The Atlas Group & Community
The Atlas Group is a woman owned collective of professionals that brings job seekers, employers, professionals, and mental and emotional support together in one place. They address the increasingly relevant issue of social isolation by creating an online space for women, nonbinary, and trans people to communicate and collaborate. With their free membership, you can become part of an online community where you can share experiences, receive advice from peers and professionals, and just talk. As simple as that might sound, finding a community of others you can identify with is invaluable now more than ever.
As a member, you can gain access to job postings, live Q&A sessions with recruiters and hiring managers, and professional feedback on your resume. The group has partnered with top tech companies like Google, Apple, eBay, PayPal, FitBit, and more. Their advice and tips can be the difference between nailing your next interview or endlessly scrolling through temp agency websites. Unlike other career advisors, the Atlas Group’s professionals are down to earth and eager to help. They understand how confusing and disheartening job searches can be. If you’ve ever received an infamous “We regret to inform you…” email, you know the worry and dejection that follows. Sometimes all you need is someone to be there for you with words of encouragement and reassurance, then tips to get you right back on your feet.
The Atlas Group unites women, nonbinary, and trans people around the anxiety and nuances of applying for jobs. You can chat with other people who might be interviewing at the same places as you, or ask questions of those who are already employed there. Share your failures, your successes, things that worked well for you in interviews, things that you would have done differently; everything you have experienced is valid and helpful to the rest of the community.
The purpose of Atlas Group’s community is to uplift women by sharing secrets of the trade, and equipping them with the skills and tools to succeed not only in getting a job, but in rising up the corporate ladder. You’ll find inspiration, new perspectives, and meaningful conversations you wouldn’t find elsewhere.
Community and COVID-19
COVID-19 has changed nearly every aspect of our lives in only a matter of months. We’ve been advised to quarantine, isolate ourselves from family and friends, and avoid social gatherings altogether. Our entire lives have been reduced to the radius of our home. While this is ideal for stopping the spread of a virus, it’s awful for our mental health.
The fact of the matter is women, nonbinary, trans people, LGBTQ+, and people of color bear the brunt of COVID-19 more than any other groups. Many of us have lost our sense of normalcy, our safe spaces, and most importantly our communities. For some people, gatherings and social groups are their only escape from distressing or possibly abusive homelives. Now that we’re in a pandemic, we are not guaranteed the in-person interactions we need for our sanity.
Loneliness can have a lasting impact on your physical and emotional well-being by raising your stress levels, causing health problems, leading to substance abuse, and triggering depression or suicide. Zoom, HouseParty, and Nintendo’s Animal Crossing shot to popularity at first, but their novelty has worn off and people are slowly retreating back into themselves. Social media is great for passing time and staying connected on a superficial level with followers, but it isn’t always the greatest for fostering deep connections. We need more than Zoom and Instagram can offer; we need genuine human interaction. Bridging the gap between social media and meaningful, fulfilling connections is where community comes into play.
COVID-19, if nothing else, has reestablished the importance of community. It has shifted the focus away from the individual and toward the collective. Communities provide a place for people to find support, accountability, and guidance. Cultivating a community and bringing people together is crucial for our mental health now that we are physically isolated. We all need a place to go to share our feelings, anxieties, passions, or failures, and be met with compassion and empathy. There is power in being connected, and joining a community of like-minded people like the Atlas Group can be uplifting, encouraging, and invigorating.
Job Hunting and Gender Inequality
Our country has suffered an unprecedented financial blow due to the pandemic; more people than ever are out of jobs and in desperate need of new ones. Unemployment has skyrocketed, reaching a staggering 14.7% in April, marking the greatest spike in history.
The unemployment rate for women, however, has been higher than that of men since the pandemic hit. In the US, 46% of workers before COVID-19 were women, and it’s predicted that 43% of current job losses are women. The rate of women’s job losses is 1.8 times higher than men’s, all thanks to pre-existing gender inequalities.
The crawl toward gender equality has been painfully slow, and now thanks to COVID-19 any progress we’ve made is in danger. Gender inequality continues to affect billions of women around the world who are subjected to unequal pay and treatment. A sociological study showed during the pandemic that women, particularly mothers of young children, suffered the most job losses and the most cutbacks in work hours, partly due to an increased demand for childcare. Women are facing several obstacles at once: the risk of contracting COVID-19, increased financial stress, and increased domestic work and childcare.
Part of what contributes to gender inequality are traditional attitudes about women. Societal beliefs like, men have more right to jobs than women since their role is in the home, persist to this day. Likewise, there are societal attitudes that certain sectors are not for women, making for male-dominated industries that are difficult, if not impossible, for women to break into.
Breaking into the Tech Industry
Men dominate the tech industry, making up a whopping 70%. With that much homogeneity, the tech industry exudes sexism and gender inequality. 73% of women AND men say that the tech industry is sexist. What the technology industry has failed to recognize is that diversity stimulates innovation, advancement, and profitability.
Women are largely under-represented in technology, but the Atlas Group aims to address that by fostering the relationship with job seekers and tech professionals and recruiters. They bring to the forefront the struggles and mental strife that isn’t talked about in the job application process. The group takes on the role of supporting its members, while helping them devise a strategic career path. If you are searching for a way to break into the tech industry or other top male-dominated industries, the Atlas Group is the ideal community for both professional and emotional support.
You can join our free network here
