Today we are featuring engineering student Jennifer Fritz. She shares her experiences in the IT world and advice on how to succeed in the industry.
How did you get started in the tech industry?
I had been working for many years in IT Support at a local heavy equipment company prior to my first job in the tech industry. I started out as an IT Helpdesk Specialist at Sortable, an ad-tech company, in Kitchener-Waterloo in July of 2018. Although I had almost 10 years of experience in IT support, I had no formal education in tech or IT so getting a position at Sortable was a dream come true. Over the next two years I worked with an amazing mentor at the company who helped me grow my skills. He really encouraged me and helped me achieve further certifications which are invaluable in growing your career in IT. In mid 2020 I got an opportunity to work with a second mentor at Sortable and I moved into the Systems Administrator position, overseeing the systems and tools at the company. This new opportunity was again invaluable, I got a chance to work more closely with the engineering team and gain new skills and understanding working directly with the VP of Engineering. I was very fortunate in July of 2021 to get an opportunity to return to school so at that time I left my full-time position at Sortable. In September I started as a full-time student in the Software Engineering Technician program at Conestoga College. I have continued to work part-time for Sortable (acquired by Freestar in August of 2021) as a Salesforce Consultant and will hold that position until the end of 2021.
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In your opinion what should we be telling younger generations of women that are interested in the field?
Don't be afraid to take chances and don’t be afraid to fail, mistakes are the catalyst for your own growth. You can be a leader at any stage of your career, build a community around yourself that inspires you to take risks and helps you grow.
How can women take action and ownership of their professional futures?
One of the best pieces of wisdom I received in my early career was when someone told me that you don't always have to be the loudest voice in the room but your voice does have power and you should use it. Ask a lot of questions and aim high for yourself, no opportunity is out of your reach. Find a mentor, not only can they help you gain valuable technical skills they will help you become a better leader and advocate for others.
In your opinion what can businesses do to better support and empower their female workers and leaders now in the tech world?
I think that having more female led mentorship programs would really empower and encourage female workers and leaders. I also think seeing more diversity in leadership roles is very empowering and can really strengthen company culture.
How do you see the future of the tech industry looking with the impact of COVID?
I believe the tech industry will continue to grow and thrive despite the impacts of the pandemic. The ability for tech companies to very quickly adapt and go remote was a saving grace compared to a lot of other industries and I feel very fortunate to have been able to continue my own career during the height of the pandemic. I think within tech we will continue to see even more remote job availability and even stronger company cultures as a result of the need for cohesive global teams. We saw an explosion of remote and online services and I believe that need will continue to grow as we move ahead.
I had been working for many years in IT Support at a local heavy equipment company prior to my first job in the tech industry. I started out as an IT Helpdesk Specialist at Sortable, an ad-tech company, in Kitchener-Waterloo in July of 2018. Although I had almost 10 years of experience in IT support, I had no formal education in tech or IT so getting a position at Sortable was a dream come true. Over the next two years I worked with an amazing mentor at the company who helped me grow my skills. He really encouraged me and helped me achieve further certifications which are invaluable in growing your career in IT. In mid 2020 I got an opportunity to work with a second mentor at Sortable and I moved into the Systems Administrator position, overseeing the systems and tools at the company. This new opportunity was again invaluable, I got a chance to work more closely with the engineering team and gain new skills and understanding working directly with the VP of Engineering. I was very fortunate in July of 2021 to get an opportunity to return to school so at that time I left my full-time position at Sortable. In September I started as a full-time student in the Software Engineering Technician program at Conestoga College. I have continued to work part-time for Sortable (acquired by Freestar in August of 2021) as a Salesforce Consultant and will hold that position until the end of 2021.
In your opinion what should we be telling younger generations of women that are interested in the field?
Don't be afraid to take chances and don’t be afraid to fail, mistakes are the catalyst for your own growth. You can be a leader at any stage of your career, build a community around yourself that inspires you to take risks and helps you grow.
How can women take action and ownership of their professional futures?
One of the best pieces of wisdom I received in my early career was when someone told me that you don't always have to be the loudest voice in the room but your voice does have power and you should use it. Ask a lot of questions and aim high for yourself, no opportunity is out of your reach. Find a mentor, not only can they help you gain valuable technical skills they will help you become a better leader and advocate for others.
In your opinion what can businesses do to better support and empower their female workers and leaders now in the tech world?
I think that having more female led mentorship programs would really empower and encourage female workers and leaders. I also think seeing more diversity in leadership roles is very empowering and can really strengthen company culture.
How do you see the future of the tech industry looking with the impact of COVID?
I believe the tech industry will continue to grow and thrive despite the impacts of the pandemic. The ability for tech companies to very quickly adapt and go remote was a saving grace compared to a lot of other industries and I feel very fortunate to have been able to continue my own career during the height of the pandemic. I think within tech we will continue to see even more remote job availability and even stronger company cultures as a result of the need for cohesive global teams. We saw an explosion of remote and online services and I believe that need will continue to grow as we move ahead.
Do you feel you’ve had to work harder than male colleagues to advance your career? In a very broad sense I think yes, I have had to work harder than my male counterparts to further my career especially prior to coming into the tech industry in 2018. That being said, in my experience, there has been a significant shift amongst many tech companies to become more inclusive and foster equality for all people. It makes me proud to be a part of this industry. It’s not perfect, there is more work to be done, but I think we are on the right path.
What is the best professional advice you've ever received?
One of the best pieces of professional advice I received was from a panel discussion put on by women, for women. The advice was simple, find a mentor, become a mentor. A good mentor can teach you leadership and communication skills as well as help you build and actualize strong goals. You can advocate for others by being a mentor in your own professional life. A fulfilling career can be built by lifting others up and being a part of the experiences of those around you.
What motivates you every day?
What motivates you every day?
My colleagues and my partner. I have been working and learning with the most amazing people at Sortable/Freestar and in school. Being surrounded by intelligent, tenacious and caring people has inspired me to be the best that I can be and I have had success because of the people around me. Their hard work motivates me every day. And of course my partner. I wouldn't be where I am today without him, his support over the years has been a driving force in my personal and professional growth. He keeps me sane and has helped me see that I can accomplish anything.
Are you interested in studying to become a Software Engineer like Jennifer? Join women across the world on March 31st as they discuss their experiences, challenges and achievements of working in the tech industry as a woman.
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