w/brittany garrett, current nashville software school student

full transcript

auto-generated from the audio, so expect a few typos. the audio is the source of truth.

Hello, hello. Thanks for listening to guidance counselor 2.0. Listen, I want to give you a quick rundown of what this podcast is and what you're about to get into as you listen to these episodes. We had guidance counselors in middle school. We had guidance counselors in high school, but we didn't really have guidance counselors in college and now as professionals. We don't really have anybody to turn to to ask a quick question to learn something about the job search or to navigate your career. And so that is what I want this podcast to be for you. I want it to be a tool for you to navigate the job search and your career.

So that being said, I hope you enjoy this episode and if you need to reach me, Taylor at vacovac.com is how to get and touch me old fashioned email social media at tdsintdesse. And then finally, please rate and review this in the app store because I want this to be discoverable for others so they can navigate their careers. Hope you enjoy the episode. Brittany. Hi. Tell the people who you are, what you do, what you're doing now and then we'll dive in. For sure. I'm many things to a lot of people, but first of all, I am a wife to an amazing man. And I'm a mom to just such a beautiful intelligent 11 year old girl who is just like me.

I'm really, really super such a fun. She's perfect. Right. She's my mini me. Yeah. I love her. I'm not creative and I have been since I was young. I'm a lover of video games, all different types of consoles. What? One your favorite video game, or your console and listen, we people can go to war over this. So walk to war. Right. I don't want to fight digitally with anybody. Okay. So I'm too early. It's a Tuesday. I must say I am a huge fan of Super NES. That's what really invited me to. Oh, yeah. Oh, school. Yes, Game Boys. Hey, school like classics. I'm talking about Mega Man and, you know, playing all different types of throwback games.

Of course, every Mario cards Super Mario there was just the classics for sure. I love that. I love that. So Brittany, what else? So more about so. So what do you do now? What do you do now? Yeah. Actually, right now I am a by day hairstylist. And by night, I am a student at the Nashville software school. And I am studying to become a software developer. I love it. I love it. So, so there's a lot of tops we talked about today. Or there's a lot of topics that we talked about off air about today. And so what what I want to what I want to dive into today.

That made you get into tech because I think everybody's story is different. I think there's a lot of people out there that are on the cusp of wanting to get an attack. And maybe your story may get them over the edge. And so why did you want to get into tech? With all honesty, it is a very indirect path and journey to it. And I did not start out in tech. I always had a love for technology, of course. But it wasn't something that I immediately ran to. My family is actually from Haiti. So I'm first generation American. That's all I can. And of course they wanted me to be like a doctor, you know, just something traditional, you know, an engineer, lawyer.

And ultimately out of those choices, I knew for sure that I did love people. I cared for people. So that's the background that I actually secured. I had a bachelor's of science in community health with a concentration in planning and administration. And from there, I was able to begin helping people. My first role out of school was to actually be a breastfeeding peer counselor. Oh my gosh. Health department. Those are huge after having a first year. Like for sure. Just so helpful and necessary. And just the impact I was able to make on the women. And just seeing how I can help them and connect them with the resources that were available that they weren't aware of was really important to me.

And then from there, of course, I believe that has blessed my family tremendously. And my husband has had so many wonderful advancements in his career that actually prompted us to move. So I went from back to actually HR. I worked for the University of Minnesota, right? I worked for the University of Minnesota in the College of Pharmacy in their HR department. And just being able to again learn new skills, be in a different environment and work with different people. And of course, it was a different rhythm and tone. But I was able to just gain so many other skills that I would not have even imagined if I just kept the straight track.

From there, we again moved back to Chicago, my hometown. And luckily, it was just so grateful because my daughter at the time was young. And just being able to be reconnected with her extended family is really important to me. But I worked for the college, Columbia College, actually, which was a liberal arts school. And being submerged in this arena of just creatives was just so inspiring. And I knew for a fact that I naturally was a creative, but man, they just really encouraged me and relit the spark and fire that I had for that creativity. And of course, it was a non-profit organization. So I still used my background, but I actually then pivoted and went into cosmetology.

Again, I feel like that was a natural gift of mine. So I went for it. It was nerve-wracking. And of course, many people were like, that's completely disconnected from your background. Regardless, I knew that I had you God given talents that I wanted to explore and use. So while there, I finished and became licensed in the state of Illinois. And I secured a role at a phenomenal salon downtown, of course, nothing but the best. And I became a colorist. And from there, of course, knowing that other people personally, it was just really easy to work with different types of people. But when I had time with people, it was almost as if it was like a hair session and a therapy session together.

So it was almost like hair pee, just all in one. We're going to shop that up. My team is going to shop that up and say, it's called hair pee. Hair pee. Yeah. You got to love that hair pee. It was just so wonderful again to just hear people's stories where they come from, where they're going. And again, it was just very much encouraging to know that again, not everyone's path is going to be straight or direct. Once again, God blessed my husband with another advances in his career and we moved to the National Area. So I am south of Nashville, actually. And it was just a few months before 2020.

I thought, you know, I have a little time to figure out the lay of the land and get everybody situated. That was not the case. Because COVID happened. And that was like, OK. So I went in the world. It's going to happen. But luckily again, I just turned to my talents. I was a natural graphic designer or self-taught in ways. I would say that it became natural to me. But I used that to do freelance work. And again, it was just so wonderful to know, like, wow, I have all of these wonderful talents to secure, you know, different opportunities from. And of course, just being able to work with different people helped as well.

from there. I felt a strong calling to institute technology. And I believe that it was something that I felt spiritually led to. And I was so blessed to come across and meet different people in the tech community here, including Dr. Theresa Laxquez, Dr. C. Thank you so very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for our conversation. And you just being completely honest and candid with me and saying, you know, Brittany, you should go to the Nashville South where I still check that out. So I did so. I enrolled earlier this year in April. And I began my part-time track. It's for a year. So I'm actually three-fourths of the way through.

But it has been just such a wonderful journey. And I'm just so grateful to be called to something just so cool. Like, finally in technology. But I have just so many wonderful skills. I'm about to apply. I love it. I love it. Well, we got a few people chimed in. Steve goes. He did it. Eric has done good morning, brain is shut up, NSS OMG. Hey, I love it. I'm here in Brittany, and it says like a ball. Yes. I'll get it, girl. I love it. Kio here. Happy Taco Tuesday. Listen, I'm tired of tacos. No more tacos for a bit. Chris, what's going on?

Terrence, look at that. Absolutely gorgeous. I love it. He's nice. Nice. I love it. Yolanda already trying to get business. Hey, girl, when I moved to niche, Tennessee, can you cut? I'm going to need a hairstylist. Hey, but for real, though, for real, do you still do hair? Actually, do you? Yeah. I do. Anybody watch? Slide in the end. Slide in the end. Let's see here. Someone goes, and you're kicking ass design skills. Boy, this is just a pump up session. I love it. Thank you so much for doing it. I feel like we as humans, we do not encourage each other enough. I love that so much.

Mary, what's going on? Bettina, NSS in the house. I love it. Yolanda, I find you on LinkedIn. All right, so a lot of things to cover. First thing I want to get into, what would you tell people to say? You just talked. Your career goes from one place to another, not only geographical one place, but also like an industry to another place. It's the holidays right now. There's a lot of feelings around the holidays. Some people usually need to recharge. Some people are stressing because they don't know what's next. The thought of what's next. You're 2022. 2022 is 2022. People are like, oh my gosh, 2022.

I haven't even figured out 2021. My career, I don't love what I do. What some words of encouragement you give people right now, earlier in their career as somebody who's bounced around like you. You just have to really be a sure of yourself. You have to gather your talents and just press forward with those knowing that there are reasons why you experience the different paths and during even came across the different types of people you have. You really have to leverage that. And it's going to make for not just amazing stories, but you can just apply yourself in different ways, ways that other people who took more of a straight path wouldn't be able to do.

So I really feel like that it's going to make you extremely unique and special. And you need to give that to your advantage. Do you have a problem or have you had a problem comparing yourself with other people's careers during, and this is a loaded question because we all compare. But what would you tell? Because like, listen, let's face it, right? Like maybe you could, you could have stayed in HR and been a lot further along. You could have stayed in HR. Maybe more, I guess, and like been more further along. But you decided to make a change. And so what would you tell people who are like, I have to stay here because it's just this constant comparison game?

Yeah. Well, it's little by little. You're never going to get anywhere quickly, especially if you're going to be worth your while. You've got to just take little pieces. Every single step is going to add to that leverage to that step to the next step or the next journey, or the next position. And it's OK. Like it's totally OK. And obviously, when you plan to see, you don't instantly see the harvest or the actual fruits, it's going to take time. So take that time and that darkness where you're unsure and just learn, just pour into yourself. I love that. I love that. So let's talk about your people person, right?

Your people person and you are in tech. What would you tell those people out there that are like, well, if I'm a people person, do I need to be in tech? Like it cannot be a developer, even if I'm a people person? Of course. I think that makes for a special type of people person, or just a person who understands that you're going to work with different teammates. You're going to collaborate with different types of functions across the company. So that's actually going to make you, again, just a stronger candidate. Because you're going to understand different personalities, you're going to understand different types of conflict resolution styles.

You're going to be able to get even different types of cultures. And I especially consider that to be, again, one of my unique qualities, just being able to be a first-generation American and see other cultures, especially from my own cultural lens, I have a strong appreciation for that. I love that. So let's talk about culture a little bit, right? First generation. What are some areas that could be approved, obviously, that you've seen in your career? And obviously, definitely more and a lot of lines of diversity inclusion. But also to just maybe some areas that you're really passionate about right now. Oh, that's tricky. That's very passionate.

Like, oh, my God. You know, when it comes to finding a wonderful company or even talking to recruiters, I think it's just very important for, again, that a lawyer or that initial recruiter to have an open mind, again, everyone is going to have a different journey. And it's really important to kind of just take off the layers of maybe some biases or expectations even and really open yourself to the differences the diversity that could really be a, I don't know, a game changer for your company or even for your team. Like, you'll be surprised just how many ways people from, again, different experiences and backgrounds have so much to contribute.

And it might even create like just innovative solutions or, again, things that you wouldn't even consider or truly just start change within that environment. So, again, just open me being able to, again, set aside those not just differences, but those expectations, I think is really important. Well, I think I want to dig in this a little bit more because perhaps I really feel like being open to not only individuals, people of different background races, ethnicities is so incredibly important in tech right now, but also being open and hiring. Like I feel like companies who are truly embracing openness as in, hey, listen, we're going to come in this with the clean slate.

We want to find good people. We want to find good talent. Even if they don't have the talent, we want to find the good people because those basic people can be transformed or training a good talent. Make sure you're very good. There's got to be hiring individuals. If you're watching this now or if you're watching this in the future, be open because I will tell you this now. The companies who are open-minded in 2022 are going to win. They're going to open in hiring faster, hiring or innovative, changing things, being open to change, hiring individuals with diverse backgrounds. Like, listen, we all don't want to think the same.

If I hire 10 of me's, nothing would get done. Some things would get done, but not everything would get done, right? I need a Britney, right? Like I need my wife, right? Because there is so much that only if you hire and attract a certain type of people, you're missing out on, basically, possibly transforming your entire organization. So I'll get off my stove box on that one. That's it. That's it. It's very limiting. So talk to me about, so the biggest issue when it comes to junior devs trying to find their first job. What have you done? I mean, obviously, you've been very, very, and it sounds like you do a great job of a network.

And I think you have that hair pee, which is, I love that so much. What's some advice you have for people who maybe really struggle with networking, especially right now, COVID, not COVID, stay on the home, go in the ward, do things, not do things. Like what's just maybe some basic tips and tricks that you could give people right now? I'm pretty sure. You know, the phrase, close notes, don't get fed. Cool. Always, always think of that. I can think all day and stay in my head. But you just have to jump. And you know, your growth only happens in this comfort. So it's important to just put yourself out there.

I'm one to unlinked in, add people, introduce myself. That's not going to guarantee someone's going to connect. It's not even going to guarantee that they'll respond. But it's the point that I'm doing the work, I'm making that connection. And if I can, I'm going to also reach out and follow up and say, hey, can we have a meeting? I would love to just speak with you and meet you and hear your advice or her your journey. Like it's important to create a dialogue. Because then it creates not just a different view and perspective of you because, obviously, they didn't really know you. But it allows for you to become, you know, a 3D person.

You know, they get to hear the rhythm of your voice. They get to hear how you think. It's to know who you are as a person. So that's really important. Yeah, I mean, I think it's huge. And I think too, I think it's like, you have a vehicle, right? Like the hair is your vehicle to meet people. I think junior devs, you need a vehicle. That's true. Right. If it's a, if it's a, you know, I don't know trying to think like a chess club or like, you know, like like this video, this live thing I do is, is my, is my, is my community, right?

This is the thing I do to meet other people. And that is what I would recommend others is, hey, listen. For those of you who are watching, there's a lot of y'all watching right now. Take a moment, take a moment. Think about what you love. Yeah. Think about what you love, right? Brittany, tell me one thing you love outside of hair. Tell me one thing. Music, love music, all genres, right? All genres. You know what Brittany could do? Here's an idea. Create a Spotify playlist or Apple music, whatever your favorite, if just and make it collaborative and get people start adding to it. Right. My brother, my brother is literally like his music is straight fire that he finds.

I tell my brother, I said, I think you can create a Spotify playlist and just like literally like have it where people can add to it and meet people because of it. Like a tech, like a tech nerdy Spotify playlist, right? For me, it's this. So for those of you who are watching right now, really find one thing you're passionate about and build community rapid. Start networking around that. Brittany, as we wrap up here and I don't want to wrap up, but obviously I do have, you have a 10 unfortunately. Is there anything else? You know, I'm going through some notes that you sent me, right?

Collaboration styles, correctness for networking, job hunting, favorite tools to use for finding tech resources. Do you have any last words of just words of wisdom or nuggets or tools? I kind of like this favorite tools to use for finding tech resources. Do you have any that you recommend? You know, honestly going through the program, of course, it's difficult. You have to do a lot of problem-filming and Google is, of course, the best resource, right? Like, Google is the resource of all resources, but just some of the websites that I use, of course, like, W3 schools and MDN, those are natural normal. But I would say just download applications that you can establish and put everywhere.

Like literally, code academy is like my go-to. I will sit in bed lounging and I'm just doing practice sets, you know? Or again, on my laptop, on the go, just anywhere I can, even at work, I'll sit and I'll do just a couple of drills, just again, just make sure that I'm, again, chasing what I'm interested in and considering to groom myself because I can only get better, but it's up to me. I love that. I love that. Yeah. Oh, that's it, girl. Oh, I got it. That was, that was so good. Listen, y'all, thank you again. Oh, hold on. I put in the wrong, I'm trying to play that.

I'm trying to play, try to play the music out. Right. Y'all, I think we can, for tuning in today, I appreciate it so, so much. Listen, I go connect with Rick and she is an obviously amazing visual. You have a question on her. I'm not sure that she knows actually what you did you connected. Also, maybe, right here. So, Brittany, again, thank you for coming on today sharing your story. Hi, you can. I had a blast. Yes, it is. Stay on a quick second so I can chat with you real fast. Again, you don't think you can put tune in and yeah, thank you again so much.

I appreciate it. I appreciate y'all so much. Have a great Tuesday. I will be live tomorrow, Wednesday. I will be live tomorrow, Wednesday. And then I'll be off again because things get Thursday and Friday. So tomorrow, I have a wonderful higher manager, Barrett Blake. So that is going to be absolutely fantastic. So again, y'all have a great one. And we'll see y'all tomorrow. Thank you. Hey, you did it. You listened to an entire episode and I am very grateful because you know why? There's a lot of podcasts out there. There's a lot of episodes and I myself rarely finish an entire episode. So I appreciate you so so much for listening.

Quick reminder, please rate and review this podcast in the app store. I want this to be discoverable to others and the only way that happens is if you take the time right now and rate and review it. Like right now, unless you're driving it, then don't do it. So thank you again. If you need to reach out to me, tailoratveco.com or at t-test and on all social media handles. And I hope you have a fantastic day.