A survey of recently graduated women working within the field of IT has revealed that female workers may benefit the industry by offering a stronger set of soft skills compared to male employees.

The results of the study, conducted by recruitment site Target Jobs, revealed that 56{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e} of the women questioned felt that female graduates brought additional or different skills to the workplace.

This percentage of women pointed to “a greater attention to detail and a logical approach,” as well as “more developed soft skills” within their list of positive female characteristics.

The UK’s largest IT graduate employer, FDM Group, is firmly dedicated to attracting more women to the sector and strongly supports the notion that the appointment of more female workers could benefit the industry.

FDM Recruitment Manager, Madeleine Field, said, “It is widely recognised that women often bring a different view point and way of thinking to the table within all industries. Not only does this enhance creativity within a team and organisation but it may also offer alternative solutions to problems.”

The “Best Technical Graduate Recruiter” also believes in the importance of attaining optimum communication skills before entering the IT industry and doesn’t allow its graduate trainees to touch a computer for the first week of their training course.

Instead FDM trainees are prepared for their future roles through extensive soft skills training.

The fact that women may naturally possess stronger soft skills reaffirms the value of their contribution to the industry.

FDM Group Trainer, Louise Collis, said, “Although I don’t believe that women are in any way less technical than men, women are often more sociable, approachable and adaptable to various working environments. As IT professionals now have to interact with a variety of people across various departments and organisations, these attributes may give women a certain advantage.”

FDM Group is openly dedicated to recruiting female candidates and held its first Women in IT Advantage Session for female graduates over the summer.