What we’re seeing is that the people who don’t find a sense of fulfillment early on are the ones that are more likely to burn out and not feel like they’re as engaged with their community. I think there’s often this idea of the ‘rat race,’ especially here in the US, where you feel like you have to compete for the compensation and the title and working for this or that big-name company - a lot of those things don’t matter that much. “For any young Black professional beginning their career journey, I think an important thing is to understand what questions they should be asking and what matters to them. Then you can be more intentional in looking for opportunities from there.” - Jordan, Global Support But zoom out first! Focus on what problems you want to solve, what you love doing and are good at, and what organizations or sectors you want to be in first. “A lot of times I see students approach their career by only focusing on searching for jobs. You can learn more about our employee communities here! Zooming out can give clarity to your job search Our identities run deep and we believe that celebrating shared experiences plays an important part in one’s sense of belonging. What’s that? Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are becoming more common, especially in the tech sector, and these communities are a vital component of Handshake’s own culture. Ahead, read their valuable insights about mentorship, making an impact, and staying true to yourself at work. When asked about advice they’d give Black students and grads entering the workforce, more than a dozen Wakanda community members rose to the occasion, eager to help the next generation. Wakanda, the employee resource group for Handshakers who identify with the African diaspora, is a thriving community of Black professionals ranging from interns to executives. Sometimes you should fight it, sometimes you embrace it, but I think at the very least people should realize the value in it.” Advice for young Black professionals starting their career journeyĪt Handshake, one of the ways team members share hard-earned wisdom with others is through dedicated identity-focused communities. Ultimately, I think looks different for everyone. “But the other part of it is that you also have the opportunity to be a trailblazer and pave the way for people. “In any type of career when you are a minority in that field, there’s a fine line between sharing what my struggles were early on and me being some spokesperson for all Black young professionals and fighting against that,” says Austin Williams, a Director on Handshake’s Talent team. While no two career journeys will look exactly the same, there is power in sharing knowledge and lived experience to help the people who come after you. Some day, you’ll be able to return the favor for the next generation! One of the best ways to combat these feelings of isolation and return to the joyous celebration part of a new career is to arm yourself with wisdom from people who’ve been there. Particularly for those entering an underrepresented field or function, questions might arise: “Will I be treated with respect here? Will I be the only person of color on my team? Will I be the first Black hire my manager has ever made?” It’s almost always a moment filled with excitement, promise, and much-deserved celebration! But for Black new hires, especially those just taking the first steps in their career journey, such moments may also come with complex feelings attached. There’s nothing quite like receiving a job (or internship) offer.
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