Be assertive to grab the job in male-dominant firms

Are you applying for a job in a male-dominated company? Better be assertive and goal-oriented rather that being supportive or emotional and get things work for you.

According to promising research, women applying for a job in male-dominated fields should consider playing up their masculine qualities.

"We found that 'manning up' seemed to be an effective strategy because it was seen as necessary for the job," said Ann Marie Ryan, a professor of psychology at Michigan State University.

During experiments, women who described themselves using masculine-like traits (assertive, independent, achievement oriented) were evaluated as more fitting for the job than those who emphasized female-like traits (warmth, supportiveness, nurturing).

The findings refute the idea that women who emphasise counter-stereotypical traits might face a backlash for not conforming to expected gender roles.

"When hiring for a leadership position in a male-dominated field such as engineering, decision makers appear to be looking for take-charge candidates regardless of gender," Ryan stressed.

Because there is ample evidence hiring discrimination exists for women, minorities, older workers and others, it is time to start focusing on why discrimination occurs - and what a job seeker might do to combat it, researchers concluded in the journal Psychology of Women Quarterly.