Despite strong grades in STEM subjects and plenty of ambition, Deborah had been finding the business of work experience frustrating. Having contacted countless local employers without success, she was working in a primary school during her school’s work experience week. Although valuable in many ways, it was a far cry from what she hoped to focus on once leaving school.

So when she heard about Discover Tech through the Black Apprentice Network (BAN) – a peer community where students share details of opportunities they’ve heard of – she jumped at the chance.

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Discover Tech - two days of opportunity

A two-day event, Discover Tech was created by Cisco and is brought to life with the help of the programme’s founding partners and employer members.

On the first day, Deborah and the other students travelled to London South Bank University for a busy day of learning and networking. The morning was buzzing with panel discussions featuring senior leaders who discussed AI at length, followed by networking with early-career volunteers from employers involved in the event.

We all got to ask the panel of senior staff questions about the tech industry… that was really useful to satisfy our curiosity because they're really experienced.

The afternoon was full of breakout sessions, including a digital storytelling session in which Deborah and the other students used Adobe Express to create their own CVs and learned about online tools to enhance their personal brands.

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A glimpse of the future?

Day two was a complete change. Split into smaller groups, Deborah’s group were hosted by IBM, something she loved on many levels.

We had an interview skills session and got to know what kind of skills really help us stand out in an interview and what employers in tech are really looking for…we also got a tour of the office, and that was really cool – it’s so corporate and fancy; I really liked that!

Her highlight, however, was seeing the quantum computing model – she was amazed to see a real-life example up close, saying, ‘I hadn’t even realised they did quantum computing.’

As well as taking part in a group task (which her team won!), Deborah loved getting the chance to speak to IBM apprentices and degree apprentices.

I thought it would just be older people, so it was really useful seeing younger people working there. We got to ask them questions and ask about the application process. I really liked that because they’re not senior staff and are closer to our age.

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The future’s bright…

Deborah took part in Discover Tech to meet new people, learn new skills, and improve her knowledge of the technology sector, but feels she gained so much more.

I'm glad I got to experience it and see that it's not just about sitting at a desk and coding. I was happy to learn what the day-to-day life was like. Before, I wasn’t 100% sure I wanted to work in the tech sector, but it was really useful to put myself in those shoes. Experiencing it helped me confirm that I do want to work in tech when I'm older.

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Could your organisation be part of success stories like this?

Deborah’s story is just one example of what happens when tech firms open their doors to enthusiastic, talented young people. Now’s the time to expand your talent pool by joining Discover Tech - the easy, low-resource way to deliver work experience. Get in touch with Rachel Morar to find out more about what taking part in Discover Tech could mean for you and your organisation.

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