Spotlight on: STEM Women

Read about what STEM Women do to help students and graduates be able to network with STEM role models in a variety of careers.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (8th March), and with recent reports that 115,000 more girls and women need to study Maths and Physics at A Level for the UK to reach gender parity these disciplines, the representation of women in STEM (an acronym for science, technology, information, and mathematics) has never been more important. STEM industries offer a diverse range of career opportunities for graduates, as well as the chance to make a difference in the world. But the representation of women in these industries is low, at just 26%.

STEM Women host face-to-face and virtual networking events and careers fairs which allow students and graduates (and particularly those who are women or non-binary) to connect with employers and to be inspired by the career journeys of STEM role models. STEM women recognise that women have traditionally been underrepresented in STEM fields, but with continued efforts to address these disparities, more women are pursuing careers in STEM than ever before.

The range of roles in STEM continues to expand - from data analysts to software developers, and biomedical engineers to environmental scientists, to name just a few. And the rise of new technologies is creating new career paths all the time – including roles we haven’t even heard of yet! Social-media management, digital marketing and e-sports were all unheard of in previous decades and the future world of tech will create even more new and exciting roles.

So, what skills do you need for a career in STEM?

• Whilst technical skills might be amongst the essential criteria, we increasingly hear from the employers we work with that soft skills such as critical-thinking and problem-solving are just as important
• If you have the ability to analyse and evaluate data, identify patterns and make connections, and use that information to create solutions to complex problems, then a career in STEM industries could be perfect for you
• As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, STEM careers require professionals who can adapt to new methods and technologies and maintain a growth mindset in their careers
• Employers also tell us that communication skills and team-work are both crucial skills for ensuring that projects run smoothly and that complex information can be conveyed clearly to stakeholders, customers and colleagues

Grow your professional network for greater confidence!

Confidence, in particular, is an elusive ‘skill’ which can be difficult to develop. STEM Women, we recognise that women and non-binary people in particular can struggle with self-doubt and imposter syndrome, and we encourage our graduate and student community to grow their professional networks and identify mentors, which can be great ways to develop greater confidence. As science, tech, maths, and engineering industries continue to develop and grow, we’re proud to be part of the journey towards a more inclusive STEM workforce of the future.

Find out more about how STEM women can help you plan for a future career in STEM:

1. Search STEM women upcoming events
2. Read how STEM women helped Amber land her dream job
3. Search for live graduate jobs on their website