Although the share of women in the IT sector is increasing, the gender balance is still imbalanced. According to the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries, only around 28% of IT professionals are currently women.

Two of these women, Kirsi Tamminen and Eija teitto, work at Nextcon in various expert positions in testing and quality assurance.

However, the gender breakdown of the sector is not an issue for Nextcon’s women. What is much more important is interesting work that develops one’s skills and teamwork. We interviewed them and asked them about working in the IT sector, their career path and how to encourage more women to work in the IT sector.

Everyone has their own path to the IT sector

Eija knew from the start of her studies that she wanted to work in the IT sector. However, she faced challenges at the beginning to get into the field, but persistent work paid off.

– I wanted it very much, but it was not an easy path. Only well-performing business school students were admitted to the computer courses. Before I went to university, I worked for more than ten years in jobs that involved IT. Studying in this field was a decision I have never regretted,” says Eija.

Kirsi says she got into the IT sector through study guidance and career tests.

– I didn’t really know what it was about even then. But I haven’t regretted a day! I started with coding, then other tasks and now the last one is test automation on top.

Learning new things and working in a team is motivating

For Kirs, the best part of the job is learning new things, and the hardest part is learning to stop learning when the new winds blow again. But you don’t have to give up everything you’ve learned when you change jobs.

– However, each round leaves something that can be used later,” says Kirsi.

In addition to learning new things, Eija also mentions the importance of problem solving and teamwork.

– Solving problems, thinking and working towards a common goal are the best things about my job.

Working in IT is not about gender, it’s about interest

Although women are underrepresented in the IT sector, this does not affect the women working at Nextcon.

– Frankly, I don’t pay attention to it. Rather, if someone is suffering from male dominance, I can go to the weaker side to encourage them,” says Eija.

Nextcon women believe that more and more open discussion about opportunities and jobs in the IT sector is needed to attract more women to the IT sector. Kirs believes that working in IT is not about gender, but about interest.

– There are so many different roles in IT, and there’s bound to be a role to suit everyone. Whether it’s coding, designing, defining, testing or something else.

Valuing equality and breaking down gender role models are top of Eijka’s mind when it comes to how to encourage more women to work in the IT sector.

– Girls should be encouraged from a young age into technical and IT careers, for example through more cooperation between schools and more technology-related electives.

Nextcon’s corporate culture

At Nextcon, consultants are encouraged to innovate, propose and try new things. We are definitely in favour of a culture of experimentation. Our culture is very much built on autonomous teams.

Nextcon is building the future success of its customers at a time when technological solutions will shape the future of humanity more than ever before. Everyone at Nextcon has a stake in how our future looks and works, how safe it is and how equitable it is.

We are a workplace that is managed and managed professionally and equitably, without being rigid. We believe in trust, respect and transparency in everything we do.