There’s nothing that sparks joy like seeing more and more women in tech.

That’s why we partnered with ReDI School of Digital Integration in Germany and funded a Data Analytics and Python Bootcamp in Berlin.We believe the more the merrier, especially when it comes to women in tech.

In order to help prepare ReDI School’s learners for their end-of-semester job fair, our friends at Babbel welcomed 17 leaders from ReDI and the Xena team to host a CV Clinic & Career Advice sprint.

Since becoming Babbels’s diversity and inclusion hiring partner, we have proudly raised €11,339 and placed 4 female Engineers and tech Leaders.

This event allowed ReDI learners to meet the Data Team at Babbel, explore the challenges of breaking into the industry, and learn about what it’s like to work in a real tech environment. Want to learn more? Check out more information about our event below…

Introduction to the Art of Applying to Jobs by Megan Gill, Head of Recruitment at Xena

Megan Gill is fully committed to advancing gender equality in tech, it’s literally her full-time job. She has been leading gender-diverse hiring, consulting for companies and women in leadership across Europe for the last 5 years. In other words, she knows the market well and has some killer advice to share.

So, how to get started? The 3 must-haves for any job search are:

-Linkedin

-CV

-Network

Having an online digital footprint is essential. For your CV and Linkedin, make sure to have an updated summary, focus on keywords (tech stack and skills) and connect with leaders and Talent Acquisition teams – this will help you get your CV in front of the right people!

When it comes to the actual job application, ignore the “senior” only titles and do apply for all the jobs you see in your skill set even if you don’t meet all the requirements. A pro-tip by Megan:

Don’t apply for only one type of company. More companies = more chances.

And remember, it might take time! But you only need one job to start.

Not being the right person for the job doesn’t reflect negatively on you personally.

So keep applying, keep going, and be resilient!

Then comes, THE first interview…

We know it might be intimidating, exciting and nerve-wracking all at the same time when you get your first interview booked. To help you prepare for your first job interview, we have a checklist for you to keep in mind. Be prepared to discuss: 

– Motivation to join the company

– Research your interviewers (Linkedin)

– Discuss your learning style

– What you got into tech

– Ideal team set-up

–What transferrable skills do you have

– Problem-solving in tech examples

We recommend answering questions by using the STAR Method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. This helps you create an easy-to-follow story with a clear conflict and resolution. But keep in mind: if you don’t know the answer. It’s ok, just say that you are unsure, but if you were to try and find the answer, discuss how you’d do that.

Next on the agenda, we had the pleasure of having Clemence Chee, VP of Data and Aldana Vaca, Team Lead of the Data Platform share their experience working at Babbel. As hiring managers themselves, they expressed the importance of:

–Showcasing the ability to crunch numbers

–Have a pet project that shows have you can transfer data and highlight your skills

–Express different ways of thinking, this will make you stand out!

Most importantly: persistence is key and what they look out for most in a candidate.

We then wrapped the afternoon with some networking with Babbel’s femgineers. A special thank you to the Babbel team for having us. Until next time!