If you choose the new information and communication technology sector (NITC) you definitely opt to involve and commit yourself to the general public and take part in the digital revolution. Whereas just 20 years ago NITCs were only present in the field of research, nowadays they are easily used everyday by everyone.

The main players in this field, whether hardware vendors, software publishers, IT service suppliers or telecom operators, realised at that time that the Internet’s expansion would have an enormous impact. This is obvious today: telecoms and IT are behind huge transformations because they modify both interpersonal and inter­enterprise relationships. Last but not least they create new economic models resulting in profound societal changes. The boom in social networking, the explosion in on-line buying or the development of teleworking can only confirm this. Over and above these challenges, integrating a major international group is the promise of a diversified career path and even the possibility of mobility within France or abroad for those who wish.

Now, IT is practically an integral part of the service offered to the final customer and not just a support for business processes. Consequently, within the strategy of an integrated service operator implemented by France Telecom-Orange since 2005, networks and IT play a central role. IT within the Group represents more than 14,000 internal employees out of a total headcount of 181,000 worldwide. For France this represents investments of about 200 million Euros per year just for software development. IT is indeed a determining factor in the launching of new offers and in the automation of customer processes from order capture to service assurance. In particular, the call centre staff in the customer relationship is the focal point of IT for France in 2010, with the goal for IT people of substantially improving quality of service and user satisfaction. What is therefore particularly agreeable about working in IT is the cross disciplinary aspect. The richness and diversity of those involved is really pleasant, even if negotiations are sometimes tough between “marketing”, “the field” and “delivery”. In some countries, due to the historical position of the operator, there are in addition highly impacting regulatory requirements. Moreover, contributing directly to the company’s success is a source of great satisfaction.

According to Gartner consultancy, IT costs worldwide should increase by more than 5% this year. In fact, "a strong offer in terms of equipment in the first quarter of 2010 together with an upturn in the world economy would suggest an increase in IT demand for 2010", explained Richard Gordon, vice-president of research at Gartner, in a press release in April 2010. Similarly, worldwide demand for software should grow by 5.1% to 232 billion dollars and that for IT services by 5.7% to 821 billion dollars. Logically, for France Telecom-Orange, recruitment forecasts for IT functions in France will amount to approximately 570 in 2010, 370 of which only concern the development part. In particular, we are looking for:

fluent French speakers, either recently graduated after 5 years’ higher education or experienced applicants with a high-level of expertise

all kinds of technical profiles: from developers to architects or operational profiles, in all fields from portals or customer relationship management to order fulfilment or supervision and service assurance or even billing

people to work in all areas of France: Arcueil (94), Paris (5th district), Guyancourt (78), Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Montpellier, Lannion, Grenoble and Orléans

According to a study carried out in 2008 by McKinsey & Company, certain leadership behaviour more frequently observed among women strengthens company efficiency. The gender mix is therefore not just a question of ethics but also a performance factor. Many top managers in major companies are even considering positive discrimination within the framework of their human resources policy. In parallel, in a few European countries, there is a real reflection at state level concerning quota laws, which is encouraging. For external recruitment, the France Telecom-Orange IT Division has fixed the goal of a 30% rate of feminisation.

The place of women is gaining ground in France Telecom – Orange, including for key positions in top management. The IT Division in particular, despite its image as a technical entity, counts 31% of women on average, and the Group as a whole 37%. This is undoubtedly not a bad score, because the shortage of women in this domain is also a determining factor. It is regrettable that few young women (less than 20%), in spite of their excellent academic results, do not pursue a technical career or do not even opt for this sector, mainly due either to a lack of self-confidence or to a lack of information concerning job opportunities. Sometimes, thanks to their family background, it is simple to choose a technical career. Nevertheless, neither masculine competition, nor that which exists in any other form in the company, should be feared. On the contrary, they drive you to develop your adaptability, your capacity to be tactical and your faculty for communication, all of which are key factors for professional success.

As far as finding a balance between professional and private life is concerned, this is primarily a question of self-discipline, in a nutshell your capacity to be organised, to say no and to delegate. It is something that has to be learnt and which is admittedly not always very easy at the start of a career. Obviously the France Telecom - Orange context is favourable since the company is extremely well-disposed to this equilibrium, but society in general is also moving more or less in the right direction on the topic. It is no longer an exclusively feminine issue; fathers are also demanding to remain close to their children. Even an essentially masculine working environment can therefore induce the promotion of this kind of policy.

To conclude, an essential piece of advice to young women is above all to be pragmatic. There is a total mismatch between supply and demand in this sector, so the first thing to do is to have a look at how the labour market is evolving. As far as possible you then have to try and match your own skills and centres of interest with market needs. In the field of IT and telecoms, job opportunities are plentiful at the moment and will continue to be so in the next few years.

So don’t hesitate to consult the job offers section on www.orange.com to apply on line. And of course widely invite your friends and acquaintances to do so!

Jehanne Savi's Testimony

“I chose to follow academic training with a view to a career in research: first of all I went to “l’Ecole Normale Supérieure”, a top-tier higher education establishment, and obtained a PhD in theoretical physics. I was undoubtedly influenced by my family background in which there are many scientists. I then trained as a telecoms engineer, as I realised that I wanted to work in the field of industry and service.

I am currently the director of what is called “IT delivery for France”, a term which is impossible to translate into French. It consists in delivering complex IT projects for business in France, with dozens of systems to be enhanced. I lead a team of 165 people. Most of my time is spent in decision-making, seldom alone and most often with my peers. Prior to this, for any project, it is absolutely essential to really get to know the topic with my colleagues and coordinate with the main stakeholders. Another important part of decision-making concerns team management. Finally, from the strategic point of view, guidelines and priorities have to be defined for my entity or more widely for the IT Division, concerning for example the delivery model or recruitment policy. All these decisions are fundamental and as such require arbitration after weighing up different parameters; the latter are not only technical but also relate to marketing and financial aspects and of course human resources. This implies building up a consensus of opinion following rigorous risk assessment. “