This Online Resource Offers Women in Tech a New Way to Find Mentors

PowerToFly is an organization that was launched in 2014 by technology veterans, Katharine Zaleski and Milena Berry. Their mission is to connect Fortune 500 companies and fast-growing startups with women, trans, gender non-conforming and non-binary people who want to work for employers who actually value gender diversity and inclusion.

“PowerToFly is building the platform to propel diversity recruiting and hiring,” the site reads. Since its onset, the organization has grown substantially. Today, it hosts daily virtual events, webinars, and more.

How to Use PowerToFly 

Job seekers can use PowerToFly in a multitude of ways. 

“Whether you are a woman looking to enhance your career or a customer at a multinational corporation looking to diversify your team, you will be treated exceptionally,” the organization promises. “We will listen, be present, build trust, communicate regularly to understand, and deliver on the results you need. We expect that same treatment across our teams and from our clients and community.”

In addition to connecting womxn with hiring managers, PowerToFly aims to close the gender gaps in tech and across the digital industry. It does this with training webinars, ebooks, coaching via a talent-management team, and more.

The best part? PowerToFly is free! The platform does not currently charge members of the community any fees for using its site or for attending its networking events. It may, however, charge members for certain webinars or events under specific circumstances. As a professional on the job hunt, you can complete a profile in seconds here! Once you’re in, here’s how to make the most of your membership.

1. Attend events.

Attend events in person or online! You can virtually connect with other women at tech industry-leading companies who can help support your growth and, ultimately, accelerate your career. Search upcoming panel discussions and chat-and-learn events. You can search events by topic, such as allyship to impact, ageism, finances, entrepreneurship, negotiation and so much more.

2. Find a mentor or career coach.

“Navigating your career isn’t easy — but you don’t have to do it alone,” PowerToFly says on their site. “We can help you reach your goals by matching you with a mentor who has been in your shoes and overcame similar challenges.”

Through PowerToFly you can customize a mentorship plan based on your growth needs. PowerToFly will match you with the right mentor. It’s simple. The program will survey you based on your background, experience level, and goals for mentorship. All of the mentors complete a thorough skills assessment questionnaire. Then, using this information and personal interviews, PowerToFly tailor matches mentees and mentors. Once you have a mentor, you can track your progress and review it with 30-minute biweekly meetings.

“Relationships are built over time, so our program takes place over six months, with the option for mentors and mentees to continue the relationship after the initial commitment,” according to the site. “We are committed to fostering trust between the mentee and mentor by emphasizing confidentiality and productivity — mentees need to feel safe sharing concerns with their mentors, but it is also important that they are transparent with their mentor about what they hope to achieve, setting and tracking goals, and assigning and monitoring action items.”

Or you can go ahead and find yourself a coach to help you throughout your tech career. PowerToFly offers six different types of career coaching sessions, each of which are geared towards various needs and challenges. (Sessions are available in both English and Spanish, as well!) Simply select the session that you’d like to book, and review the PowerToFly calendar for open slots that work best for you. From there, you’ll meet with your coach (virtually) and get to work!

3. Search jobs.

Search for jobs using the simple job search tool. Just type in some keywords related to the type of job for which you’re searching, and check out the different adverts that come up. You can search by location or for specifically remote jobs. Or you can search by category, such as by finance, product management, marketing, and more. 

You can also check out the virtual Career Fairs. At these fairs, representatives from participating companies talk about their hiring processes, the kinds of candidates for whom they are looking, and their company cultures. Then it’s your turn to ask questions during live 40-minute Q&A sessions.

“Take advantage of the opportunity to ask about everything from the application process — are cover letters actually necessary? — to life at the company in general,” PowerToFly recommends.

How Women in Tech can use Fairygodboss

Women in tech can also rely on Fairygodboss for resources and advice. Fairygodboss is teeming with thousands of career advice articles. You're bound to find the information that you need on everything from the best companies for women in tech, to helpful blogs, to resources for women in tech, and anything in between.

In the Fairygodboss community forum, you can also reply to other FGBers' questions or post your own questions. You can also share your experiences as a woman in the tech industry. Regardless of how you choose to use the community forum, you're sure to connect with other like-minded tech professionals.

You can also search the Fairygodboss job board for tech jobs. You can search for jobs with various filters, including by location and by specific tech companies, to help narrow down your search. Just type in a keyword that's related to a job or company that you might be interested in working for, and start scrolling through the various job posts that align.

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AnnaMarie Houlis is a multimedia journalist and an adventure aficionado with a keen cultural curiosity and an affinity for solo travel. She's an editor by day and a travel blogger at HerReport.org by night.