Claudia D. Wheeler

 

THE TOP THREE BENEFITS SOUGHT ARE HEALTH INSURANCE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY BENEFITS, AND PENSION/401K.

 

WOMAN ENGINEER MAGAZINE’S “25THANNUAL READER SURVEY” QUERIED READERS ON WHAT BENEFITS, IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, THEY WOULD FIND IN THEIR IDEAL WORK ENVIRONMENT. THE MAJORITY LISTED HEALTH INSURANCE AS THE NUMBER ONE BENEFIT, FOLLOWED BY FAMILY FRIENDLY BENEFITS, PENSION/401K, TELECOMMUTING, AND ROUNDING OUT THE TOP FIVE WAS FORMAL MENTORING.

 

RESPONDENTS TO THE SURVEY ARE IMMERSED IN PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING CAREERS IN A WIDE VARIETY OF FIELDS, INCLUDING BIOMEDICAL, MECHANICAL, MARINE, AEROSPACE INDUSTRY, COMPUTER, MATERIAL SCIENCE, CHEMICAL, INDUSTRIAL, ELECTRICAL, MANUFACTURING, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, AND NETWORK SECURITY. IN THIS YEAR’S SURVEY, 69% WERE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND 31% STUDENT ENGINEERS.

 

WE ASKED READERS TO EXPAND ON HOW IMPORTANT FAMILY FRIENDLY BENEFITS ARE WHEN CONSIDERING A JOB, AND 78% RESPONDED WITH “VERY IMPORTANT,” WHILE ANOTHER 18% SAID THE BENEFIT IS “SLIGHTLY IMPORTANT.” LESS THAN 1% THOUGHT THESE BENEFITS WEREN’T IMPORTANT AT ALL.

 

TO COMPILE A ROSTER OF THE PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR READERS, WOMAN ENGINEER MAGAZINE QUESTIONED UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, ENTRY-LEVEL WORKERS, AND MANAGERS, SUPERVISORS, AND EXECUTIVES ABOUT THEIR AGE, GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, AND FIELD OF STUDY OR CAREER DISCIPLINE.

 

WE ONCE AGAIN ASKED READERS IF THEY ARE BEING TREATED EQUALLY VS. THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS. ON THE JOB, THE NUMBERS SHOW WOMEN ARE EXPERIENCING SOME GENDER INEQUALITY.OF THIS YEAR’S RESPONDENTS, 37% SAID THEIR EMPLOYERS “NEED IMPROVEMENT” WHEN IT COMES TO TREATING THEM EQUALLY, COMPARED WITH 38% THE PRIOR YEAR, WHILE 28% REPLIED THAT THEY ARE ONLY “SLIGHTLY” TREATED EQUALLY, COMPARED WITH 24% LAST YEAR. WOMEN WHO REPORTED THEY’RE “VERY MUCH” TREATED EQUALLY” SHRUNK, FROM38% LAST YEAR TO 35% THIS YEAR.

 

OF THE 39% RESPONDENTS REPORTING THEY WERE ACTIVELY PURSUING A NEW JOB, 21% WERE WILLING TO LOOK OUTSIDE THE U.S. FOR NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN LAST YEAR’S SURVEY (27%). A MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS (61%) WERE NOT LOOKING FOR A JOB AT ALL.

 

IN WHAT HAS BECOME AN ANNUAL LISTING, WE ALSO ASKED RESPONDENTS TO NAME THE TOP THREE EMPLOYERS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS FOR WHOM THEY WOULD MOST LIKE TO WORK OR THAT THEY BELIEVE WOULD PROVIDE A POSITIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN ENGINEERS. WE ALSO ASKED THEM TO OFFER ADVICE TO EMPLOYERS WHO WANT TO HIRE WOMEN ENGINEERS AND FOR OTHER WOMEN ENGINEERING STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS.

 

WHAT IS MOST REWARDING ABOUT YOUR CURRENT CAREER?

 

Respondents noted the following rewarding aspects about their current jobs (ranked in order of popularity):

 

For employers looking to hire more women engineers, respondents had a range of advice:

 

• “Pay them equally and promote them fairly.”

 

• “Don’t ask personal questions in the interview, don’t ask us if we’re married or have a family. Men call in sick for their kids, too.”

 

• “Reach out to female students and professionals and ask for regular feedback.”

 

• “Be honest about available promotions and salary increases.”

 

• “Women are in this field because they really believe in it.”

 

• “Offer family friendly benefits and flexibility.”

 

• “Treat women with equal respect as their male counterparts.”

 

• “Look past society’s stereotypes and find out how women can benefit your company.”

 

For students and fellow women engineer professionals, our respondents offered this career advice:

 

• “Sit at the table, yet learn when to just listen.”

 

• “Stay on top of your goals, don’t give up.”

 

• “Be confident in your abilities, without arrogance, and you will go farther.”

 

• “You can do it. Be determined to succeed.”

 

• “Be persistent, but take a break when needed.”

 

• “Network, network, network.”

 

• “Don’t let anything stop you.”

 

• “Map out your career goals.”

 

• “Be your own advocate and have confidence in your abilities.”