB Boom BB creams started hitting U.S. store shelves in the spring of 2011. Today, almost every major beauty company has a BB cream, from drugstore brands that cost under $10 to high-end department-store lines that may be as costly as $100 or more, as well as lines that are only sold at spas or in doctors offices. More are on the way.  The NPD Group, a market research group, found that although only 2% of beauty shoppers have purchased a BB cream, nearly 4 in 5 of those who have, say theyll buy the product again. What BB Creams Do Many BB creams offer effective sun protection, with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher, the American Academy of Dermatologys recommendation for daily use. Whats more, BB creams generally contain zinc oxide or titanium oxide, physical sun blocks that have some built-in water-resistant properties, Papantoniou says. When it comes to skin treatment, you can find BB creams that contain: Anti-aging components, including peptides and antioxidants such as vitamins A, E, and C Moisturizing workhorses like hyaluronic acid and glycerin Ingredients such as licorice and arbutin that help even out skin tone Light-reflecting mica to give skin a luminous finish Silicone-based ingredients, such as dimethicone, that help smooth the skin, acting much like a foundation primer does   The Limitations of BB Creams For all its benefits, if you expect a BB cream to be a miracle in a tube, you might be disappointed. Mineral based BB creams do a better job on skin pone to breakouts. The typical ones can be full of chemicals so be sure to read ingredients. CC Creams What is it? Packed to the gills with vitamins C and E, complexion corrector cream is similar to BB cream, but focuses on color correction. What it does:  Lighter than a BB cream, CC creams primary purpose is to correct color-related skin issues, such as sallowness or redness. Like BB cream, it has SPF as well (number varies by brand). How to use it:  If youre acne-prone, have dull skin, dark spots or constant redness, CC cream is for you. How it differs:  Use CC cream to help with redness, acne, dark spots, sallowness and more. Its also lighter than BB cream! DD Creams   What are they?  Another addition to  the alphabet cream craze are the DD creams, or dynamic do-all super cream. They combine the power and benefits of both BB and CC creams. However, their primary focus is anti-aging. What it does:  The anti-aging specialty of the cream works to diminish wrinkles and fine lines throughout use. Additionally, DD cream will balance skin tone and protect the most sensitive areas of your skin. How to use it:  Improvements in your skin are known to come with continued use, so use often and incorporate it into your daily routine. After a month you should notice changes and others will too. How it differs:  DD creams strongest selling point is their anti-aging benefits. Ideally its for women who want to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and have an over all even, radiant skin tone. What interesting to note is that each category overlaps to the point where the differentiation is almost non-existent. Seems like the logical thing to do would be to use a DD cream and get all the benefits. The upside is they are all great products that can be very beneficial for the skin. The downside is sorting through the many varieties to determine which would work better for you. (This just in: We now have a GG cream.) Where do you start with skincare ? If discoloration is your primary concern then start with CC creams, because that’s their claim to fame so you will more than likely find a product that contains skin-brightening ingredients such as arbutin or daisy flower extract. If fine lines and wrinkles are the issue, then look for an alphabet cream full of ingredients like retinol, firming peptides or adenosine. If your skin is oily, then look for an alphabet cream that controls oil and has a lightweight texture. Also if youre self conscious about moles, try out a mole and skin tag removal cream. There is an alphabet cream out there for you and at this rate; let’s just hope that brands don’t try to exhaust the entire alphabet. Who is Dr. Papantoniou? Dr. Papantoniou is a Cosmetic Dermatologist, Board Certified by the American Board of Dermatology. She specializes in Injectables, Lasers, Surgical and General Dermatology for adults and pediatrics. She commenced her academic career at NYU College of Arts and Science with a double major in Biology and Hellenic studies with Honors. She then stayed in New York for her medical school training at SUNY Downstate, and then matriculated and spent a year as a medicine intern at LIJ.  Dr. Papantoniou then returned to train at the premier Dermatology Residency Program at SUNY Downstate. Cover image credit Simon D

How to Network Effectively While in Transition - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Network Effectively While in Transition - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Becoming unemployed is likely a sudden, unexpected event, and most people do not have the networking skills needed to immediately switch gears and begin efficiently developing job leads. There could be many reasons: feeling uncomfortable with the networking process, not knowing the process, being shy by nature, or never having needed to network in the past. Unfortunately, people in transition need to resort to networking, because it has been found that 60 to 80 percent of people are getting their next jobs via networking. The purpose of job-search networking is to cultivate relationships to lean on for getting advice, information, leads, andit is hopedreferrals. The objective is to expand your sphere of personal connections. Certainly, whom you know is important, but in this instance, equally or possibly even more important is who knows you. After all, you’re the one looking for a next job. Networking is a learned skill. And it’s not necessary to be Mr. or Ms. Personality in order to be successful at it. Networking also involves consulting people who can list the search tools and strategies that have worked for them in past; people like telling their especially success stories. Involve people in building your own search tools. Try to unfold the hidden job marketthe positions that have not yet been advertised or that won’t ever be. That’s the reason they’re called hidden. While networking, be considerate, genuine, and timely so that people will be willing to lend a hand. Smilingsmiling a lotis very effective while networking. Genial body language coveys that you are friendly and are enjoying your relationship with the other person. Who wants to be associated with a Sorrowful Sue or a Negative Ned? It’s a big enough burden just to be in transition, and others usually don’t want to hear about someone else’s problems. You need to project a friendly and helpful image of yourself: Let the other person talk. Don’t monopolize the conversation. Exchange contact information and agree to follow up within a day or two. Keep the momentum going. By being a good networker, you increase your chances of getting a job several fold.

Technical Writing Resume Template

Technical Writing Resume TemplateA technical writing resume template can make it easier for any candidate to write a resume. This is because the templates have already been developed and you are not going to have to learn how to put together a resume by trial and error.When you are looking to hire a technical writer to help you write your resume, consider using a template. Templates provide you with several different options to choose from. You don't have to spend time learning the basics of writing a resume and you can have your resume written for you in an hour or less.The first thing you should do when you are choosing a template is to think about what kind of person you want to hire to help you write your resume. Are you looking for someone that can just write the standard resume or are you looking for someone that has experience as a technical writer? Do you need to be hired on the spot to help you write a resume? All of these questions need to be answered before you can find th e right template.You will find a common technical resume template that most people use. The purpose of this template is to make it easier for any candidate to write a resume. It is one that provides you with different types of paragraphs and bullet points to keep you on track.You will find that each paragraph should focus on a special skill that you have that would make you an asset to the company. For example, a person might find that he or she has writing skills that would be a great addition to their resume and one that would make them a good fit for the position they are seeking.Once you start reviewing each paragraph, you will begin to see what the key point is of each one. For example, in paragraph one, the key point of the paragraph would be your professional writing abilities. You would then need to include information about your work experience that helps explain why you would be a good fit for the position.If you want to go in a different direction, you can find a differen t type of key point in paragraph two. In this case, you would need to describe your technical writing skills. With your experience as a technical writer, you would describe how you have helped other people in the past, which may include a past client of yours.In any resume, a key point will be the most important part. Therefore, you need to be sure that you are going to have the exact format for the resume that you are looking for. You should also take the time to consider which type of resume you want to have.

I Cant Get No Job Satisfaction - CareerAlley

I Cant Get No Job Satisfaction - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. It is often hard to distinguish between the hard knocks in life and those of opportunity. Frederick Phillips Not feeling appreciated at work? Feeling underpaid or under valued? Why spend time focused on getting a new job before youve spend time improving the job youve got? The vast majority of us have had the I wish I could quit my job right now feeling. And, many of us get so frustrated (for a variety of reasons) that we start our job hunt with a single purpose in mind get me out of here. But what about all of the positive things about your job and company? What if you took a different approach and committed to not only making the best of it, but making your job the best. Now I will be the first to admit that there are times this will not work (or maybe you dont want it to work). So, even if youve been committed to leaving your current job, maybe now is the time to give it a second chance. So Whats Bugging Me? Okay, so the first thing you need to do is make a list of all of the things that are bothering you about your job. Long hours, underpaid, worried about losing your job. Im sure there can be, at times, a very long list of reasons why you dont like your job. Make the list and be honest about the things that, if fixed, would change your attitude and view. Okay, now think about how you might change some of these things. == Make Any Job Better! I Dont Get Paid Enough One common woe is not getting paid what you think you are worth. There are two slants to this. First, how did you determine what you are worth? An easy way to check is through a salary comparison site such as Salary.com or PayScale.com. These sites are ballpark but they should be close enough to let you confirm a range of salaries. Second, maybe you can influence what you are paid. And if there is a way, it is worth giving it a try. But there are other items that impact your overall compensation and getting some of these may help as well. == Clever Ways to Get a Raise: Perks you Might Not Have Thought About Maybe Im Just Bored with what Im doing How long have you been in your role? Is there something else at your company you would rather be doing? Have you talked to your manager or HR. Is there an internal job posting you can look at? Maybe you have an idea for a new or expanded role that will save money or increase revenue. Maybe you would like to work in another city or company location. There are many ways you can make your job more exciting or different. == 13 Ideas To Make Boring Jobs Bearable And A Little More Interesting What do I like about my Job? Similar to the list you made about what you dont like, you should make a list of what you do like (and if you cant think of anything, just skip to the next bullet below). Maybe you get to work from home sometimes or maybe you get to travel on business. Perhaps you are well paid and it would be difficult to match to beat your current salary. What about your coworkers, do you have any close friends at work that you would really miss if you moved on? ==Why I Like My Job How do I know if its Time to Look for a New Job? Been through all of the stuff listed above? Still think it is not going to work out? Maybe you are still not sure but dont know what else you can do. If you are still not sure, then you need to take a career test or read a few articles about knowing when its time to look for a new job ==The Career Doctors Cures Remedies: How do I know when it is time to leave my job? Good luck in your search.

Compensation Goes Far Beyond Your Salary - Know The Difference

Compensation Goes Far Beyond Your Salary - Know The Difference Compensation Goes Far Beyond Your Salary Know the Difference Compensation is always a hot topic. This post isnt about how to negotiate compensation its about changing your perception of what this word means and what other things are included in an overall package. Show me the money. Well, lets get this one out of the way first. Money is obviously the first thing that comes to mind when people are getting ready for negotiating a job offer. Fair market value in your compensation is important after all, if you dont do a good job now in the negotiations, you could be setting back your total life time earnings with a low-ball offer that you accept. So do your research. The doctor will see you now. Health care is another part of the compensation package. With ever-rising costs and a tumultuous health care market / exchange, anything an employer can do to cover a portion of health care expenses means more money in your wallet. Plan on those golden years. Its shrinking, but the amount (if any) employers still plunk down in employee 401K or other retirement accounts with matches or vestments is a huge compensation package plus. Heres the keys to your new car. Larger companies often offer a perk to management that includes use / lease of a car, which can avoid putting wear and tear on your car. This can mean a lot of costs that you wont have to foot. Get that healthy glow. Health club memberships are often tossed into compensation packages with a two-fold purpose give active employees a great place to work out while also encouraging behaviors that keep health care costs lower. Time to take that trip you always wanted. Vacation time is a coveted compensation package item. If the employer wont budge on the salary numbers, perhaps theyll toss in another week of vacation! Welcome to the team! Increasingly tight labor markets can mean you might be offered a signing bonus as an incentive to join the team. Any time someone can get some additional cash for starting at a dream job is a great thing! Hat Tip to Top Performers Another compensation option is performance bonuses, but be careful about this one because you should really be clear on what metrics are being used to determine who gets this bonus and who doesnt. Make sure it is within the realm of possibility in your performance, rather than a tempting tidbit that gets yanked right when you think youve reached that goal. FSAs / Disability / Life Insurance These options can help employees defray additional costs, which counts as a compensation offering as much as the other ones. Additional Perks Depending on the industry / company, certain perks might be additional compensation pluses an example might be someone who joins a brewing company gets a certain allotment of free beer. Keeping in mind all of these compensation options will help you gain a bigger picture of what your overall package might be valued at, and remember, dont get fixated on just the paycheck you get!