My Journey From Theater to CS: Turning Unique Experiences into Assets

Can you drill down into what human study means for those who aren't familiar with the concept?

Human study is like character study. Actors have to be able to get into the mindset of the characters they're portraying. You have to understand why they make decisions, what motivates them, their priorities, and their challenges - even if they are vastly different from your own. 

Through that study and by acting for a long period of time, you develop this incredible sense of empathy and an understanding of what drives and motivates  different types of people. One of the biggest things I've carried through all of the positions I've held is that when I'm speaking to someone, I am able to understand why they make certain decisions and why something is a high priority for them. 

An example of how this benefits my current position is that I can easily navigate the difference between working with a junior analyst on a communications team versus a chief communications officer. I know how their priorities differ. I know how cut-and-dry my conversation has to be with one, whereas the other might involve a little more hand-holding and guidance. I can tailor each client's experience based on how I know they're functioning within their role.

How did you figure out how to do your job as you transitioned into CS, or was it taught to you?

It was a combination of both. I was not a part of the PR industry before, so the biggest learning curve was industry-specific—I had to become familiar with the jargon of PR, communications, and the technology we provide our clients. 

But I didn't need to be taught how to do the job, because I could bring in all of these different skills and experiences that I gained from theater and other positions I've held. 

How do people overcome the fear that they aren’t qualified for a career in CS during the interview process?

You have to understand yourself and know your skills and superpowers. Then you have to strategically think about how to leverage those skills to meet the job criteria for a position that you're really interested in.

If you have a non-traditional background, don't focus so much on what the actual job requirements are in terms of previous experience. Think about the type of person the company needs to fill the role, and how the skills you have make you the perfect candidate. A lot of job requirements are specific things that can be taught. Whereas the experiences you bring from your non-traditional background may be things that can't be taught but the company will get far more benefit from.

What would you say to a manager who is wary of hiring non-traditional candidates?

The first thing I'd say is that I understand the hesitancy. We've been trained to think in boxes and sometimes it’s hard to think beyond them. I think we're in the middle of a really exciting cultural shift within the workforce. We now have this higher focus and reverence towards diversity, equity, and inclusion, which is starting to open those boxes a little bit. 

Prior to that, there was this focus on culture fit. I am a huge anti-culture fit person. I do not think it works. If you just bring in people who feel and think the same way as you do, you're going to get a lot of yes-men and you're not going to get anyone pushing back. And if you don't get pushback and you don't get diversity of thought, then your company is not going to grow in the ways you want it to. 

I would tell a manager to define the non-negotiable requirements that a candidate has to meet but ask them to blur the lines a little bit. They should think about the voices, perspectives, and organic skills that are missing from the team, and allow that to be a new set of criteria they apply to hiring decisions. By doing this, you're still getting all of your must-haves, but you're diversifying the table and you're going to bring in new, exciting voices.

Do you have any final thoughts on non-traditional careers or recommendations for people who are starting out?

You must know how to sell yourself. Really take the time to think about what in your skillset excites you the most and what your superpowers are. Think about the things that completely separate you from any other candidate. 

My superpower is empathy. The first question I get asked in pretty much any interview is “we see you're a theater major, what does that do for this role?” And I always say that while I have a degree in theater on paper, what that really means is that I have a degree in empathy. And then I explain why they need someone with that unique perspective. So find out what your superpower is, and then lean into it.