An internal report published by Hewlett Packard found that men are more likely to apply for a job when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, whereas women are more likely to apply only if they meet 100% of them.

It goes without saying that this is wholly unjustified as all genders should feel equally able to apply for roles in all sectors. So how can we go about rectifying this statistic? That's where CareerCentral's programme of SheCan sessions running on International Women's Day come into play. SheCan is a day of virtual panel discussion events for career insights and advice from inspirational women in STEM, finance, leadership and entrepreneurship.

I'd like to share my career journey with you so far and how I feel gender has played a role in this. I came to university in September 2019 with little to no idea of what I intended to do upon graduation. I used my first year studying English Literature with Creative Writing to explore the options available to me through a series of CareerCentral workshops which gave a basic introduction to breaking into a variety of careers. At the end of my first year, I attended Working with Words which is UEA's annual celebration of careers that have writing and creativity at their heart. Through this, I was able to speak to a variety of employers from a range of creative backgrounds to gain their unique insight into their chosen industries.

After that point, I became Comment Editor of Concrete, UEA's student newspaper in my second year and have progressed to hold the position of Editor-in-Chief in my final year. Attending the CareerCentral events helped me learn about my sector and gain confidence in my journalistic abilities. I am now a fully-fledged freelance journalist with bylines in national publications and also have a clear plan for graduation, as I am hoping to complete my NCTJ (journalism qualification) in London next year!

As someone who identifies as a woman, it can be difficult to break into journalism, which in some spaces is a male-dominated industry. The world of political or news journalism seems to be geared toward men, whereas magazine journalism which focuses on beauty or fashion is geared toward women. I have always applied for positions regardless of my gender and taken every opportunity which comes my way. How have I been able to do this? Confidence. And the first step to having more of that is to make bold moves and step outside of your comfort zone.

CareerCentral's SheCan campaign is returning for the fourth year on 8th March, International Women's Day. The schedule runs as follows:

09:30-10:30am - Women in Leadership

11:30am-12:30pm - Women in Finance

1:30-2:30pm - Women in STEM

3:30-4:30pm - Women in Entrepreneurship

4-5pm - Not an imposter: Building confidence and assertiveness

I'd like to draw this blog to a close by reflecting on the statistic I shared at the start: men are more likely to apply for a job when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, whereas women are more likely to apply only if they meet 100% of them. Attending the above sessions can give you an insight into what it's like to work in different sectors, gain insight and inspiration from business role models, learn new skills, and connect with employers.

This International Women's Day, take the opportunity to revisit your career planning so you can fulfil your ambitions and achieve your dreams. CareerCentral is here for you if you need a little help along the way.

Written by Dolly Carter, third-year English Literature with Creative Writing

If Dolly has inspired you to join us for SheCan, you can register for panels and find out more about who is coming by clicking HERE! #SheCan is the first in our #WeCan series, so stay tuned to our blogs and social media for more announcements and updates.

(Statistics can be found here along with full article) https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2014/09/11/are-women-too-timid-when-they-job-search/

This free site is ad-supported. Learn more
​