College and Career Programs Build Belonging Among Women in Tech

“At Girls Who Code, we know that it’s our responsibility to help students get their foot in the door of the top [tech] companies in the country, to help them land their dream jobs, and to make sure they feel supported once they do,” said Dr. Tarika Barrett, GWC CEO. “That’s no easy feat in an industry that feels like it wasn’t set up to help them succeed.” 

Recognizing the need for workforce pathways, Girls Who Code created a College and Career Programs division in 2018. Today, these programs offer women and non-binary students ages 18-26 years different opportunities for mentorship, community, and professional skills across the U.S. These programs include College Loops, student-led on-campus organizations that connect young people to each other and provide support and resources to help them thrive. Since its founding in 2018, College Loops has grown from 30 to nearly 300 organizations across the US Girls Who Code also created an innovative, 3-week Work Prep program designed to give students real-world work exposure and cultivate relationships with peers and role models at partner companies.

GWC’s most recent college and career programs include Technical Interview Prep (TIP) and Leadership Academy. TIP is a free, two-part program for 18-26 year olds looking to prepare for technical interviews. Participants in this online course practice common forms of technical interviewing and gain real-time feedback from peers, hiring managers, and recruiters in a two-day Bootcamp. Leadership Academy is a semester-long program culminating in a Give Back Project that centers community contribution and teamwork while developing professional skills.

In order to facilitate connections with women, non-binary tech leaders, and job opportunities, GWC also hosts a regular webinar series called “Girls Who Code Talks” featuring tech experts, and annual Hiring Summits that directly connect job-seekers with potential hiring partners. 

Together, these programs build belonging in tech and develop essential professional skills for the next generation of computer scientists.