GET BACK, GET ON

The step back onto the career ladder can sometimes seem like a step too far – these workshops are designed to help delegates plan their return to career and provided pragmatic advice on areas of employment and the steps needed to get into those areas.

The BBC, Google, Fujitsu, Kodak and the NHS made up the panels at past workshops that brought together employers, women working in ITEC and educational institutions to help delegates learn about opportunities in ITEC areas of growth.

The events included talks from companies, networking sessions, employability enhancement training sessions, one-to-one sessions and interactive discussion.

The British Computer Society hosted two events in the past, one covering Internet Computing and another investigating Health Imaging and Medical Imaging.

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One participant, who found a job a week after attending the workshop on Internet Computing described her story:

"I resigned from my job as an IT senior consultant in November 2004 with the intention of taking a six month break before looking for another job.
I didn't realise that it would take me so long to find another - after all I had more than 20 years experience in IT development. I spent months applying for jobs relevant to my experience only to face rejection at CV submission or first interview. I even tried jobs which required very little experience in IT but to no avail.

Last month I reached a very low point in my confidence and was ready to accept early retirement with a feeling that my experience was being wasted. That was when I read in Computer Weekly that Equalitec and BCS were holding a career workshop for women and decided to attend. It was one of the best decisions I made.

The first workshop was not only inspiring and confidence boosting but made me realise that a lot of other women were in a similar position to myself and that there were organizations out there who were willing to employ me such as the BBC and Google and that my career break should not be an obstacle.

It also showed me that even if I did not find a job immediately, organizations such as Equalitec and The Daphne Jackson Trust were ready to sponsor me to retrain and update my skills.

That evening I came home really energised and with restored confidence. Next day I decided to put into practice some of the lessons learnt in the workshop about the importance of networking. I managed to get an interview within a few days and a week later a job as a senior consultant in an IT consultancy!

Networking is important

I found the job via a contact. I had tried using other contacts before but I believe this time round I went into the interview with a more positive and enthusiastic attitude. I believe that is what helped me to get the job.
I have a very cynical attitude towards recruitment agents, and especially their views on people over 50 and those who have taken a career break, hence the importance of keeping up to date with one's networks and contacts and joining informal networks to help in job searches.

I think it is really important that organisations such as Equalitec and BCS Women play a vital role in getting women back to productive IT jobs. I do believe forums like these workshops are really important in giving women a confidence boost, especially to those women who have been out of work for a while and feeling isolated at home.  I for one was glad I came to one"

Thank you to all the companies and speakers who contributed to the success of these events. Special thanks to our partner, The British Computer Society.