I knew I was geeky when I saw the power of HTML’s <blink> tag. Yes, I just admitted that publicly.

But my coding started before that in ways I did not realize. I was very fortunate to have teachers as parents and a father who saw the future. We always had an Apple computer in the house.

My brother was probably more adept at picking up coding (or at least that is what I told myself). He wrote little if/then programs along the lines of getting the computer to respond to “thank you” with “you’re welcome.” I liked to look at the code and modify it to do something else.

Then I spent forever obsessing over a copy of Broderbund’s The Print Shop. I made cards for every occasion, printing them on the dot matrix printer. I was in heaven. And while it was not exactly coding, it had me on the computer. A lot.

Fast forward to my first job out of college. I randomly found myself at Minnesota Regional Network (MRNet), the first internet provider in the state. At the time they were furnishing all of the major colleges and universities, libraries and corporations with Cisco routers that led to the internet.

It was so early in the internet days, I still remember sitting at my desk, typing in Sony.com into my Mozilla browser and getting nothing.

The organization exposed me to my first taste of computer engineers. They were an interesting mix of personalities that I loved. And I soon learned that rivalry was inherent in the field. Tough as it may be, I will reserve commentary about what they wore to work!

One fine day, I happened to be talking with one of the developers and discovered HTML. And the <blink> tag. I was hooked. I spent the next seven years as a coder and manager for front-end Web development teams. I loved making incredibly complicated tables, troubleshooting the different browsers and creating beautifully coded pages based on what designers provided.

Then came javascript, Java and Flash. And the coding spirit left me.

But it is ok, people.

I still have code in my veins and I even get to use it now and then. For example, I was able to drastically modify a set of purchased WordPress templates for my business. And I made my way around the PHP files, careful not to touch things that looked important.

The moral of this story is that I consider myself geeky today because of a series of fortunate events: a past that helped me embrace technology from a young age, a career that led me through daily excitement in and around technology and starting a business with technology at the core of communications.

And I would not change a thing.

Sasha Westin is the principal owner of Fabuliss and professional stylist. Her mission is to create more diversity at leadership levels by helping people feel more confident in their clothing. She is a board member of Girls in Tech Minneapolis/St. Paul, volunteer Image Coach with Dress for Success Twin Cities and she offers individual consulting services as well as presentations.
Photo credit: Shelley Paulson Photography

If I ever had any real career counseling, I hope that someone would have suggested that I consider technology as a career path. By the time I realized it, I was already a Master’s degree into an academic career.

They say it’s never too early to reinvent yourself, so I did. I got a basic web management position, started a Twitter account, followed all my local web heroes and started talking to them. That helped me get the job I have today, at Clockwork Active Media Systems.

It only took 3 things:

1. Hard Work
2. Networking
3. Me

Hard Work + Teamwork = WIN
I’ve always had a healthy work ethic (thanks, dad). I care that my work contributes to the greater good of my team, even if I dislike the work that needs to be done. A good work ethic is important for many reasons, but it means you take ownership of your work and actually care about the outcome. This emotional investment in what you do makes it more likely that you’ll want to do your best and that you will do your best.

If you’ve got this type of work ethic, don’t hide it. Make it clear to your co-workers and professional connections that you will go that extra mile. Your work ethic should go hand-in-hand with teamwork. If you have extra time and your co-worker is drowning, help them. The team either sinks or swims; help your team swim! That will make a better impression than how you dress or how early you get to work.

Networking + You = AWESOME
It’s impossible to overstate the importance of networking in a job search. When unemployment is at 9.1%, distinguishing yourself from the pack of other applicants is crucial. It’s no longer all about having the right degree, background or experience. It’s all about who you know. One HR software company reported that 60% of jobs are filled via referrals.

Twitter was my main networking tool. I used it to listen and participate in conversations about the local web community. This made me an active participant, not just another follower. If someone Tweeted about a problem I could solve, I helped. If someone Tweeted about an interesting site, I took a look and shared my thoughts. I also attended a lot of local tech workshops and conferences. SEO workshop? I was there. An Event Apart? Sign me up.

Me + Myself = I
Here is the important part: I didn’t just work hard, start a Twitter account and a job magically appeared. I was also myself. I celebrated my strengths and owned my weaknesses. People can tell the difference between fake and real pretty easily. It’s best to be honest about who you are, what you do and what you want. Don’t try to be someone you’re not.

Hard Work + Networking + Me = Amazing Job
When I applied for the job at Clockwork, I already knew half the staff due to Twitter, networking events and a previous project. I wasn’t just another faceless job applicant. When working with Clockwork as a client, my work ethic was apparent. When I networked with them at events and on Twitter, I was engaged and inquisitive. When I interviewed, I was myself.

Obviously Twitter wasn’t the only thing that got me my job. It was, however, an important tool I used to advertise myself. Let’s be clear, I don’t mean this: “Hey I’m great! Hire me!” I advertised MYSELF, as in: who I am, what I think and what I feel. Twitter allowed me to make personal connections with real people who had the power to hire me.

And that’s how Twitter helped me get a job.

Kristi McKinney is a User Experience Architect at Clockwork Active Media Systems in Minneapolis, MN.