IT 'not just for boys'

The stigma attached with being a woman working in IT is disappearing and women are now being appointed in some of the industry's best jobs, according to experts.A skills shortage is contributing to increased demand for women in IT and females are taking up the roles more and more frequently, the Independent reports.Differences between male and female IT learning begins at a young age, with Microsoft systems engineer Eileen Brown stating that "women see computers as tools whereas men see them as toys".A continued increase in the amount of women in IT is expected, with 45 per cent of people entering into a University College London financial computing course this year being women, compared to an average of 20 per cent in the department.Christopher Clack, the course director, commented: "Our women students, in particular, like the career-oriented nature of the degree and the fact that they can see a purpose to all this computing stuff."At Microsoft, 28 per cent of the staff is female, compared to an industry average of 11 per cent.View careers advice to help you secure your ideal position on womenintechnology.co.uk.