Career planning for women

From self-reflection to leadership: career planning for women

Dear readers,

We are delighted to present you with our latest newsletter. In today's issue, we are focussing on an interesting topic: women's careers in engineering.

This issue focuses on women's careers in engineering. We look at how you can find the job you want and what opportunities are open to you to build a successful career, including management positions.

Finding your dream job

Regardless of whether you are just starting out in your career or have already held several positions in the world of work as a professional, it is important to find a job that you enjoy doing. According to statistics from statista.de, the average Swiss person works for 42.3 years of their life. That's a long time that needs to be filled with meaningful work.

But how can you find your dream job that suits you, your life plan and, above all, your interests?

Strengths and weaknesses

First of all, take some time for self-reflection. What talents and skills do you have? Which subjects did you enjoy the most at school? What were you less enthusiastic about? Is there perhaps a hobby that could become a vocation? These questions will help you with your self-assessment. It can also be helpful to get an objective opinion from trustworthy people and a careers counsellor.

The type of work and the workplace

Not all jobs are the same and this is often related to the type of work and the place where it is carried out. Ask yourself what you would like to do: Would you prefer to work in direct customer contact or use your manual skills in production? Would a desk job be conceivable or would you prefer a job in the fresh air?

Thoughts on working time models

The new job should always suit your circumstances. Fortunately, there are numerous working time models available to employees these days. If you have children, for example, you may need to reduce your working hours. If you have commitments that require you to be at home, remote working and working from home could be a great opportunity.

Expectations of the company

As the workplace will determine a large part of your time in the future, it is crucial that you can feel comfortable there. To make sure this is the case, you should think about what you expect from your future employer in advance. Do you want to have career options? What about the size of the company, do you prefer small and informal or large and international?

Pay - an important topic!

One topic that many people don't like to talk about, but which is incredibly important, is the pay you receive for the work you do. However, it makes sense to think about this too, because there are also different options when it comes to pay.

First and foremost, you should think about how much you would like to earn. Of course, this depends very much on your training and previous experience. Next, you should consider how you would like to be paid, would you prefer a fixed salary or is commission also an option?

Expand your horizons

Especially at the beginning of your career, it is important to familiarise yourself with the possibilities. Nowadays, there are a large number of training occupations and study programmes. In addition to researching which profession or study programme/training course could suit your interests, you should definitely also gain practical experience through internships. You won't get a better insight into a job than this.

Women in engineering: Opportunities and prospects

As a woman in particular, it is important to think about the right career and make a smart decision. Female employees should not shy away from choosing professions that are supposedly dominated by men. Engineering, for example, offers excellent opportunities for women.

According to a publication by Seco, engineering is the field most affected by the shortage of skilled labour in Switzerland. The number of vacancies advertised is always above 7,500 in the long term, so engineering offers excellent entry-level opportunities as well as career options.

In addition, many companies are increasingly focusing on diversity and recognising the added value of different perspectives. Women can therefore pursue a steep career path in the various branches of the engineering profession. Companies are specifically looking for female specialists in order to make their teams more diverse and innovative.

Education as the key to success

The be-all and end-all for good opportunities when starting out in professional life or reorienting yourself is a solid and well-founded education. This applies not only to women and not only to jobs in engineering. Consider further training, further education or even an extra-occupational degree programme to deepen your skills. Many companies support their employees financially with further training programmes. Take advantage of these offers to further your professional development.

From specialist to manager

Even if you may not have considered this option at the start of your career, women should think more about the role of a manager. Women are still underrepresented in management positions, but that doesn't mean they don't have what it takes.

Look specifically for opportunities to develop your leadership skills. This can be done by taking on project management, mentoring or taking part in relevant training courses. Show initiative and signal your interest in positions of responsibility to your employer.

Mentoring and networking

Women in particular benefit from a strong professional network. In many cases, networking is the key to success and you should not be afraid to utilise your contacts.

Therefore, take part in industry-specific networks for women. Mentoring programmes offer an ideal opportunity to learn from experienced managers and gain valuable advice for your own career.

Career development from a professional

Individual counselling and professional career support enable you to hit the ground running. During the counselling session, the professionals tailor their approach to the specific needs, skills and goals of the woman. This helps to develop a customised career plan.

When it comes to career planning and development in particular, HR experts can help to define clear professional goals and develop strategies to achieve them. Structured career planning is crucial to ensure long-term professional success.

Start your career as a woman!

As a woman, you shouldn't put your career on the back burner. There are numerous excellent entry and promotion opportunities, for example in engineering. Utilise your strengths, build a strong network and invest in your further training. The path to management level is in your hands.

We hope these tips will help you realise your career goals. We are also happy to provide further tips or personalised advice.

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