College students toured the Google constructing in downtown Kitchener on April 2, adopted by a panel dialogue of three girls working in pc science, and networking with the Google crew.
“I really feel prefer it was an ideal alternative to attach with folks working within the trade,” mentioned Arathy Sasankan, a pupil within the Software Quality Assurance and Test Engineering program.
The panel shared sensible suggestions, from find out how to get into the trade generally to approaching the extremely aggressive course of for securing a pupil placement or everlasting job at Google. Listening to in regards to the worth of including experiences to resumes past instructional credentials, reminiscent of becoming a member of hackathons and volunteering locally, impressed Sasankan to search for different alternatives demonstrating her curiosity within the discipline.
As a bonus, the scholars heard that is additionally a good way to satisfy others within the trade and domesticate relationships, together with discovering a feminine mentor who can provide info and assist initially of their profession. One panelist harassed the significance of networking, saying “it is a smaller world than you assume.”
Sasankan is eager now to get extra concerned and be taught from folks within the trade as she considers find out how to attain her objective of working for a giant tech firm like Google. “I wish to join with increasingly more folks to get their opinions, their experiences.”
The Google crew welcomed the coed guests into their distinctive workspace transformed from an outdated rubber manufacturing unit on Breithaupt Road. Conestoga is ideally positioned within the Toronto-Waterloo tech hall and the school has sturdy ties to the native innovation sector.
“All of the Googlers loved sharing their experiences and cherished the coed’s participation and engagement. By means of this occasion we needed to offer college students with the chance to be taught firsthand about numerous careers within the tech trade, demystifying what it is like working in these fields, and construct useful connections by means of the networking session,” mentioned Urvi Patel, software program developer.
“I hope this occasion was capable of foster a way of group and belonging, and encourage the scholars, significantly as girls coming into traditionally male-dominated fields, to be empowered and excited in regards to the profession paths forward of them.”
That is precisely how Julia Jakob, a pupil within the Software Engineering Technology program, felt in regards to the Google go to figuring out girls are under-represented within the discipline.
“It is extremely inspirational to see everybody right here,” Jakob mentioned. “It is good to see the completely different paths you’ll be able to take to get into this profession.”
Bibi Murwared Enayat Zada, who’s in her first 12 months of the Software Engineering Technology program, is uncertain which discipline to pursue in programming and needed to ask how the Google staff determined. Enayat Zada and the opposite college students gathered across the staff through the networking time to ask a number of questions and take up all their recommendation. Sasankan got here ready with a notepad to jot down the precious insights.
“It is actually encouraging for many of us,” Sasankan mentioned.
Tara Campbell, assist companies officer within the College of Utilized Laptop Science & Data Expertise, mentioned the go to was probability to study internships and different alternatives obtainable to college students in know-how and at Google.
“This occasion was significantly useful for college students at each the start and finish of their tutorial journey. It offered a novel alternative to be taught from girls within the trade and served as a supply of motivation for these younger girls as they progress of their research,” Campbell mentioned.
“Networking occasions might be difficult, however this informal setting allowed college students to stretch their networking talents, which can serve them effectively as they appear to start out their profession and as soon as they’re working within the trade.”
Conestoga is dedicated to fostering and enhancing girls’s participation, persistence, and tutorial and profession success in engineering, know-how and trades. Instructional packages, outreach and occasions, and pupil helps reinforce this dedication as a part of the ETT4W initiative, which has helped many ladies pursue rewarding, in-demand and safe careers in these historically male-dominated fields.
“Conestoga ETT4W continues to collaborate with trade leaders like Google to supply feminine and non-binary college students useful profession networking and profession preparedness alternatives earlier than commencement,” mentioned Jacqueline Smith, program supervisor within the College of Utilized Laptop Science & Data Expertise and ETT4W committee member.
“The excessive stage of engagement from feminine and non-binary pupil attendees on the occasion displays a optimistic outlook on their program completion, instilling confidence of their readiness for profitable and inclusive careers in pc science and data know-how.”
ETT4W programming contains Teens Try Trades, Girls with Tools and Toast, pupil mixers, Go ENG Girl and Go CODE Girl. ETT4W additionally helps Jill of all Trades and the Women in Skilled Trades (WIST) program at Conestoga.
The faculty’s School of Applied Computer Science & Information Technology provides a Twenty first-century schooling with modern packages that may put together college students for an thrilling profession within the revolutionary world of Data and Communications Expertise.
