You may not typically think of women as computer programmers or coders, but think again. We want to give you the information you need now so you can progress into the jobs of the future.
Video games like Pokemon are what Chaz-rae Moncrieffe grew up on and why she's learning computer programming, but she's usually the only woman in class.
"There’s a lot of space out there for me, because in my classes if I’m the only one there I wonder how is it going to be in the work force if there’s going to be so few women there," Moncrieffe said.
Nationwide, the number of women in the technology field is low, just 26% of all IT employees. But there's an effort to change that, right here in Tampa Bay.
“They’re looking for women in technical fields, rather than in sales positions, the softer, now females are starting to come up through the technical where they’re actually working on computer programming, website design,” Dr. Sharon Setterlind, the dean of Computer and Information Technology at SPC said.
At St. Petersburg College, in less than a year, you can complete a certificate course in technology and learn coding languages for about $2,000.
Entry-level jobs average $35-$45,000 a year, but with some experience, salaries average up to $125,000.
“Many of your grants are all focusing on women in the technology in the STEM fields, yes women are becoming targeted for all these areas,” Dr. Setterlind said.
The college is hosting an event Thursday October 27 at 5:30 pm, free of charge. It will focus on careers for women in technology.
“It’s really enjoyable to work on something, to create things, to figure it out, and then to see it work," Moncrieffe said.
The event is at SPC's St. Pete/Gibbs Campus, SS building, 6605 Fifth Ave. N.
