Improving career development through a Women mentoring program in the construction industry

Abstract Due to the high underrepresentation of women in the construction industry, researchers are proposing innovative solutions to attract and retain female workers in the profession. The study examined the prospects of improving career development through women mentoring programs in the construction industry. Using an in-depth content analysis of literature, the study extracted barriers and impact of women mentoring programs. The study showed that in order to access the positive potential outcome for female students and workers there are barriers that must be surpassed. The barriers to an effective woman mentoring program identified in this study are both internal and external in nature. Once the barriers to women mentoring programs are not effectively suppressed it would lead to negative mentoring experiences. The study highlighted that in order for women mentoring programs to be effective both mentors and mentees should have gone through a mentoring training/workshop. This would help harness their individual characteristics, ability to set goals, ensure professionalism and the ability to give/receive feedback. The study identified potential outcomes of an effective women mentoring program in the construction industry.