Our first event of the quarter was a great opportunity to network! We invited three Boeing engineers to discuss their experiences in school and career path. A key takeaway from the discussion addressed internships and job searching. As the panelists have gone through similar situations in the past, they were able to give us insights in the process of looking for the right job. A few advice from the panelists include:
Ask a lot of Questions
Don’t act entitled
Don’t pretend to know something since it will show in your interview
Go to Career Fairs
Learn to work with different people and older generation
sLearn to facilitate conversations
Nonetheless, it’s important to have a confident mindset while applying to jobs, and to not be discouraged if there is rejection. This should not derail you from job searching as it is a chance for you to regain perspective and improve networking skills. One of the speakers, Kristen, applied a total of three times before getting an offer from Boeing. The recruiters knew her name and she builded relationships with them.
“Being female felt like I had to be less assertive, less confidence. It felt wishy washy to be characterized as this based on gender. Don’t feel like you need to be apologetic.” – Kristen
Another speaker also didn’t start working at Boeing right after college. Lea was working as a server at a restaurant while two managers from Boeing started talking to her. They wanted to know her interests and her ability to communicate effectively landed her a Project Manager role at Boeing. People do want to help you, if you present yourself in the best way no matter in any situation then more opportunities may arise in the long run.
Furthermore, a takeaway is that there are less women in major roles at Boeing. Since Lea has been a Project Manager she had to adjust to working with white older men who have worked there for years. She developed a few skills:
Build thick skin
Don’t come off too abrasive
Be assertive
We hope to have more opportunities, such as this one in the future that is focused on career development and women in the workplace.
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