Last night was our first event of the year, and we had an amazing time! Thanks so much to our mentors, volunteers, and the attendees who came out for our mentoring event. And extra thanks to the team at Northeastern University Seattle for hosting!

We had 13 mentors and 50-60 guests. It was a great ratio for small group chats. We rotated every ten minutes so attendees could chat with 5 or 6 mentors throughout the evening. I think I speak for both mentors and attendees when I say that 10 minutes is not nearly enough. That said, I felt like I started some really great conversations. I hope to hear from any attendees who want to continue these chats! (You may have to remind me of the topic, because things have already started to blur together.)

Aside from our 2023 conference, this was our first in person event since February of 2020. We are excited to get back into a routine of smaller, year-round events to keep our community active in between conferences. It was amazing to see so many new and familiar faces.

This event was a full-circle moment for me, personally. Our last in person event before Covid was also speed mentoring, in a very similar format. I was a brand new volunteer with WiDS Puget Sound, and I attended the event to seek advice about finding my first job in tech. 4 years later, I ended up filling in for a mentor who was sick. I remember vividly what it was like to be brand new to this industry, so it was somewhat surprising to find that I actually had answers to so many questions that came up. To anyone who doubts your own ability to mentor others, I encourage you to give it a shot. Perhaps there is value in offering guidance while the perspective of being a beginner is still so fresh.

A few recurring questions came up, and a few answers were left incomplete, so I will throw in a few tips below.

Q: For people transitioning from another career, how much information should my resume include about about my past work experiences?
A: The amount of information depends on how relevant your previous job experiences are to the job you want. It is worth including jobs from your recent past, but make sure every bullet point contains information directly relevant to the job you want; focus on transferable skills! Be concise.

Q: How essential is networking? What kinds of networking activities are most worthwhile?

A: It is hard to measure, but engaging in some form of networking can have a big impact on your career. Even if it doesn’t get you your next job, it can teach you about what jobs are out there and what it is like to work for different companies.
When I was job searching, I focused on two forms of networking: educational events and volunteering. I went to events where I would learn something useful, so even if I made no great connections, it would still be a good use of my time. I also (obviously) got involved with WiDS Puget Sound. By helping to organize these events, I have made my most valuable career connections. It is not instantaneous; I have given a lot of energy to the team, and I have gained meaningful relationships as a result. If you want to get involved, start up conversations with the organizers when you go to events. Ask if they are run by volunteers or if the event is organized by a company.
Local groups that may have volunteer opportunities, and definitely have educational & networking events: Puget Sound Programming Python (PuPPy), PyCascades, WiDS Puget Sound (yes, I’m biased), SeattlePyLadies, R-Ladies Seattle, PyData Seattle, Women Techmakers Seattle

Q: When I meet people in the industry, what should I talk about?

A: I had three go-to questions:
(1) Do you have any tips for catching the attention of a recruiter from your company?
(2) Is there a centralized department for data scientists, or are they dispersed throughout various teams at the company?
(3) How did you initially get started at your company? Did you cold-apply? Or did you know someone at the company?

I hope this event proved useful, and would love to hear feedback from anyone!

Thanks for your time.

Cheers,

Kelly

Co-chair of WiDS Puget Sound

Speed Mentoring Success