Never saw myself working in tech ’til I spent a week at Hootsuite
My week at Hootsuite was truly unforgettable and my expectations surpassed. Recently, I had the opportunity to take part in a work placement program through my high school. Myself and two other students were to spend one week at Hootsuite. I had no idea what to expect!
It began with a small tour of Hootsuite’s Vancouver spaces in Mount Pleasant: HQ1 and HQ2. The offices were modernly designed and uniquely themed — one felt like you had stepped into a ski lodge. I also noticed several puppies running around — I felt excited but still quite timid! We were greeted by the friendly business value analyst team and were set up to spend the rest of the week working alongside them in the office.
During the first two days, I was nervous and quiet, as I was in a new environment with new people. However, as the week progressed, I started to feel more comfortable, and found the work experience enjoyable and memorable.
I had two questions going into the week:
- Could I see myself working in a business environment, such as Hootsuite?
- What can I take in university to attain a job like this?
I learned that I could vividly see myself working in a job and company similar to Hootsuite! I found the atmosphere, the business, the people, and my work very interesting and engaging. I also learned that the fields of “media” and “tech” branches out into so many different areas. Working in tech doesn’t mean you have to know how to code, there’s also researching, social media, project management, event planning, and many others — which was completely new to me.
After listening to the stories of several empowering female guest speakers, I learned that I can pursue what I’m interested in and still end up in an amazing tech company like Hootsuite. This one woman who studied art history at university and worked at Aritzia as a store manager, is now working at Hootsuite as a sales development manager. I’d have never thought that a retail job and a tech job could have so much in common!
One of my key takeaways is that your experience, passion, and motivation are more important than the degree you obtain or the school you go to. During my placement, my goals were to network and expand my knowledge for this type of role. I networked with so many people — my LinkedIn has never had more connections!
I learned about the journeys and experiences of many Hootsuite employees — everyone had such diverse backgrounds. It was interesting to see how each of them ended up at their current job. I also liked how everyone was so open to talk to us and treated us like real employees of Hootsuite. We even got to spend time with Hootsuite’s CMO, Penny Wilson.
Our hosts, Naqaash and Priya, were truly amazing and so welcoming. I could not have asked for a better employer to spend a week with. The business value analysts made us feel so supported and truly part of their team. We started the week with a pizza lunch and they introduced us to the people that make up their department. They taught us so much throughout the week and answered any question we had in extreme detail. Having this welcoming experience, I was inspired to work to the highest of my potential.
Lastly, during our week at Hootsuite, we had to analyze a business and create a presentation based on an account map. We also had daily seminars that outlined what our expectations of the day would look like.
I learned so many new things in just one week and am so grateful for this amazing opportunity. I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I could, and would encourage any high school or university student to consider a work experience or job at Hootsuite.
Thank you again, Hootsuite and the BVA team!
Ps. The BVA team is hiring! Here are the open opportunities:
- Senior Business Value Analyst, Toronto
- Business Value Analyst, UK
