Affirmative action
Written by: Dalia Levy
I first heard of Niloosoft three years ago. We joined because of Hunter EDGE, an advanced system for the management of human resources that is user-friendly, cost-effective, quick to use and easy to learn. But that’s not the reason that we’re with Niloosoft; we stayed because of its human capital, its personal attention and availability, innovation, sharing, experience and consultation.
Niloosoft constantly surprises me. From the beginning, I understood the truth in the claim that partners stay not out of obligation – there’s no installation fee, no charge for training and no annual commitment – but because it’s simply good!
Although the system is convenient and user-friendly, we were invited for training at the company, where we met the members of the team and learned how to take advantage of the system’s capabilities for proper management of work in order to save time, a factor that in our business is critical to success.
In one of my conversations with Leah from Niloosoft, I mentioned to her the special difficulties in recruiting women for industry. Leah comes across countless job opportunities in her work, and she immediately took up the gauntlet and asked me to write down the gist of our conversation. Thus, this article was born.
So, for you women…
Recently I advertised a position for a production manager in a leading engineering company. A good company, a desirable position, great conditions – a car, an excellent salary, work entailing day shift only. Out of hundreds of applicants, only one woman applied, and she was immediately invited for an interview. The question is – why don’t women want positions in industry? Because industry on their part definitely wants women.
Are we still stuck in the old-fashioned view that the jobs of practical mechanical engineer/hydraulics expert/ electrician/mechanic are only for men? Why is it that the number of women studying these professions at technological institutes is so low? Do we believe that these professions are physically “hard” or do we fear that as mothers we won’t get the special conditions we can get in other fields? Do we as women have a problem managing a welding or machine workshop, or a production floor?
I was once employed in a “man’s” profession – mechanical/electrical technician in aeronautics. I never had any trouble finding a job; quite the contrary, women in “men’s” professions have no less success than the men. Maybe that’s because it’s new and interesting to hear a woman conduct negotiations in hydraulics. But what does the reason matter anyway?
Take, for example, our current government. The process has begun; there are women in ministerial positions, and a rise in the number of female Knesset members – not optimal, but making progress. That is the case in banks and universities as well. However, while in academia, women graduates are still struggling in the job market, in industry women are sought after, appreciated and successful.
Incidentally, it’s not too late; almost any experience in sales and a little technical background can yield a desirable position in sales. And there are many positions for technical salespeople, men and women, in leading organizations.
Of course, the picture is not all rosy and there are still bosses with old-fashioned prejudices who think that some jobs should be done only by men. Fortunately, we don’t have any clients like that.
It is noteworthy that men do not hesitate to enter fields that in the past were reserved for women, such as hair styling, fashion design, kindergarten teachers, chefs and others, with great success.
I hope that no organization discriminates against hiring men, because I will end with a famous quote from Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of Britain:
“If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman”
― Margaret Thatcher
Dalia Levy is the owner of R.T.L. (Right to Left), a manpower company that provides professional workers for industry. RTL also conducts workers’ training courses as well as market research, follow-up polls and quality control.