To follow up on International Women’s Day, I thought I’d write about my thoughts on women in the engineering sector, along with ways we could all make it easier for women to progress in this industry. 

Engineers tend to be very detail oriented and analytical, making decisions carefully before proceeding.  This makes sense and of course, naturally we wouldn’t have it any other way. Women in general by nature have an innate way of measuring their own abilities, but are often their own harshest critics. 

Having met and interviewed enough female engineers, I’m very aware that they are under-represented in engineering, and, in some cases, lacking confidence to go for the opportunities they should be going for. This can be for many reasons including upbringing, however, can often be due to not being heard or acknowledged within the company they work for.  Women also often have to fight for recognition and opportunities to progress into more managerial and/or more technical expertise roles. 

Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer at Meta (previously Facebook) and longtime advocate for females in leadership roles, explains in her book Lean In that inherently women underestimate themselves, scoring their abilities lower than men do.  This may be due to our nature of putting the needs of others first and their own second.  The natural hunger to be the best mothers, daughter's sisters and nieces is important, however, where do those who wish to have their own needs met in the career world sit?  I remember when I had my son and went back into the workforce, I mentioned in a couple of interviews when I was asked about being a mother, that I wasn’t having any more children.  I look back and wonder why I said this and I believe it was because I thought I was being judged as someone who would continue having children and not be worthy of the role.  This shouldn’t even enter into the equation whether it be with our own personal thoughts or of those who are employing. 

Sheryl Sandberg TED Talk 2010

Often women don’t speak up or form an opinion for fear of being judged as aggressive or too assertive in our views.  This is something women need to overcome if we want to be at the table.  To have an opinion is a right everyone should have and whether they are female or male is irrelevant.  In the workplace in order for women with children to feel valued, they must be respected for their role in society.  The abilities to perform and bring their experience to the workplace is still important and if you have a female employee who aspires to be in a senior role, they shouldn’t be ignored.  We also need to encourage girls to know that it's cool and interesting to get into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects.  In order to encourage female graduates into the industry, it needs to start at primary school level, especially for those who show an interest and aptitude for STEM related subjects. 

When you look into under-representation, unfortunately, the statistics show the numbers of women entering into the engineering field in NZ are low.   

According to the University of Auckland in 2020 there were 28.6% enrolled in engineering degree courses and in 2018 it was 29.15% and 2017 there were 27.41% enrolled.   

These percentages are low and don’t look to be increasing. 

However, with female engineers who are currently employed, there are ways employers can encourage and assist in attracting, retaining and engaging them. 

Key ways women in engineering can be assisted to progress: 

• Stop viewing women as mothers or potential mothers 

• When they are mothers stop seeing them as lesser in ability than those who aren’t 

• Make the ability to be able to work from home (where able and needed) commonplace 

• Look for their other qualities, additional to their technical ability 

• Pay women fairly and equitably 

• Acknowledge work ethic and ability 

• Become aware of their strengths and promote based on these 

I also believe women who sit in leadership roles need to continue putting the ladder down for others to come up.  This includes mentoring, being an advocate and highlighting each other's skills and abilities that they bring to the table.  And in Sheryl Sandberg’s words “Don’t leave before you leave”. 

About Simone Storey

Simone is an experienced Recruitment Consultant who specialises in recruiting intermediate through to management level engineers particularly in the structural, civil, mechanical and fire sectors. These particular sectors provide unique recruitment challenges, something of which she is very familiar with.

Her background also brings a results oriented and people focussed perspective, along with a solid understanding of the needs of both employer and employee. Simone has a focus on building these relationships to add value for both candidate and employer alike, for her recruitment is not merely a transaction.