Interviewing at GHC — Connecting with employers before the conference

I have been attending and speaking at Grace Hopper Conference since 2015 and most recently I presented my 5th workshop at GHC on the topic of “Writing Effective Self and Peer Evaluations” at GHC 2019. Many attendees go to GHC looking for their next job and I wrote a 4 part series to help them get their dream job. I hope this would help you.

This post is part 2 of a 4 part blog series.

In case you missed it, you can read part 1, part 3 and part 4 here.

Step 2: Get connected to and noticed by the right people BEFORE the conference

So you have a perfect resume… now what?

• Submit your resume EARLY to AnitaB.org resume databases at https://careercenter.anitab.org/ . Submitting a good resume early is a lot better than submitting the most perfect resume too close to the conference. Remember that employers regularly scan the database and do reach out to invite promising candidates for interviews and events, but they have limited slots during GHC. You can also submit your resume even if you do not plan to attend or your plans change later. In addition to conference time interviews, many companies collect resumes during GHC and then get in touch with candidates afterwards.
• Tell people that you are going to GHC. One of the easiest way to do that is to update your LinkedIn profile and add GHC19 in your profile summary. Another good way is to share a post with #GHC19 hashtag as many recruiters and attendees scan for GHC related hashtags. If you are in conversation with a company already, let them know that you are attending GHC and would love to meet up and/or interview at GHC.
• Reach out to recruiters yourself. You can check the list of companies that are coming to GHC career expo ahead of time. Scan your network to find connections at the companies you are interested in and ask them to connect you with recruiters who might be managing GHC hiring. If you do not have connections, find the company recruiter on LinkedIn and reach out to them. There are many recruiters in big companies and not every recruiter is aware of GHC specific positions so this process might take some time.
• Start networking with other attendees. Join GHC related groups on Facebook and LinkedIn. Networking is one of the best parts of attending the GHC. Connect with other members of the groups and make plans to meet up with people at the conference. Many times, you can learn about job opportunities via these groups and can also learn a lot from other members of the group.
• Improve your LinkedIn profile just like your resume. Several people that you meet at GHC would look you up on LinkedIn and connect with you. Many recruiters would get your resume from the database but would look you up on LinkedIn and could even use LinkedIn to reach out to you after GHC so make sure your LinkedIn profile is polished and up to date.
• Schedule interviews as soon as possible. If employers reach out to you prior to GHC, be prompt in following up and schedule interviews as quickly as you can. Do coding challenges they may send. They might also give you a short phone screening before GHC. Interview slots and positions are first come first serve and may run out, so don’t wait!
• Schedule interviews early in the conference. Try and set up the interviews on the first or second day of GHC. Many companies do follow up interview rounds and scheduling your first round early would give you time to accommodate the second interview within GHC timeframe.
• Prepare even if you do not get contacted by recruiters. Try applying to companies directly and go to career expo ready to interview at a short notice. Proper preparation prevents poor performance.

Click here for part 3 of the blog series.

Step 3: Prepare for the coding challenges and interviews

About the Author

Shilpa Vir is an engineer turned product manager, avid public speaker, first-generation immigrant, a woman of color and first in her family to pursue engineering and career in tech. She is passionate about supporting women in tech and product management, has served on leadership positions in women in technology organizations, and often speaks at various industry events. Connect with Shilpa on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram.