#wocintech

Preliminary note on what “only” means in this sense: the only black person, the only woman, the only latinx person, the only openly gender non conforming person, the only neuro-diverse person, as in the only of any group traditionally marginalized and over looked in tech.

Dear engineering and IT mangers, co-workers, workplace allies, etc,

 We the "only's" are tired. Tired of so blatantly standing out, but also tired of being overlooked. Tired of being the go-to person for questions related to our culture or background, but not when it comes to projects or technical contributions. Tired of not having our cultures or backgrounds represented throughout the company or team. Tired of asking ourselves the questions "Is it because I'm ....?" and "How much longer am I going to put up with this?" We're tired, and you're losing us a lot quicker than you're willing to do the work to replace us. So let's get real, here are some ways you can better support, appreciate, and amplify the "only's" on your team: 1. Don't let us remain the only for too long. Although this is really an HR/Hiring problem at it's root, we probably have contacts with similar backgrounds and skills that would also make great contributions to the org/team/project. Respectfully ask if we do, and actually consider the candidates we recommend. Not every job needs a degree or even one from a well known school. 

2. For managers/leaders, make an effort to gauge our experiences in an open and candid manner. It can be very difficult for "only's" to share our true feelings about our job and responsibilities with our managers. Build this relationship, make sure your employees can talk to you about their experiences, good and bad, without the feeling that you're rushing to judgement. 

3. Follow up to 2, don't automatically take offense to what we say. Keep in mind, our experiences look very different because of our "only" status. Some people may talk to/treat us differently because of it and when we share these moments with you, we are looking for support. We are looking for someone else to see and acknowledge that this is an issue and it needs to be dealt with. 

4. Take our suggestions seriously. Examine them and ask us questions if you have concerns. When hiring, your org/team/project was looking for someone to contribute and that's what we're trying to do. Don't dismiss our ideas without consideration. Our "only"-ness allows us to notice things that a more homogenous team may overlook or not even think of in the first place. 

5. Invite us into the conversation. For some of us, we don't need help to jump in and contribute to the discussion, but for others it's the complete opposite. If you notice we haven't shared our opinions or contributed to the conversation at all, respectfully invite us in, and don't interrupt us if we're trying to make a point.

  6. Give credit where it's due. If we're doing remarkable work, commend us publicly for it. It helps to raise our profile throughout the team and among other employees.

I know it's super late, but I need y'all to hear me out on this: THE AVERAGE SALARY OF AN IT SUPPORT TECHNICIAN IS 50K/YEAR NATIONWIDE. In GA alone, the salary ranges from 40K-60K/ year + benefits. Within the next decade, the number of jobs in this field is expected to grow by 10%; FASTER THAN ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONS ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

Why am I saying all this?

Because Google is offering needs based scholarships for up to 10,000 people for their online IT support professional certificate if you apply by February 20th. This course is taught by Google's own IT professionals and participants will also be connected with other prominent IT employers such as Walmart, Bank of America, and others looking to fill this huge skills gap they have in available IT workers. For 8-10 hours a week, within 8 months , you can complete the program and be well on your way to an on site or even sometimes remote (from home) work as a well paid IT professional. You literally only need a computer an internet access. You don't need any prior qualification for this program including a GED or high school diploma. YOUR LITERALLY ONLY NEED A COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS. This is an amazing opportunity and I would love to see someone change their lives with it. Courses are $49/month. I promise you, it's more than worth it! Please check out the details on this at the link below: 

So I've been away for a while but not without due cause. A few weeks ago, I completed a major chapter in my life: I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE. Not only am I officially a university alumni, but in a few short weeks, I will be heading to Silicon Valley to kick off my career as a software engineer! 

I did it, so can you. Here’s how:

Understand the value of hard work. For myself one of the biggest challenges in my degree  was mathematics. I never had the strongest math skills but, as a degree requirement, I had to take several advanced math courses. I had to learn how to review difficult concepts on my own, ask as many questions as needed,  and  check my work with the help of my professor or a tutor. I spent many long hours in the library and at the kitchen table reviewing and making my way through problems.  This hard work has helped me succeed both in and outside of the classroom and I'm grateful to know it's value. You'll appreciate it as well when your work ethic opens doors for you too.

Talk about what you're working on. It's not bragging but it's selling your skill-set and letting people know that you're competent in what you do.  Most times you don't have to go into all of the technical details of what you're working on, and projects that you've completed. Talking about your work  helps paint a great professional picture of you if people can see that you're excited about what you're currently doing. When you talk to enough people you become known. Being known = more scholarship, internship, and job opportunities. When I talk about myself and my work, I always wonder if I sound like I'm bragging rather than selling my ideas. Yet throughout my career I've heard it told that when I light up about something and display my passion for it, it makes me sound genuine and of course hire-able.

Conferences are key. Through out my academic journey, I have seen the positive impact that attending conferences has on students networking skills, job prospects, and professional connections. Conferences give you  the chance to get 1:1 face time with a wide array of recruiters in ways your school may not provide. Go prepared with plenty of copies of your well reviewed resume, ready to speak to your past experiences, and prepared to connect. You never know who you could meet or how your path could change at these events. If you can, try to attend at least one per semester. Here are some great ones to get you started:  

Tapia Diversity Conference

Grace Hopper Celebration for Women in Computing

NSBE Convention 

SHPE Convention