Women mentoring: Jobseekers in the tech industry are facing continuous times of turbulence as the world’s most influential, innovative companies continue with layoffs. Victims of 2024 downsizing include Google, TikTok, Amazon and Microsoft among others.

According to The Central Statistics Office in Ireland, in 2023 alone, over two hundred and sixty thousand workers across nearly 1,200 tech companies lost their jobs. In addition to this, Women in Tech reports that, despite global layoffs, in the US there are about 3.7 million females working in the industry.

Despite the ups and downs the last year has brought, women remain invaluable additions to tech companies of all shapes and sizes. The only issue is helping females in the industry to secure their dream job within the sector. With competition for coveted roles in technology higher than ever before, we spoke to entrepreneur, recruiter and Co-founder Mahati V Singh.

Mahati has helped hundreds of women secure positions, with mentoring them, within the tech industry and, as Co-founder of Voxal.ai and CodiesAlert she has developed first-hand experience as to how hard it is to gain a foot in the door.

We spoke to Mahati about her journey, rejection, tips for landing your dream tech job and the biggest challenges she has faced as a female entrepreneur.

Can you tell us a bit about you, where are you based, what motivates you in life and what led you to develop your own tech recruitment/mentorship programme?

My name is Mahati V Singh and I am currently based in the United States. After working in tech for over eleven years as a Lead Technical Recruiter, in 2023, I decided to switch to entrepreneurship to focus on both career mentoring and content creation. I’m currently the Co-Founder of Voxal.ai, an AI SaaS chatbot company and CodiesAlert, an e-learning company. As a recruiter, I’ve witnessed many brilliant minds missing out on opportunities due to lack of interview preparation or proper career guidance. Hence I’m on a mission to help people in tech, particularly women to thrive in their careers. I do this through helping turn rejections into selections and using my expertise to help people land their dream job. I ensure candidates stand out to secure that position and also help them shine in the tech industry!

In your opinion, what makes a good female founder?

In my opinion, a good female founder possesses a combination of resilience, vision, and leadership. She is resilient, overcoming challenges and setbacks with determination and adaptability. Her vision drives innovation and guides her team towards one solid goal. As a leader, she creates an inclusive and supportive culture, empowering her team, company and valuing diverse perspectives. Her ability to communicate effectively, manage stress, manage career and personal life, build strong relationships, and stay committed to her mission makes her a standout founder who can navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship successfully.

What’s the best piece of advice you can give people who are seeking jobs in the tech sector?

As both a career mentor and recruiter, the best piece of advice I can give to those seeking jobs in the tech sector is to focus on soft skills as much as tech skills. It is also to continuously learn, upskill, adapt, manage stress and take constructive criticism positively. I also think people looking for jobs in tech need to be mentally ready to face any challenges as the market and tech can be unpredictable.

 Describe yourself in three words…

I love this question! I would say I am inquisitive, innovative and driven.

What are the main challenges you have faced as a female entrepreneur?

The main challenges I faced as a female entrepreneur included people questioning my decisions and often discouraging me. Many questioned why I would leave a nine to five job and expressed doubt in my ability to manage a good work life balance. Gender bias was also a significant hurdle, coming from a society where women are often seen only as daughters, wives, and mothers. I have found that their success and hard work are frequently attributed to luck or disregarded entirely. The fear of failure loomed largely. I knew that if I stumbled, many people would be ready to dismiss my efforts. It was these obstacles which pushed me to constantly build my confidence and helped me to keep striving to do better.

In your opinion, what’s the biggest mistake tech CEO’s make when trying to recruit suitable talent?

I think one of the biggest mistakes is over hiring which later leads to layoffs. Another is focusing too heavily on technical skills and overlooking cultural fit. Some people hired (especially at Senior Management level or Manager level) do not fit the role. They might be technically sound to work in an individual contributor role but not be suited to leadership or managing teams. One wrong hire can spoil the entire work culture and career aspirations of many people working with them.

What recruitment trends can we expect to see over the next 12 months and, in your opinion, has the process changed much since covid?

I love this question and have been creating content on the same! I believe a lot has changed since the pandemic. In terms of remote and hybrid working models a lot of employers are demanding a return to the office however most roles are still hybrid, so there is still some flexibility. Another trend is the increased use of AI and automation. I believe that AI and automation will play a bigger role in the recruitment process. Tools for screening resumes, scheduling interviews, and even conducting initial assessments will become standard going forward. In addition, I think that the emphasis will shift from traditional qualifications to skills based hiring. Employers will look for specific skills and competencies rather than just educational background and experience going forward.

And finally can you please tell us a bit about your ambitions for the year ahead?

I’m currently focused on my AI SaaS chatbot product, Voxal.ai, and I’m excited about its upcoming launch. Additionally, I’m developing more courses on in-demand topics like AI and AWS for my e-learning company, CodiesAlert, which has already trained over 5,000 developers in Blockchain and Web3. My goal is to expand our course offerings and continue mentoring more people, with the aim of reaching over one thousand mentees by December 2024. I’m also becoming more dedicated to content creation and building a strong personal brand!