This week we had the pleasure of welcoming Charlotte Patrick, a former Calne girl (1988 Leaver), back to speak to us for a CGA Talk about Making Career Choices in Technology.

Over a lovely supper, she spoke to us about how she came to do a degree in Electronics and Business and assured us that not knowing what we want to do in the future is OK. She highlighted how this degree was vastly helpful for her in her career and helped her find jobs. She warned us not to underestimate ourselves in the field of IT, as we may believe that others have much more experience than us. However, starting off in this sector we do have the space to learn and grow. Although currently focusing more on the business side of her degree, her strong basis in engineering has proved useful. 

Charlotte has worked in IT for 25 years and works from home as an Independent Analyst and Consultant. Her lecture was very insightful, as she informed us on the future of work in the IT sector and how jobs will change. She spoke about the recent technologies that are emerging, such as ChatGPT, advising us on how not to overuse it. She spoke to us about the importance of gaining essential transferrable skills that will be useful in our rapidly changing world. Giving advice on personal statements also proved useful as many of us in UVI are submitting our UCAS forms soon. 

It was fascinating to hear the variety of questions asked at the end of her talk, such as her opinion of the importance of humanities degrees for a job in business. Her advice was to perhaps keep up with IT if one wants to work in this sector, however, she knows various people who have succeeded with these degrees in the field of IT and business. 

Charlotte Patrick’s captivating opinions and analysis allowed us to understand more about the world of work for us in the future as women in STEM. 

Costanza, UVI