Only 26 percent of STEM workers in the United States are women. So it’s no surprise that at Chicago tech companies women devs are a rare. But there are a number of women and organizations like Ms. Tech and Girl Develop It who are paving the way for more women technologists, developers and software engineers. Built In Chicago sat down with four of these women to hear about the amazing work they’ve produced right here in Chicago, like Nhu Nguyen, a software craftsman at software development firm 8th Light.
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How did you get into tech?
I got my first computer when I was thirteen. I still don't know what compelled my father to buy my sisters and I a computer because he is generally very tight with his wallet. Thankfully he did because that's when I learned how to build websites through Geocities and Homestead. I like putting things together, but I didn't enjoy the design part. I don't think I have the artistic blood in me. That's why I choose Electrical Engineering as my major. I figured I like technology and the job prospects would be better. However, after spending three years getting an associate degree in Engineering, I changed my major to Computer Science. I'm very thankful I did. I feel like this is my true calling. I like building and breaking things. With programming, that is a lot safer. You can revert your code back easily. I don't think I can "revert" your changes with a TV. After college, I worked for a financial company for almost three years before I decided I wanted a break, so I came here.
How have you kept your development skills relevant over the course of your career?
It's really hard to be relevant. I try to read and to build things I enjoy outside of work. When you build your own application, you're not afraid to break it because most likely you're the only one to use it. Hence it's a great opportunity to test out new theories or learn a new language.
What technologies are you excited about?
I'm really excited about the language Elixir. I haven't had time to build an application with it, but it has a lot of potential. I love Ruby and functional programming, and Elixir is just the right fit.
Why Chicago?
I came to Chicago so I can be an apprentice at 8th Light. After three years of working in the industry, I wanted a break. I wanted time to formulate my own ideas about software development. Being an apprentice at 8th Light allowed me that opportunity with a lot of guidance and support from my mentor and my coworkers.
What is the apprenticeship program at 8th Light like?
All apprentices have dedicated mentors to help them become better developers. Because each mentor is different, the curriculum for each apprentice is unique. For the student apprenticeship, we take anyone who wants to be a developer and is motivated to learn. It is three months long and it's completely free. The mentor will give the student assignments and provide feedback. Some of the mentors also pair with the students on Fridays or in the evenings as another way to teach the students.
The resident apprenticeship is similar to a student apprenticeship, except it's a little bit more structured. We have a few requirements that all resident apprentices have to do such as building a Java server and an unbeatable Tic-Tac-Toe program. The students also have to read a few required books that can help them learn how to build clean code. Besides that, there is a lot of room for mentors to change the curriculum to adapt it to the apprentices. At the end of the apprenticeship, the resident apprentices will be given two weeks to do a challenge. We will have eight craftsmen review the challenge and decide whether or not 8th Light should hire the apprentice. The program ranges from three to twelve months, depending on the apprentice's skills.
How do you stay involved in the Chicago tech scene?
I really like the community here. It feels vibrant, but not overwhelming. There is at least one meetup a week that I want to go to. I often joke that it's hard for a programmer to go hungry in Chicago because there is at least one meetup a day that offers some kind of food. I used to go to hackathons and meetups, but my schedule is a bit full at the moment. Besides my work at 8th Light, I also volunteer with Meagan Waller, one of our apprentices, for Girls Who Code. We teach Javascript to female students at Chicago Tech Academy. When I have time, I try to help out CoderDojoChi.
