Jessica Salinas was able to share her professional knowledge by being a mentor for Latinitas’ Spring Mentor Program! Jessica is a Program Manager for Content and Collaboration Systems at Cloudera. She is truly passionate about her work, learning technologies, and always eager to connect with others around those topics. Learn why Jessica’s experience as a mentor was fulfilling and how she was able to give professional advice about what she learned throughout her journey in her career.
What was your experience like as a mentor?
My experience as a mentor was and is a great experience on several different levels. It was such a fulfilling experience for me personally to be able to give back in a way that I wished I could’ve had at the same age. I did have a several people in my life who I see now as mentors, but never anyone who had the same experience as me. It was also wonderful to see how sharing my experience from what I’ve encountered along my career journey to real, tactical advice not only helped improve a resume, but I think (and most definitely hope!) my mentee’s confidence. Suggesting a change on a resume isn’t just about landing that job, it’s about showing my mentee that she didn’t just “design a logo and website,” for example. She created a brand and online marketing strategy that generated an increase in revenue.
What is the biggest takeaway you’ll have from this experience?
My biggest takeaway from this experience is that it’s the things I find simple now that make a huge difference to my mentee. Those “simple” things weren’t simple for me at my mentee’s age and I’m still learning as I go. It can be as simple as the relationship with your mentee that can make a difference in their life. Just to be that model and be an example that they can look to and say, “If she did it, so can I.”
Why should others be a part of this Mentor Program?
Others should be part of this mentor program because graduating high school, followed by college, and then entering the workforce is a journey. Along that journey there are critical moments where a mentee will need support and having support at that critical time can truly change the course of their life. For example, nearly three-fifths of Hispanic students who originally entered a STEM college degree program ultimately leave that field; either switching to a non-STEM field or exiting college altogether. You could be that person in a mentee’s life that is there at a moment like this.
Any additional comments you’d like to include?
I wish I had taken more photos with my mentee, but we only got one! I want to say that my mentee was amazing at working with me and my crazy schedule and that was the most helpful thing for me as a busy professional. My mentee kept saying she was grateful to me and I hope we can continue working together!
