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There’s something quietly contradictory happening in the tech industry. More women than ever are learning tech skills – joining courses, attending programs and actively reskilling. And yet, many of them still hesitate to take the final step: applying for jobs. That’s the paradox.

The ideas explored in this article are inspired by insights from Jarūnė Preikšaitė (CEO, @Women Go Tech) and Laura Jončiulienė (Engineering director @Adform), who shared what they’re seeing behind the scenes of hiring and career transitions in tech. 

Women are doing the work

Across Lithuania (and beyond), the numbers are clear: women are actively enrolling in tech courses, participation in reskilling programs is growing, motivation to enter the field is there. The effort is not missing. So why isn’t this translating into employment?

The missing step: applying

According to Jarūnė and Laura, the issue is often hesitation and not the lack of skills. Many women doubt whether they are “good enough,” feel they need more preparation, delay applying until they meet every requirement. Even when they already have enough to get started. This creates a gap between learning and action.

Confidence becomes the real barrier

One of the key insights highlighted: the barrier is often psychological and not technical. Women tend to underestimate their abilities, focus on what they don’t know or wait for certainty in a field that is constantly evolving. Meanwhile, employers are not expecting perfection. They’re looking for potential, willingness to learn and ability to adapt.

The “perfect candidate” myth

Job descriptions don’t help either. Long lists of requirements create the illusion that you must meet everything before applying. But in reality candidates rarely meet 100% of criteria. Also hiring decisions are based on overall potential and many skills are learned on the job. Still, women are more likely to self-select out before even trying.

Learning more ≠ moving forward

Another pattern emerges: instead of applying, many women continue learning. Another course, another certification, another preparation phase. It feels productive but often delays real progress. Because at some point, learning stops being growth and starts becoming avoidance.

The role of support systems

So what helps?

Mentorship – seeing real examples of people who made the transition;

Community – realizing you’re not the only one feeling unsure;

Practical guidance – understanding how hiring really works.

These elements help shift mindset from: “I’m not ready yet” to “I’ll figure it out as I go.”

What needs to change

The takeaway is simple but uncomfortable:

The biggest gap in tech today is not access to learning. Transition from learning to doing is the hardest part.

Women are already investing time, energy and effort. But the real breakthrough happens only when they apply, show up and take the risk before feeling fully ready.

Final thought

There’s no moment when you suddenly feel 100% prepared. Tech doesn’t work like that. Careers don’t work like that. The people who move forward are not the ones who feel ready. You have to decide to act anyway.

Curious to read the full original piece in Lithuanian? You can find it by clicking the button below.