Finding your path in the tech field can be daunting if you don’t know where to start. This can be either a full time job, freelancing, or consulting. Chanita Simms is helping build up the tech community around people of color with empowerment and resources to help find that techie job.
A nanny turned Melanin (dot) Tech Founder and Help Scout growth specialist, she is dedicated to showing the world that there is more to black people than what you see in the media. Chanita is committed to helping people of color earn opportunities in the tech industry and sustain long-term, rewarding careers. She is usually advocating for the advancement of diversity and inclusion, traveling the world, playing Uno or attempting to dance salsa.
Chanita’s mission is to create lasting change in the tech industry that she knows and loves. Her brand of change is focused on inspiring others to stand up for what they believe in and to never run away from something they enjoy, even if they feel as if they don’t belong.
She and her partners created Melanin
Website:https://www.melanin.tech
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanintech/
Blog: https://medium.com/@melanintech
Here are a few points of what we talked about:
- Chanita started off as a nanny
- Works for Growth Scout as a growth specialist
- Impostor syndrome is real and can hit harder if you are a minority
- Step up and take ownership of your career – You’ll be viewed as the expert
- You may be the only person in your organization that looks like you, but that shouldn’t stop you from BEING you
- You don’t have to be the same to be in tech
- Be bold and be yourself! Stand out and you’ll make it farther
- Take time to invest in yourself and learn something new. You don’t have to always have a degree or be a developer to be in the tech field
- Do what you love; what you know and get experience from your journey
- Join small projects + Volunteer / Freelance forums
- Fiverr.com
- Upwork.com
- etc
- Start somewhere by. Work on projects
Once you get a little experience, start flexing! It doesn’t pay to be humble.
- Going from 0 to 100 is not required. You can go from 0 to 1 and you’re still an expert
- There are always levels to what you’re an expert with
- Don’t be afraid to start!
- Technology evolves and so will you. There are so many avenues of the tech field
- Step up to challenges and ask for more if you’re already working in a tech field/company
- Don’t prioritize prestige over what fits for you
- Burn out is real and will creep up on
- Go where the people are! Make friends in the tech space and network
- Melanin.tech is striving to help build relationships
- Helping you find jobs, but with screeners to include diversity
- Indeed
- Zip Recruiter
- Atlanta Tech Village
- Finding a job is a full-time job in itself, and having someone in your corner is a win-win!
- Knowing your own worth and being firm with what your requirements are powerful
- Diversity and inclusion consulting
- Build a community where you can be yourself
- Meetup events hosted with Melanin
- HATE those “speed dating for professionals” events
- Building that relationship takes time
- Icebreakers at events help get people started
- Challenges with working from home
- Impostor syndrome X 1,000,000
- Fear of being fired
- Codeswitching – Change yourself to match the environment/people
- How DARE you!
- College drop out
- Woman
- Woman of color
- Be yourself and you’ll be just fine! You’ll enjoy yourself and your clients can tell
- Your clients and customers can sense when you’re real and genuine
- Reduces stress
- Builds trust
- “Your baby is cute as a button!” vs “Wow…your baby looks JUST like you…”
People are just people. At the end of the day, we’re all talk about the same things.
- Networking does not have to be collecting a business card
- Keep the conversation going and flow with F.O.R.D.
- Family
- Occupation
- Recreation
- Dreams
- You can start the conversations
- Working at Toys-R-Us as Geoffrey the Giraffe
- Everyone should work in retail at least one sale cycle
- Be friends with your tech support department
- Face time with the different tech levels. Build that report
- Conferences and networking events
- Afro Tech – Large conference with a diverse group of people
- Code camp – Local Atlanta techie conference
- As you progress with your career, your roles changes
- Diversify your skills to be more independent
- Meeting customers
- Closing sales
- Meeting other professionals
- Non-tech skills; soft skills
- Sometimes you have to experience it to learn you don’t like it
- Working in South America
- You have to put some action towards your learning
- Melanin.Tech 2019 Focus
- Career Awareness
- Screened Job Listings
- Building a community
- Flat Iron Schools
- Virtual Meetup
Quick Picks
Chanita
- Switch Yards Coworking space – Downtown co-working space
- Dope coffee partnerships
Marion
- Savannah River Street Sweets – Local candy company in the historic section of Savannah