The Center for Career Development and the Women in Math, Science, and Engineering (WiMSE) Learning Community recently hosted an employer panel featuring Andrea Jones, Chief People Officer at FuelCell Energy, Kaitlin Paine, implementation consultant for Fast Enterprises, and Katie Jacobson, a civil engineer for VHB. These accomplished professionals shared their wealth of experience with WiMSE, answering questions pertaining to pivoting, competition, and imposter syndrome.
When it came to career pivoting, the three women discussed finding their current positions through trial and error. The value of interning and shadowing is that you can explore if a career is really for you before committing to it. For example, Katie Jacobson originally thought she wanted to be a teacher, but shadowing one made her realize it wasn’t for her. Instead, one technology course in college got her so interested in civil engineering and led her to work at VHB, a company primarily focused on transportation, land, and energy solutions.
As the conversation turned toward competition, Andrea Jones emphasized having superior talent and culture in your organization. You can’t attract talent without a strong culture first. So, more than offering candidates ample compensation, it’s about having a proven track record and a strong team bond to attract talent. Kaitlin Paine also chimed in on the importance of transparency and the necessity to “over-communicate.” This ensures that prospective candidates or clients stay in the loop and that there’s no miscommunication.
As women in math, science, and engineering, the topic of imposter syndrome was particularly relevant. Imposter syndrome is the feeling that, despite your success, you somehow don’t deserve it or fit in because of your identity. Andrea Jones empathized, remarking that being a results-driven female executive makes her look “bossy” to some prejudiced people. Yet, she wisely said, “Ten percent of life is what happens to you. Ninety percent of life is how you react.” No matter your identity, being authentic both about and with yourself will attract followers. “You know more than you think you do,” Katie Jacobson reminded students.
Watch this inspiring conversation on our YouTube Channel
Photo by ThisIsEngineering from Pexels
