Green River alum Kandis Brighton lands role at Expeditors
Hustle is a key career development concept faculty and staff routinely discuss with IT students at Green River College. We define it as the perseverance and passion required to achieve challenging long-term goals, and believe it can be the best predictor to finding a great job in tech after graduation.
As a student at Green River, Kandis Brighton exemplified hustle by working hard, helping others, and seizing opportunities wherever they arose. She completed coursework in full-stack web development, data structures, and algorithm analysis by night at Green River’s Kent campus, frequently attended meetups and other networking events, became a Certified ScrumMaster, participated in a student-lead technical interviewing practice group, and even organized student tours to nearby Expeditors International, where she now works full-time as a software developer.
I chatted recently with Kandis about her hustle-inspired journey from student at Green River to software developer at Expeditors. In our Q and A below, she discusses elements of Green River’s software development program that prepared her for employment and also provides an insightful, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like writing software for a Fortune 500 global logistics company.
Let’s start from the beginning. What led you to Green River’s software development program?
Kandis: I have a BS in Computer Science from the 80's and had been out of the field for a long time, so I enrolled at Green River College to take a few programming classes to update my skills. While taking a lower division course in C++, instructor Tina Ostrander visited class one day and talked about Green River’s bachelor of applied science in software development, including a certificate option for those who already have a bachelor’s degree. I decided to join the following quarter.
What are some of the key technical skills you developed at Green River that prepared you for employment?
Kandis: IT 333, which focuses on algorithm analysis and data structures, was a key course for me. I prefer back end and big data and that class made me aware of the tremendous difference good algorithms can make as well as the broad range of data structures available. This course was also very beneficial in preparing me for the interview process.
Congrats on placing at Expeditors! Can you tell us a little bit about your new role and why you were drawn to this particular employer?
Kandis: From the first moment I walked into Expeditors for a student tour I was impressed by the professional atmosphere and the company culture. I decided that day the commute and professional attire would be a small price to pay if given an opportunity to work there. The interview included a technical phone interview and a three-hour on-site interview with 6 managers (two at a time). The on-site technical interview lasted about 30 minutes.
Expeditors interacts with thousands of other businesses. Each business has a different way of storing their data. The group I am joining writes software to read the data from each specific company and convert the data into Expeditor’s data format. One of the developers told me he learns something new every day. He has been at the company for 15 years! He worked as a manager for a few years and chose to return to software development. Each of the 12 managers I met was respectful and excited about their job. I believe that is because Expeditors promotes from within and most managers started from entry-level positions, including the current CEO!
Finally, what tips would you offer to current Green River students who are preparing to look for jobs of their own?
Kandis: The job search process is hard and can be very discouraging. Start early and put time into it. Investing time into building new skills can make a huge difference in your job search. Don’t rush through college thinking the degree is enough. It is a very important piece, but other things are necessary, things like designing a solid resume, creating a strong LinkedIn profile, regularly practicing your interviewing skills, and networking as much as possible. Getting a good job is hard work and requires intentional activity. Look under very rock and behind every tree!
(Also see Kandis’s basic building blocks of job search, now up on the Green River Web & Mobile Developer blog.)
As a Green River alum, we hope you stay in touch.
Kandis: Expeditors will continue to reach out to Green River students through job fairs and site tours. I have been asked to join their outreach team, and I look forward to visiting Green River in the future!
Expeditors employs over 15,300 trained professionals in a worldwide network of over 331 locations across six continents, satisfying the increasingly sophisticated needs of international trade through customized solutions and seamless, integrated information systems. Visit their career page to view current openings at www.expeditors.com/careers.
Be like Kandis. Earn your bachelor’s degree in software development at Green River College. Day and evening programs available in Auburn and Kent Station. Learn more at www.greenriver.edu/software.
