Girls Who Code to Partner with Boston Consulting Group On New Technical Interview Prep Program

New York, NY - (September 1, 2022) — Today, Girls Who Code launched an inaugural Technical Interview Prep Program (TIP) in partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG). It is the latest in a series of Girls Who Code initiatives to promote workforce development and help prepare students and young professionals for thriving careers in the tech industry.

Technical interviews are a core component of the hiring process for most entry-level roles. They are often the most significant challenge for young people looking to enter the tech workforce. Despite their ubiquity and difficulty, most colleges and universities do not provide specific training on technical interview prep, and students who do not have “insider access” or a network of well-connected peers and mentors are at an unfair disadvantage.

“At Girls Who Code, we understand that to prepare our students for the jobs of the future, they need to have hands-on practice with technical interviewing and access to resources and tools that help level the playing field, " said Tarika Barrett, CEO of Girls Who Code. “We’re thrilled by the opportunity to partner closely with the Boston Consulting Group on this pilot program and are grateful for the support as we work to close the gender gap in tech while prioritizing fairness and equity for our most marginalized students.”

Technical Interview Prep is a free program through the platform Forage, and is open to anyone seeking guidance on interviewing for tech jobs, regardless of gender or background. Participants will have the opportunity to complete five modules of self-paced work before signing up for a two-day intensive boot camp, where they will apply what they have learned through mock interviews with peers and BCG volunteers.

“In today’s economic climate, it is more critical than ever that girls and women have access to job and career opportunities in the tech sectors, says Adi Zolotov, a partner of Boston Consulting Group. “The U.S. tech market accounts for 35% of the world market, and closing the gender gap in tech is critical for advancing women’s lives. Unfortunately, numerous barriers still stand in the way of success for college-aged women studying Computer Science and related fields. Among these barriers is that women often have fewer peers, mentors, and role models who can help prepare them for technical interviews.”

For Girls Who Code, TIP isn’t just a tool to continue to build a workforce pipeline. It’s also an opportunity for participants to access feedback from people like them who have once been in their shoes, including Girls Who Code Alumna. “I am happy to participate in this program because it provides some good examples of the interview process and how to prepare for it,” said Robin Acosta, an Accenture employee and a Girls Who Code alumni. “When I was first interviewing for jobs, I was unsure what to expect or how to fully prepare for a technical interview. It would have been helpful for me to have concrete examples of interview prep presented in this program. I want anyone else in that position to have measures to prepare better so they have confidence in their interviews.”

For Aria Cruensza, a current Auto-Owners Insurance employee and Girls Who Code Alumni, the opportunity to inspire fellow future coders on their STEM journey is a crucial part of the program. “Because Girls Who Code had such a beneficial impact on me in high school, I want to help give back and hopefully inspire other young women to pursue careers in STEM,” she said. “Feeling confident about entering the STEM workforce is crucial for young women, and the Technical Interview Prep program is a great opportunity to help students prepare for interviews and the pre-interviewing process.”

To learn more about TIP, go to https://bit.ly/3e8I8Tc.

About Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology, and leading the movement to inspire, educate, and equip students who identify as girls or nonbinary with the computing skills needed to pursue 21st-century opportunities. Since launching in 2012, Girls Who Code has reached 500,000 students through in-person and virtual programming, and 115,000 of our alumni are college or career-aged.

Girls Who Code has sparked culture change through marketing campaigns and advocacy efforts, generating 14 Billion engagements globally. In 2019, the organization was named the #1 Most Innovative Non-Profit on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list, and in 2022 was named one of NonProfit Times’ Best Nonprofits to Work For.

Follow the organization on social media @GirlsWhoCode.

About Boston Consulting Group

Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.

Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.