Tag: #career

Lack of role models, education and training opportunities are stopping Irish women from working in tech

New research by HelloFresh Ireland has found 42% of Irish women between the ages of 16 and 27 are unlikely to pursue a career in tech, citing too many barriers to entering a career in the industry. The world’s leading meal kit company and integrated food solutions group conducted a survey of 1,000 young people, in partnership with Kantar*, to understand how young people in Ireland perceive a career in the tech industry. HelloFresh recently launched in Ireland, marking the company’s 18th market launch as part of its global growth strategy.

The survey found one in five (19%) of young women felt discouraged from entering the tech sector because their gender put them at a disadvantage. Three in four women (76%) said the tech sector is dominated by men, and only 61% of men think the same way.

The women surveyed said there is a sense of prestige that comes from working in the tech industry thanks to its associated perks and benefits (61%), job prospects (65%) and opportunity to have a positive impact on society (27%). However, HelloFresh found that the majority of women (54%)  don’t think their current skillset is suitable for the industry. In total, one in three (34%) women admitted that they didn’t know how to enter the field.

Role models were identified as an important factor in encouraging more women into the tech sector with 58% of respondents saying they would like to see better representation of women in tech leadership positions. Respondents also mentioned that access to training and scholarships (50%) and support to build skills (37%) would help them enter the sector. HelloFresh is in its second year of running a Women in Tech scholarship programme, which includes mentoring and financial support.

Annie Meininghaus, Senior Vice President of Product at HelloFresh, commented: “I’m not hugely surprised by the findings of this survey, with many women who have pursued tech having already faced these challenges. I enjoy being part of a company that recognises these struggles and actively supports women pursuing careers in technology. I’m looking forward to welcoming our next cohort of Women in Tech scholarship recipients, and further increasing the diversity in the tech sector.”

HelloFresh will re-launch the Women in Tech program this year and double the number of participants, offering more women the chance to step into a tech career from a non-tech background. The company has hired six women from different tech and coding bootcamps, who will work in Frontend and as Data Analyst interns in Berlin. In addition to the paid internship, the women are provided with a scholarship of 10,000 Euros each to support their educational and living costs. Each intern is assigned a woman mentor from HelloFresh’s tech team.

Suzi Filipowska, former Women in Tech scholarship participant and Frontend Engineer at HelloFresh: “Coming from a non tech background, it was daunting to change my career path, however through the Women in Tech scholarship at HelloFresh I was able to do so. Now, I’m continuing my career in tech as a junior engineer at HelloFresh, and I couldn’t be more happy to do so.”

With its Employee Resource Groups, including the Gender Equality Team, HelloFresh fosters a diverse and empowering working environment among their 21.000+ employees from 90+ nationalities. With a third of HelloFresh’s Germany-based technology team identifying as women, HelloFresh is far above the national average of only 17% of women working in tech. The company committed to the Women Empowerment Principles (WEP) established by the UN Global Compact and UN Women.

How Maintaining Trust with HR Can Aid Your Career

HR professionals have a lot of influence and power, which is why maintaining trust with HR is essential for the development of an employee’s career. But trust is a two-way street, so that requires effort from the HR department as well. 

Most HR professionals are often tasked with managing sensitive HR data, and sometimes they end up breaching Employees’ privacy Hris software helps HR teams to avoid that, but still, there is a lot more to do from their side to maintain the trust of their employees.

Cezanne’s recent survey found a clear correlation between trust in HR and greater job satisfaction. The survey found that most HR departments are not trusted by their employees due to a lack of transparency or communication. (You can view more information here).

Why is trust important for career development?

The HR department is one of the most important departments for any company. They are responsible for hiring and firing employees and developing a support system that will help them progress in their careers. HR professionals have a lot on their plate- which is why it’s so essential to maintain trust with HR.

Let’s see how trust with HR can help in the career development of employees:

In case of conflict with another member

Since HR is responsible for hiring and firing employees, they are the department to approach if an employee has a conflict with another company member. HR professionals have experience dealing with situations like these on a daily basis, which means that they should be able to mediate and resolve workplace disputes.

But when employees don’t have trust in HR, things can go very wrong. According to Cezanne’s survey results, about 47% of the respondents don’t trust their respective HR teams to help resolve their conflict with another member. 

About 55% of the respondents believed their HR teams don’t act impartially. Out of those 55%, 43% believed HR favours seniors, and 12% believed they favour junior staff. ‘

This is a very alarming trend as in this environment, workers are being discouraged from approaching the HR department in case of any dispute, and eventually, this does more harm than good to employees.

In case of career advancement opportunities

Companies usually have a formal process for promotion, which might include multiple rounds of interviews and assessments. HR is responsible for that! HR teams are fully aware of what kind of skill set is required for a particular position. 

They can help employees in their career advancement opportunities by providing them with better insight into the process and what they need to do to get there. 

But around 48% of the respondents weren’t sure if their HR teams would inform them about the promotion opportunities. But if workers have better communication and trust with the HR team, they should get early updates on promotions!

How can Employees build Trust with HR?

It’s not always easy to build trust, but it is necessary. Here are a few ways Employees can establish trust with HR professionals:

Communicate early

If there are certain things affecting you in your workplace, such as changes in policies, etc., let HR know beforehand so they can address those concerns as soon as possible.

Share feedback

Sharing ideas for the improvement of processes or new initiatives at work and letting the HR team know when something goes wrong helps improve the overall quality of services provided by an organisation and can get you in the good books of management.

Be consistent in your words and actions

It’s easy to build trust when your words and actions align with each other. For example, if you promise a manager that you can get the job done by Monday, but in reality, it takes you another week or so – this doesn’t increase respect for employees from the HR team’s perspective.

Don’t stay silent about issues at work!

If there are any challenges faced on a daily basis because of company policies etc., do not hesitate to voice them out as soon as possible- before they become bigger problems down the line. It is also essential not to take matters into your own hands if you have a conflict with a fellow member.

How can technology be used to help develop trust?

Technology can be used to facilitate better communication between the HR team and employees. This leads to improved trust. A private social media group can be made for employees to get in touch with their HR managers, which is an excellent way to start an open dialogue that could build mutual trust.

Using human resources management systems can also help employees report issues and communicate with HR quickly. These kinds of reporting systems act as forums for constructive feedback from employees regarding work culture, policies-related matters -, which means the HR department can make improvements in no time!

The Benefits of Seeking a Career in IT

Unless you have been living under the rock, you will know that the IT industry has given careers to millions of people across the globe. Now that the IT industry is all over the place and has encapsulated the attention of a large part of the global population, everyone wants to step foot in this world and see how they can thrive. Therefore, when you buy a stake in this industry, you could be responsible for managing hardware and software, both at the same time. Furthermore, you could be auditing the security systems, writing codes for custom software and becoming a technical writer too. Now that the business world itself is highly hysterical, the competition is high and everyone wants to stand out. 

This is enough reason, why you find people applauding the benefits of being a part of this industry, in fact, most business owners are drooling over getting a custom website built, so they can target more customers. Regardless of what direction you choose, here’s what you need to know about the incredible benefits of registering a career in this industry:

  • Unlimited Options

There are hundreds of jobs in the IT industry as of now. However, you will choose a certain path for yourself after acknowledging your strengths, weaknesses in the prior experience. For instance, if you become a computer programmer, you could be creating various kinds of programs for everyone. Or, you could also become a quality assistant to test the programs and ensure that every product can do its nest. On the contrary, if you’re looking for something technically perplexing, you could also think of becoming a system analyst or a network engineer. Therefore, there’s no limit to the options in the IT industry. 

  • Education and Training Requirements

Simply put, the training and education requirements are very different from one another. Therefore, you need to understand about creating a demarcation. In some cases, you could quickly be landing upon a good opportunity within a certain career field. While in some career options, you might have to consider a few months course to gain entrance. Depending on what you want to do in this field, the education requirements will vary. Obviously, the advanced fields are more demanding and hard work is required, still, the end result is worth it. Ensure to get the relevant degree and skill set before registering a career in a certain part of this industry. 

  • Earning Potential

Do you want to have a good quality of life? Sure you do! After all, everyone wants to be rich and have a luxurious life. Thankfully, the earning potential in this industry is at an all-time high. Regardless of what the gossip mongers have to say, the salaries of IT experts are very high. For instance, if you become a cyber-security expert who specializes in online safety and helps companies in keeping their data safe, you could be making a fortune for yourself in the first few years of work. Therefore, now is the best time to embrace the earning potential of this industry and make the most out of it. 

  • Work From Home

One of the most amazing things about the IT industry is that you get to work from home anytime you want. Especially when the COVID 19 debuted last year, nobody had any idea about how this disease would be brought under control. Now that work from home has become a popular phenomenon, it is fair enough to say that IT experts are having a major moment right now. In fact, most IT experts prefer to work from home, since it can save a lot of money in the long run. If you look around, you will be thrilled to know that IT experts and most freelancers are working from within their comfort zone, so they don’t have to go out of their comfort zones. 

  • Hiring Demand

Simply put, every organization across the globe needs IT members because they are the backbone of any business out there. Whether it’s about improving the security of the business information or managing various devices, only IT experts will help in managing everything on their own. According to the market trends, the growing demand for IT professionals has compelled the business world to thrive and the economies to see a reduction in unemployment. Therefore, if you have experience and the right skill set, nobody can stop you from claiming an opportunity that is lucrative. This way, you will never be out of the job and will always have a good quality of life. 

  • Career Flexibility

Let’s say, you register a career in this industry but stop enjoying it after some time. Or, if the job gets monotonous, you might think of churning. Much to your surprise, each of your skills in this industry is transferable and will help you grow yourself in the future. Because there are dozens of jobs to choose from, you can rest assured about having flexibility in your career. So it is fair enough to say that IT will provide you peace of mind and give you the much-needed flexibility in your future. Simply put, IT allows you to thrive as much as you want, so you can give a good life to people around you. Hadn’t it been for the IT industry, many people would have killed themselves due to depression and unemployment issues. 

Career Guide: Becoming an AC Technician in 6 Steps

Air conditioning technicians regularly work with cooling systems and may have expertise in handling heating and ventilation systems. Basic knowledge of how to properly dispose-off coolants as well as a good understanding of state-specific regulations is a prerequisite for this job. As a technician, you can either be self-employed or work for public or private institutions.

 

What AC Technicians Do

Your job as an air conditioning contractor typically involves installing, maintaining, and repairing the electrical equipment, the ductwork, and the controls found in residential and industrial cooling systems. 

Depending on the problem you have been called to address, your job may be indoor or outdoor based. As an air conditioning technician, you might need to travel to perform on-site repairs in warm or cold environments.

However, before you go long into the AC technician profession, bear in mind that the operation of the heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems comes with its own high health risks and injury. 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the career requirements needed to work as an AC technician includes:

 

  • Post-secondary education or training with the evidence of a certificate, associate degree, or apprenticeship in the field of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
  • 2 years experience in the field of HVAC
  • Mandatory refrigerant handling certification from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • State-mandated licensing and other voluntary professional certification
  • Possession of skills such as physical strength, good hand-eye coordination, customer service, troubleshooting, time management, ability to use specialized HVAC equipment like power tools, air gauges, refrigerants, pressure meters, power hacksaws, and voltage meters

 

While apprenticeship is a basic requirement to becoming an AC technician, a lot of other requirements are obviously needed and are paramount to securing those HVAC and Refrigeration Training.

Take a look at the 6 basic steps you must follow to becoming a successful AC technician: 

Step I: Complete A Formal Training in HVAC

As earlier stated, to have an edge in the AC engineer’s workspace, you will need to have completed some form of formal training; be it apprenticeship programs, certificate programs, or associate degree programs. 

It is incomplete to simply have extensive work experience in HVAC operations without going through any of the formal programs.

While you could still be employed without them depending on the company, there is every chance you will be dropped once a person who has all matching criteria submits an application. Within 3 to 5 years, an HVAC apprenticeship should have been completed. Certificate programs require a year of full-time study whereas associate degree programs will take you about 2 years to complete. Some of the courses you’ll be studying include basic electricity, control wiring, sheet metal fabrication, and refrigeration.

It is always a good idea to take elective courses in computer science and electronics as AC technicians who are skilled in working with complex electronics and computer systems are always a hot-cake in the HVAC job market. 

Courses covering topics like micro processing, industrial electronics, digital circuitry, and engineering mathematics would be a plus. 

Step II: Earn Your EPA Certification

You will be needing the EPA certification in order to operate as an AC technician. The federal law necessitates AC contractors who work with refrigerants to undertake certification exams that are specially prepared to ensure that the AC expert can safely handle these materials. 

Exam topics would usually include shipping and disposal for high-pressure refrigerants, low-pressure refrigerants, or small appliances, refrigerant recovery as well as recycling. 

There are a number of EPA-approved technical schools and colleges that easily provide such certification exams.

Step III: Acquire Work Experience

Different employers have different requirements in terms of your years of experience in HVAC operations. Basically, most employers won’t be looking for anything less than 2 years. 

Many states also require you to provide your work experience as a prerequisite for obtaining a state license. Where some states are okay with 2 years, others may request for up to 7 years of work experience especially for those who didn’t undergo or who didn’t complete a formal training program. 

To meet this kind of requirement, it is usual for would-be AC technicians to get an entry-level job working alongside already established technicians with a popular company name.

Step IV: Get Your License

Different states will often ask that certain criteria be met for licenses to be given. Such criteria are unique to each state, but all of them would always require that air conditioning technicians pass a licensing exam after they must have provided a satisfactory work experience. 

Some states mandate that you undergo and pass criminal background checks and also require that you have liability insurance or performance bonds. Minimum age requirements are also checked.

Some state licensing panels require that air conditioning technicians complete 4 hours of continuing education before a license renewal is approved. You may need to check requirements peculiar to your state.

Step V: Advance Your Career by Earning Professional Certification

Getting more professional certification is necessary for boosting your career opportunities and employability as an AC technician.

Professional associations, such as the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute and HVAC Excellence, give much-needed credentials to AC technicians who are able to meet work experience requirements and get acceptable scores in their specialized exams.

Step VI: Build On Your Skills

You’re an air conditioning technician and have been fully trained to install, repair, and maintain the ductwork, electrical equipment, and controls found in cooling systems. 

You most likely already have post-secondary training, EPA certificates, and state-mandated licenses. However, you haven’t gotten there yet. Like every other profession, you are expected to build on your skills to make you a better operator. You’re expected to be strong, with good customer service skills and the ability to handle and use the latest tools that are relevant to fixing faults or installing HVAC systems.

Getting the most out of your career path is essential to fulfilling your dreams and have the feeling of achievement. Hence, always strive to get the latest info and updates that will keep you one step ahead.