Decoding GHC 2023: My Journey, Career Impact, and Insider Tips
For a successful GHC, you need to start now! Here, I dive into the pivotal role GHC played in my recruitment cycle with the current job market, offering valuable tips on maximizing your experience at GHC for future endeavors.
This is a synthesis of my experiences at the 2023 Grace Hopper Conference (GHC) held in Orlando, Florida. I was privileged enough to attend GHC last year as well (2022), so I hope to provide a basic differentiation between the two years. Additionally, I hope this helps people decide whether GHC is the right conference for their career goals and how one can get the most out of GHC. The primary reason I delayed publishing this one for so long is because I wanted to measure and analyze the genuine impact that GHC has had on both my personal journey as an immigrant and female international student, and my career trajectory.
My Experience (GHC'23):
My background
As an international student seeking internships with a CPT requirement and eyeing H1-B Visa sponsorship for full-time roles, I faced the additional challenge of companies needing more resources to hire me compared to permanent residents or citizens. This heightened the obstacles in my path. Consequently, I actively pursued opportunities with larger companies, anticipating their capacity to provide the necessary resources for sponsorship in my future career stages.
Approach my advice with a degree of caution, as your job hunting experience may differ. Nevertheless, amid the challenges of the 2023-2024 job market, where students grapple with feelings of desperation and helplessness, I believe sharing my experiences could prove valuable to peers navigating similar paths. It's worth noting that while these tips are broadly applicable to various tech entry-level positions, my firsthand experience lies specifically in Software Engineering (SWE) Intern roles.
GHC'23 proved to be a notably eventful experience for me. I successfully navigated the recruitment processes with seven prominent companies, including Citadel, Adobe, Oracle, Flatiron Health, TikTok, Google, Amazon, Bank of America, and Nike. I was able to do this by engaging with recruiters, securing referrals, receiving direct invitations for Online Assessments (OAs), and being approached for interviews via the GHC Resume Database. For most of these companies, GHC got my foot in the door which proved to be a very crucial step for this market.
In the case of three companies, I progressed to the final round interviews. For four additional companies, I received invitations to attend post-GHC networking events. These events played a pivotal role, offering invaluable opportunities to establish and reinforce connections with both employees and recruiters from these organizations.
For me, GHC is composed primarily of three key components, each contributing significantly to the overall experience: the Career Expo Booth, Keynote Speeches, and career-building featured sessions by industry experts. While other elements such as 1:1 meetings with recruiters, Braindates, Open Source day, and Connection Zones are also beneficial, personal fatigue post-Expo booth limited me from participating in these activities. Additionally, securing a 1:1 meeting with a recruiter was highly competitive, with slots filling up within the initial 20 minutes. So, I would recommend researching people's opinion and focusing on 2-3 aspects of GHC to make the most out of the experience.
A Snapshot of My Activities at GHC:
Tuesday: Registration, Braindates, walking around the Career Expo hall
Wednesday (First day) : Expo Hall, Speaker Sessions, Connection Zones, Networking events with Google and Citadel
Thursday: Expo Hall, Speaker Session on Brain Computer Interfaces, Interview with BofA, Networking event with Nike, Disney Studios trip with BofA
Friday: Last tour of Expo Hall, Meeting with friends I made at GHC, Universal Studios with friends
What I learnt last year + How I prepared this year:
My experiences last year definitely helped me make the most of GHC this year. Here's a timeline on what I did leading up to GHC'23:
March - May : Updated LinkedIn + Built personal projects + Reached out to recruiters I connected with last year
- Many major tech companies initiate their recruiting cycle about three seasons before the actual start date of a position. I've noticed that their primary platform for scouting early talent is LinkedIn. Recognizing this trend, I began leveraging LinkedIn strategically. During this period, I actively shared my achievements, personal projects, and more on my LinkedIn profile. Additionally, I curated a personal website portfolio to effectively showcase my coding experience. This process was instrumental in honing specific skills for highlighting in my applications and refining my personal projects accordingly. The visibility and credibility gained from sharing my projects and experiences on LinkedIn proved to be advantageous when reaching out to recruiters. The proactive approach even led to recruiters from other notable companies, including LinkedIn, Palantir, Cisco Meraki, and Apple, reaching out to me.
- Forging connections with recruiters is a key element in the application process, as they serve as genuine advocates for your candidacy and offer essential guidance. Given the fact that every company approaches recruitment differently, establishing a connection with recruiters becomes particularly vital. It will allow you to glean insights into the specific values and priorities a company holds for its employees. Seeking tips directly from recruiters helps you tailor your approach to align with the unique nuances of the company's hiring practices. This will ultimately increase your visibility in the application pool.
May - August : Started Interview Prep + Polished my personal projects + Asked for referrals from my network
- I took this time to reach out to any employees that I connected with during GHC'22. I was able to attend multiple networking sessions last year during GHC where I met a lot of employees that were extremely kind and helpful. At the time, I had only connected with them on LinkedIn. However, during the summer, I took the initiative to engage with each one, seeking a brief 20-minute conversation about their experiences at their respective companies. This deliberate outreach proved instrumental in securing referrals from esteemed companies such as Google, Amazon, Salesforce, Medtronic, and Microsoft.
- For those who haven't yet established such connections, I recommend leveraging opportunities like your school's career fair and engaging in cold messaging on LinkedIn to expand your network. Building these connections can significantly enhance your access to valuable insights and opportunities within the professional landscape.
- This is also the perfect time to start polishing your interview skills with Leetcode and Mock-Interviews. This is also the time to add on any online courses or build skills that you want to showcase on your resume.
August - September : Connected with otherGHC Attendees + Finalized my resume + GHC Resume Database + Applying to open positions
- During this period, a lot of people begin sharing their attendance at GHC on LinkedIn. Leveraging this, I actively connected with employees, peers, speakers, and recruiters who posted about GHC. Additionally, I followed the hashtag #ghc2023 on LinkedIn which helped me find other attendees. This helped me connect with people one-on-one at GHC, providing opportunities to meet individuals over coffee or lunch and further build meaningful connections.
- Take this time to get your resume reviewed by different people in the industry as well as your peers. Make sure that your resume is as polished as it can be because this will most likely be your first impression at GHC.
- This is also the perfect time to publish your resume on the GHC Resume Database. I was able to secure three interviews through the resume database even before I attended the conference.
- Few quick tips: Download the GHC app, try booking 1:1 sessions asap, mark events you want to attend and put them on GCal, bring at least 10 copies of your resume, prepare questions for recruiters.
- ❗Keep in mind: Recruiters are human beings, and it's important to recognize that. Unfortunately, I've observed many individuals treating them merely as a means to an end, pushing them around, or engaging in insincere conversations. Keep in mind that recruiters are the ones advocating for you, and they are likely the ones who will advance your application. Ensuring a positive first impression is crucial. When interacting with recruiters, ask questions that authentically interest you because, believe me, they have a keen sense for genuineness, and it can be sensed from a mile away.
Here's my experiences from last year in more detail!
Final Thoughts + Comments on GHC's impact on my career :
Despite the overwhelming and somewhat discouraging experience of GHC'23 compared to GHC'22, I genuinely believe that my participation in the conference significantly benefited my career. It provided me with unique opportunities to connect with people I wouldn't have been able to otherwise—whether it was engaging with peers from around the world or interacting with speakers from my dream companies. GHC proved to be a transformative, life-changing experience for me. It shifted my perspective on the recruitment process, encouraging me to consider how I can stand out from the company's standpoint.
As many of you may have already heard, GHC'23 presented challenges, particularly with increased male participation leading to more pushing and aggression. This translated into longer queues and difficulties being heard in the crowd, which was disheartening in an event aimed at empowering women and non-binary individuals. However, looking beyond these challenges, I still believe GHC is worth attending because it effectively narrows down the pool and helps you clarify what you truly want from your career.
GHC brings together people from diverse backgrounds, each with a unique story to tell. Personally, I found that I learned a great deal outside the expo booth (career fair), making the overall experience valuable. Despite its drawbacks, I would wholeheartedly recommend attending GHC if it's feasible for you.
