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Kristina King returns to the spotlight, sharing her remarkable pivot from finance and teaching to becoming a technical support engineer, all without a formal CS degree. Kristina's narrative underscores the power of varied backgrounds in tech, illustrating her philosophy of hiring for culture "add" rather than culture "fit." She emphasizes the need to extend opportunities to those who might not traditionally find their way into tech, particularly through her role on hiring committees. Kristina's hiring philosophy is about finding those "weirdos" who bring a distinct passion and personality to the team, making the workplace not only diverse but vibrant.

This episode also highlights Kristina's innovative approach with a business support specialist internship aimed at non-traditional candidates, facilitated through a collaboration with WorkSource Oregon. Notable successes include interns like Dana, an Army vet and former bricklayer, who transitioned into valuable technical roles. This initiative highlights how skills like customer experience from the service sector can be effectively channeled into tech support positions. Join us as Kristina unpacks these transformative hiring strategies that are broadening the talent pool and reshaping tech support teams for the future.

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