Event link: https://www.meetup.com/rvacloudwranglers/events/283401214 Description: Breaking into the tech field...sucks. And what makes it an even bigger bummer is that it seems like there's no ladder, no support system, no love from everyone on the "inside". Well, enough with that mess. This is a 45-minute overview of what's going in Richmond's tech scene, how to stop throwing your online applications at the proverbial wall, and how to squirm your way into the front door. After Ford's overview, we'll moderate an epic panel discussion featuring some of the brightest, most loving technologists in the Richmond area: Crystal Harvey, VP @ Robert Half Alyssa Paulette (Engineer @ Capital One) Dominique Meeks Gombe (Engineer @ Capital One) Sam Thacker (Engineer @ CarMax) Kim Mahan (Founder @ MAXX Potential) After, we'll be raffling a couple of hot items: AirPods (thanks to Robert Half) Interview.io $150 voucher (thanks to Interview.io) Tons of swag (thanks to AWS & Azure) Buckle up! This is going to be our most legit event yet.

1. • Happy Hour 5-5:30
• Presentation 5:30-6
• Panel 6-6:30

2. 101 tips 👈
RVA hacks 👈
Panel Discussion 👈
Raffle:
🎁 Air Pods
🎁 $150 @ interview.io
🎁 AWS &Azure swag
(good) tech job in Richmond, VA

3. Thank you,
Sponsors!

4. “Entry-level, minimum 5
yrs experience”
”4-year degree
required”
Hiring manager is a
52 year-old named
Dave
Location: Innsbrook
What’s the point?

5. What You’ll Learn Tonight:
Tech
Jobs
101
RVA
stuff
Panel
Q&A

6. We about to get lapped.
We need to evolve together!

7. What we know
RICHMOND IS AN AWESOME PLACE TO BE
A TECHNOLOGIST
THERE’S A GREAT COMPANY WHO WOULD
LOVE YOUR TALENT AND ENERGY.
THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE THAT CAN HELP
YOU.

8. Yes, you can still use the
But mileage varies...

9. An example approach, step-by-step:
Credit @QuinnyPig: https://twitter.com/quinnypig/status/1364361569899974658
1. Find a company you like
2. Search for (LinkedIn/Twitter) connections…or a recruiter
3. Ask for “virtual coffee”
4. Figure out what company needs & what to apply to
5. Tailor resume, upskill, attack!

10. Look for signals!
Credit @QuinnyPig: https://twitter.com/quinnypig/status/1372725520815648768

11. Be yourself. ...but the best version. It’s all about them
(but ask for help).
Vague Networking Tips
(rinse ‘n’ repeat)

12. Me at first.
Me with practice
Me every AM now.

13. • Who are you
• What are you good at
• What your goals are
• Summary of experience
• Specific tools
• Vision for excellence
• Tailored to audience
• How you can help
• Success stories
RELEVANCE
DETAILS
YOU
Elevator Pitch Format

14. West Creek
Innsbrook
downtown
Obligatory Pre-Pandemic “Where Are The Jobs” Slide
News Flash: The Jobs Are
Everywhere!

15. Strategy #1:
Play the numbers!
As long as the number of places in Richmond where you’d love to work is GREATER
THAN zero, then all you have to do is figure out how big to make your funnel (i.e. your
denominator).
Here’s a couple ways to fill the funnel.

16. Angle 1.1:
Biggest fish
The Greater Richmond
Partnership’s list is here and
includes companies that
combine headquarters and
local branch locations in
their employment numbers.
Note: it excludes government
jobs! E.g. Chesterfield County,
Police, military.
Tier 1 tech shops

17. Angle 1.2:
Active fish
Check out the Richmond
Tech Council’s member
list to see who is
investing in tech in RVA
(and who are often hiring
locally).

18. Angle 1.3:
New fish
StartUp Virginia shares
this list of the dozens of
start-up’s they are
currently incubating.
Here’s a great list by
Venture Richmond, the
other big incubator. And
another list by BizJournals.
..and dozens more.

19. Angle 1.4:
Fav fish
.

20. Angle 1.5:
Fish that help
other fish
.
Ippon SingleStone ImpactMakers
Shockoe Terazo
Simple
Thread
CapTech RTS Labs Mobelux

21. The double funnel
Scope
LI/Twitter
Making
contact
Meeting
for coffee
Applying to the job
Interviews
Got the job

22. The Interview, the part where you’re
feelings get hurt
#1 tip: you cannot
take it personally. Lean
into the pain.
#2 tip: come to the
next meetup on How
to Interview!

23. My Top 3 Events
• Have fun
Tech Jam (link)
• Learn something
Data Summit (link)
• Hack stuff
RVASEC (link)

24. Awesome
meetups:
Richmond Data Engineering
Richmond Cloud Wranglers
PyRVA
RVA.js

25. Where to propose coffee, according to Reddit:*
Top picks
• Quirk or The
Jefferson
• VMFA
Also great:
• Blanchard’s
• Urban Farmhouse
• Cancan
Fallbacks:
• Starbucks/Panera
• Gather ($)
• Common House**
*Actual answers: Broad Street Waffle House, moving van, Paper Moon (Link)
**Membership required, but you can use my name.

26. Misc. Problems & Solutions
Problem: Nobody gives me
honest feedback after an
interview!
• Solution: Find 3 people you
respect and ask them for do a
15-minute mock interview
and provide honest feedback
• Interviewing.io
Problem: Nobody knows me!
• Solution: attend at least 1
meetup/month. Comment on
LinkedIn posts & DM
interesting people. Attend at
least 1 rvatech event this year.
Problem: I don’t have the right
skills!
• Solution: Map out your gaps
& strength areas. Engage
partners & collaborators.
Make an easy 3-month
learning plan, stick to it, and
share your story!
Algoexpert.io, educative.io
Problem: Is this company
really a great place to work?
• Solution: Find employees on
LI and ask them, check out
Glassdoor.com, or find gossip
@ Teamblind.com & Reddit.

27. Old-school
(but useful)
tips (pt.1)

28. Old-school
(but useful)
tips (pt.2)

29.  Founded by local tech leaders
 Apprenticeship = Experience + Skills
 People-first culture
 Progress at your own pace
 No career-limiting time or income
share agreements
 Register for career lab:
https://maxxpotential.com/career-
lab/
Maxx Potential
Apprenticeship

30. Capital One Developer Academy (CODA)
 “$75k for the 6 month training and $90k once you join TDP in Richmond” according to
Reddit, 3 yrs. Ago
 One of the most powerful, innovative companies in Richmond

31. CarMax Technology
Academy (CTA)
 14 month program designed to
jumpstart a tech career
 8 weeks in a CarMax Bootcamp,
 Followed by two 6-month rotations
within Engineering teamsBeing in the
academy program, at least for me
 Same pay as normal

32. LeapIT
 4 months intensive training
 1 year on the job
 Conversion to employee
 Veteran focused
 Ask me to connect you w/
Scott!

33. Tribaja
 BIPOC-focused
 Women/LatinX-
owned.
 Just opened an
RVA office!

34. Other Recruiters I ❤️
 Kati Elder
 Logan Bragg
 Cammie Little
 Many more!
 Source: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ford-prior_ok-time-for-some-
recruiter-love-who-activity-6891771957856325633-c1gj

35. Upskilling
 Plans are easy, follow through is hard. Hack: learn to learn!
 I wish it were this easy:
 This deserves its own 30-45 minute talk.

36. This is like
20%
important.
Fact: I was happier when I was
getting ½ the salary & had a
terrible manager. 🤷♂️
Ford’s closing remarks

37. KimMahan
SamThacker
Alyssa(Chang) Paulette CrystalHarvey DominiqueMeeks Gombe
“Getting into Tech in RVA” Panel Discussion
6:00-6:30 PM