Preparing Underrepresented Talent For Success with Andrea Guendelman

 

Andrea Guendelman is the CEO of Speak_, the interview preparation service helping underrepresented software engineers clinch roles at the best tech companies in the world. In our conversation with Andrea, we hear about the structure and methodology of Speak_'s program, the level of their engagement with the companies in which they are placing talent, and what's involved in the resume creation process. We discuss the multitude of factors limiting the hiring funnel, and what companies can do to make a difference from a diversity hiring perspective! Tune in for this informative episode on what's being done and what still needs to be done to ensure fairness and equality in the hiring process.

 

Key Points From This Episode:

 

• The important service Andrea Guendelman's startup, Speak_, offers underrepresented software engineers.
• How Speak_ was born of Andrea's attempt to make the Latino community visible in the US.
• The lack of opportunities for underrepresented talent to interview for positions.
• How the current US economy is providing a great opportunity to level the playing field.
• The methodology used at Speak_ to prepare underrepresented talent for big tech roles.
• The benefits of the community aspect of Speak_'s course structure.
• The access and information that candidates receive in the program.
• Where the deficiency lies in terms of not having representative workforces.
• Why Speak_ focuses on teaching candidates to speak the language of the targeted company.
• The preferred source of hire of the companies in which Speak_ is placing talent.
• The prevalence of imposter syndrome amongst underrepresented candidates.
• What leads candidates to believe they're not qualified according to the job description.
• Why years of experience isn't a fair requirement in the software engineering space.
• Other factors which limit the hiring funnel.
• How the Speak_ program helps candidates create suitable resumes. 
• The consulting incorporated into Speak_'s engagement with clients.
• Why Speak_ does 12 cohorts a year.
• What Speak_ is looking for in its clients!
• The discrepancy Andrea has observed between recruiters and hiring managers.
• What companies can do to make a difference from a diversity hiring perspective.

 

Tweetables:

 

"Speak_ is interview preparation as a service using cohort-based company-branded programs to prepare underrepresented software engineers and place them at the best tech companies in the world." — @FutureofWomen [0:01:38]

 

"A lot of underrepresented talent is not given the opportunity to fail often enough. In other words, they're not even selected to take an interview many times, so they're not given the opportunity to fail." — @FutureofWomen [0:04:20]

 

"The name of our company is called Speak_because we're teaching candidates to speak the language of the company." — @FutureofWomen [0:10:52]

 

"If we compare years of experience so verbatim, we're going to leave a lot of people behind that you actually need in your organization." — @FutureofWomen [0:16:25]

 

"We have found out that companies will reject someone sometimes just because of their resume, even though we know that they're qualified for the job." — @FutureofWomen [0:18:21]

 

Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:

Webinar: Diversity Hiring That Works with Greenhouse CEO Daniel Chait

Andrea Guendelman on LinkedIn

Andrea Guendelman on Twitter

Speak_

Speak_ on Twitter

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