HOW TO SUCCEED IN A MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRY

Hello Sweet Sweet!!

Gone are the days when Women Education End in the Kitchen. In-fact, these days women are gradually finding their feet in all aspects of the industry. Have you found yourself in a male dominated industry just like myself? Have you said your occupation and you get the look *what are you doing there. I mean, they wont look at you like that if you were a man right??????

Here are a few tips to be successful if you find yourself in an industry dominated by men......  

Recognize the value of a mentor
Many women have successfully navigated typical male-dominated fields. Often, they learned the hard way what works and what doesn’t. Rather than repeat their mistakes, learn from these successful women. Identify one or two who can advise you. Follow up with this person regularly, take their advice at least some of the time, and let them know when you succeed or hit a major setback.

You have to take the leapTo be a success, it’s vital to choose work that you are enthusiastic about, then grab any opportunities that come your way. Take up challenges, meet target, work really hard. Harder than your male counterparts often time. Don't always take the easy route as this will give you the experience needed to progress faster. Enthusiasm is key – people will see this and be willing to give you new, interesting work projects or interesting experiences outside work. Be flexible and opportunistic. If something comes up, jump on it. If it doesn’t work out it’s not a disaster – you can always go back.

Make your voice heard
Be your own "man"! Speak for yourself. Got a new idea or a constructive suggestion? Put it on the table. Women have a tendency to underestimate their own performance, especially when they find themselves in a minority, but confidence is a must.  We have to focus on increasing the self-confidence of women in the workplace. Have the courage to lean in and take a seat at the table. You need to have the courage to take risks, know more than anyone else in the room and be prepared more than anyone else in the room. At this point, you will need to ditch the saying "women ought to be seen and not heard"  


Link up with other women
In male-dominated professions, you might have only a handful of female coworkers. Make a point to introduce yourself to them. Women can learn a lot from other women, and it’s nice to be part of an exclusive sorority. And remember, you have a huge responsibility to be a good representative of women in your industry. If you’re successful, remember it will open doors for other women.

Dont let stereotypes get to you

We’ve all heard that men are better at directing movies because they are more vocal. Or that men make better scientists because they are better at math, or that men are better technicians because they have the body build. These are all stereotypes. And we may know that, but your co-workers might still hold these stereotypes against you. Don't let you role or value be downplayed simply because men feel we are the "weaker sex"
 
Learn to be Assertive, not aggressive
As a woman in a male-dominated field, you have to be prepared to assert yourself at all times. The very same communicative behaviour can be perceived as assertive when performed by a man and aggressive when performed by a woman. Asserting your needs, wants, ideas and conflicts at work is usually better than letting everything go unnoticed. You can also back up your verbalized assertions by putting them in writing if others don't fully understand you or take you seriously. However, always remember that there is a thin line between being assertive and aggressive.


Be Professional
For recent graduates especially, remember that your university days are behind you. You want your co-workers to see you as a serious career woman, not some teenage girl still stuck in college. On a similar note, as tempting as it may be, steer clear of office gossip. When men do it, they tend to be excused but when women do it they're called gossipers. No one will respect the office blabbermouth