IT needs 'strong female role models'

Female role models are required to encourage more women to join the IT sector, one expert has suggested.

Women's forum manager of the British Computer Society (BCS) Jan Peters remarked that those women already in the industry should be trying to influence others to pursue a career in the sector.

Graduates and women involved in technology apprenticeships should speak to school pupils to promote the sector, she said.

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Ms Peters urged female technologists to show schoolchildren the true nature of working in IT, saying: They need to show them that it's not just about being a user of Word or Excel, working in IT is much, much, more varied.

Furthermore, Ms Peters claimed that women technologists are offered many benefits by working in the industry, such as travel, money and increased opportunities.

ClickAJob chief executive Yngve Traberg strongly agrees, pointing out that IT is one of the fastest growing sectors - which like many other vital disciplines, is currently experiencing a skills shortage.

As a career path, it's a sure winner, he says.

At the core of operations in so many levels of business, IT offers every opportunity to climb right to the top, especially for women.

Don't accept limitations, he emphasises. All it takes is the right attitude.