Career Discovery at EPAM with Middle School Students
All aboard for a career day field trip! Middle school students from The Young Women’s Leadership School (TYWLS) of Staten Island recently delved into the world of software engineering and business consulting with EPAM.
Hosted by EPAM in their Chelsea office, the event featured a panel discussion led by professionals from various roles within the company, including design, product experience, corporate social responsibility, and human resources. The panelists shared their educational and career choices that led to their roles, sparking curiosity among the students about the diverse career paths available in the tech industry. Students eagerly participated, sharing their favorite subjects and asking questions in smaller group sessions about individual professional backgrounds.
Advice for Middle School Students
The event highlighted both the technical aspects of software engineering and the importance of communications and collaboration. Students learned that success in the workplace requires both technical knowledge and effective teamwork to break down big challenges into smaller steps.
“One thing I would tell my high school self, and to my own kids now,” said Jamell Evans, Head of User Experience Design (UX) at EPAM, “is to breathe. To relax. Any problems you’re going through now, they’re not going to last forever.” He advised that the way that students learn to handle stressful situations now will be skills they’ll continue to find useful in the future.
EPAM staff also gave students a tour of the office as they shared about their day-to-day life working at the company. In their post-event surveys, 100% of students rated the event as “excellent or good.” One student wrote, “I learned that even if you study another topic in college, you could still find a career that is different. Different skills could all be part of a career and benefit the whole team.” As the students return to their classrooms with newfound inspiration, we’re excited to continue supporting them on their journeys toward fulfilling careers in STEM and beyond.
About TYWLS at the Workplace
In our TYWLS at the Workplace series, companies invite our students to their offices to gain insights into different roles and career paths within an organization. Onsite visits help broaden our students’ early career awareness and plant the seeds for future college and career goals. Thank you to our partners at EPAM for their enthusiastic support of our programs!
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