The cry we often hear in the heart of Silicon Valley and at tech hubs around the globe is “We are all in this together.” However, despite togetherness, there is an elephant in the room—the privilege gap. Today, we will discuss the privilege gap in the tech industry and its impact on job seekers as well as employers while finding solutions to it.
In elementary terms, privilege gap refers to differing opportunities among groups with respect to resources and benefits. In technology field, this takes many forms such as lack of equal access to education, mentorship programs, job opportunities and promotions. This disproportionately affects women, people of color, differently abled individuals and minorities.
Tech’s privilege gap results into poor diversity and representation which stifles innovation and hinders performance. This was confirmed by a McKinsey study that showed diverse teams outperforming their counterparts by up to 35%. Nevertheless, most diverse talents are blocked by privilege gaps from accessing opportunities; hence these potential advantages are missed by tech companies.
As someone looking for a job stepping towards addressing the problem associated with advantage disparity. Here are some strategies:
Network: Creating a broad network can help you get connected with good mentors who can help you grow your career.
Skill Development: Keep advancing your skills through online courses, workshops, certificates etc as opposed to formal education which most tech companies value less.
Advocate for Yourself: Do not wait until somebody recognizes your accomplishments or goals but make sure you speak out about them. Look for opportunities wherever possible without fear of where they may lead you.
Employers play a crucial role in narrowing the privilege gap. It begins with acknowledging its existence and committing to creating a more equitable tech industry. Here are some steps to take:
Inclusive Hiring Practices: Candidates with different backgrounds including self-taught programmers, boot-camp graduates, and people changing careers should be considered beyond traditional talent pools.
Create Mentorship and Sponsorship Programs: This helps marginalized staff members by offering them guidance and exposure.
Promote Equitable Opportunities: All employees must have access to promotions, difficult assignments, training programs or any other type of skill enhancements.
Cultivate a Diverse and Inclusive Culture: A culture that appreciates diversity and inclusion can make any person feel accepted regardless of their background.
However, “We're all in this together” should not only sound catchy but rather our reality within the technological industry. The issue of privilege gap is complicated though recognizing and understanding it is key to finding a way out.
As job hunters or employers we shape tomorrow’s technology sector; therefore bridging the privilege gap would enable us create such an inclusive tech industry where everyone has access to opportunities on innovation thrives.