Women in STEM

If you have been researching different career paths, you may have heard the term “STEM” thrown around a handful of times.  But what exactly is the STEM field?  STEM is not one specific field of work, but rather an umbrella term used to describe the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics respectively.  Thus, there are vast amounts of different jobs one could pursue in the STEM field.  Here are just a few to get you started: 

• Research Scientist- Design and carry out  experiments around a specific topic in order to expand our current understanding of the living Earth.  You will likely work with a team to gather and analyze data while investigating a specific aspect of your subject.

• Pharmacist- Specialize in the distribution and management of medical drugs.  Some duties you might have as a pharmacist include advising patients on drug use, preparing prescribed medications, and keeping stock of the medication in your pharmacy.  

• Medical Technician- Aid doctors in medical diagnosement through performing complex tests on patients.  You will utilize and take care of lab equipment in order to run diagnostics and analyze the results.  

• Aerospace Engineer- Work in engineering aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, and satellites.  Your job could include working with a team to develop preliminary designs, construct the actual craft, and carry out tests in order to ensure the success of your creation.  

• Civil Engineer- Work in engineering public projects such as bridges, sewage systems, infrastructure, and more.  You would help to plan and design the construction of these projects while working to optimize the designs for public use.

• Information Security Analyst- Work to protect a company’s important online data from cyberattacks.  You will help design firewalls and systems to prevent attackers from accessing company information as well as detect breaches and potential risks. 

• Web Developer- Create websites as per the request of a client.  You will code the website and ensure that the software runs smoothly.  You may also work to design the layout of the website.  

• Computer Network Architect- Design data communication networks, implement them, and maintain them.  The networks you may work on can range from larger networks to smaller, more local networks.  

• Financial Analyst- Analyze trends in certain investments such as stocks in order to help guide companies or individuals in making their own investments.  You will use your knowledge of the market in order to counsel clients in how and where to invest their money.  

• Auditor- Work with individual clients or larger corporations to ensure their financial records are in order.  You will be tasked with analyzing financial records and statements and may also give advice to clients regarding statements.  

If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in the STEM field, the best place to start is to do your own research on the various jobs and pathways the field offers.  Once you’ve found a subject of interest, you can take action by signing up for a course related to the subject.  If you’re in high school, you can check your course catalog to see which classes are offered.  STEM related classes are often a great way to get an early jumpstart on your education, and many high schools also often offer science or math credits for taking them.  If you aren’t in high school or your school does not offer any classes of your interest, you can also check if your local college offers the course you’re looking for.  Another alternative would be researching online courses, as there are endless amounts of opportunities for education on the web.  Even if you just go to your local library and check out a book on the subject, dipping into STEM can help you decide if you are interested in pursuing the subject or not and give you a basis of knowledge to build upon.  

Once you’ve found a STEM subject you’re interested in, another way to dive deeper into the field is to find a community.  If you’re enrolled in school, check to see if there are any STEM related clubs.  Collaborating with other individuals with similar interests can give you a new perspective on the subject and inspire you to keep going.  Making connections is also a vital skill in the STEM world, as connections can often open doors to bigger opportunities and projects.  If you aren’t able to find any communities locally, you can also turn to the internet.  Though it is important to be safe online, there are multitudes of online communities and forums that discuss STEM related topics where you can spread your ideas and gain advice from others.  

Perhaps you’ve already taken a few classes in the subject you’re interested in or been involved in some STEM communities and are ready to take your career a step further.  If so, internships are a great way to gain firsthand experience in a field you’re interested in.  Through internships, you can learn new knowledge about your field while also seeing the day to day life of someone with a STEM career.  Internships are not only a great way to decide if a specific career is for you, but it also gives you the type of experience that looks great when applying for other jobs or higher education.  

The STEM field has been historically male-dominated, with women often facing double standards or not getting the same credit for their work as their male counterparts.  In recent years the field has slowly become more welcoming to female workers, but there is still much work to be done.  Despite the challenges the field offers to women and other minority workers,  it can be a worthwhile challenge to those with the ambition to learn, educate, and create projects they’re passionate about.  Due to high demand for STEM related skills, careers in the field often offer competitive salaries and job security for those looking to make a sustainable living. Through STEM careers, women have the opportunity to advance in work that inspires them and tackle real issues in our world whilst making a lasting impact, making STEM careers an incredibly fulfilling pathway for many.