#anitaborginstitute

Last October, I was blessed to score a scholarship courtesy of the Anita Borg Institute to the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Houston, Texas. #GHC16 is a premiere event featuring a career fair including the most recognizable brands around, the best science and engineering schools in the US, and the most promising start ups. Also included in the celebration's line up were sessions hosted by the most well known women tech professionals, students, and researchers, speaking on the present and future of computing. Least to say, I was elated to be chosen, not just to participate but to also win a scholarship to attend. From the jump, my four day journey was an excellent, business card packed adventure and here are some reasons for you to attend this October as the celebration takes over Orlando, Florida. 

The speakers were all phenomenal and I don't mean the keynote only. From hearing Ginni Rometty discuss her ascent from engineering student to CEO and chair woman of IBM, to Dr. Latanya Sweeney of Harvard discussing the future of data policy and how her research has influenced decisions at the Federal Trade Commission, on through great sessions headed up by names I've fangirled over on social media, I was not disappointed at all with the speaker line up. Make sure you pack a notebook or two with you in order to catch all of the gems these speakers drop. 

Don't leave behind your business cards, resume, or anything that speaks to your abilities as an engineer. This was an honest mistake I made. I didn't think that there would be much need for resumes considering I had several interviews lined up and had filled out a ton of online pre-screening applications for different companies. Now, I can honestly attest to the power behind an in person resume exchange and how it exponentially increases your chances of landing interviews at events like this. They work as perfect closers to conversations with recruiters about where you see yourself in their companies and how your skills best fit their needs 

Speaking of skills as an engineer, if you're looking to impress those on the software side of things, DON’T HESITATE TO BRUSH UP ON YOUR CODING SKILLS! I embarrassed myself so much with this one. I talked my way into an on the spot coding interview with a start up, and low and behold, I was asked to reverse a string inplace. Now as simple as this procedure is (see this tutorial for clarity), my nerves and not having to code in-depth for the better part of a year got to me. After the most excruciating 13 minutes of my life, my recruiter finally let me off the hook to go. Embarrassment aside, it never hurts to look up common algorithms and code interview questions before an event like this and to practice them! 

This segues to my next point, try not to allow earlier poor performances to influence your ones later on. Hours after the string-gate, one of my pre booked interviews was set to occur and I was a nervous wreck. I worried about them bringing up algorithms I couldn't recall and me not being able to put on a "please believe that I truly know what I'm doing" type of veneer, but I walked in with a freshly printed resume and the resolve that if this one didn’t go well, I'd come back next year swinging. Fortunately, this one was behavioral and experienced based. I was asked about things I've worked on, courses I've taken and more questions I was actually prepared to answer. Still after all handshakes were done, I was worried about the outcome. 

Additionally, be sure to attend the networking events/parties. Aside from the great food and drinks and the chance to say you crashed a "Google/Amazon/Twitter./etc..." bash, you can get true one on one networking with employees and movers and shakers at some of the top tech names in the world.  Another great aspect about GHC is that for all of the work you are putting in to get on the radar of these companies, they are also putting in the work to get you to join their teams. Don't let these opportunities to interview the companies for your sake, in a more informal setting pass you by. It's at functions like these, you get a feel for the company culture, get to know your possible future coworkers, and details on what makes company worth working for in your eyes. 

In the midst of all that networking and eating, don't forget to learn something new. Between what are arguably the world's best career fair and company parties, excellent sessions on everything from AI to gaming, to HPC's, to graduate school choice are abound at GHC. Getting a close up glimpse into cutting edge research, work paradigms, and other areas in computing from the world's leading experts in the field is truly not an opportunity to miss.

The extremely inclusive environment will make you feel so safe, secure, and welcome. All genders, backgrounds, and abilities are welcome at GHC. From free on site childcare, to gender neutral bathrooms, to the encouragement to travel through the city in groups for safety, there was never a moment at GHC where I felt at risk or left out. This was truly an event for ALL techies. 

Finally, make sure that you enjoy yourself. I loved GHC and it's definitely an event I look forward to returning to in the coming years. Hopefully with the internship I scored in Silicon Valley this summer courtesy of that behavioral based interview I stressed over, I will one day return as a recruiter and/or speaker.