Some Things That I Would Have Probably Needed To Hear When I Was Starting Out In Tech
Based on my experience.
While fashion’s relationship with technology has certainly grown stronger in recent years, whenever I tell people that I work at the intersection of the two, it often raises some questions. Wait, you can apply tech to fashion? What does that even look like? And how did you get started?
I understand that fashion and technology seem like two completely different and perhaps even opposing fields. I also know firsthand how intimidating both can be. On the technology side, due to rigid stereotypes of what a successful software engineer is like. On the fashion side, I mean, have you seen The Devil Wears Prada?
So, below are some things that I probably would’ve needed to hear when I was starting out in computer science, struggling to fit in with the “tech bros”, knowing I had an interest in fashion, and wondering if technology could be something I’d be good at.
I hope they help break down the intersection of fashion & technology, as well as demonstrate how, yes, computer science and technology can be a place where you can thrive, too.
YOU ARE MOST DEFINITELY NOT THE *ONLY ONE STRUGGLING
I certainly had a difficult transition into college, and academics were no exception. After receiving a C in the first introductory computer science class I took, I assumed technology was not the place for me. I’d later learn that struggling in college computer science courses is both normal and also Not The End of the World. But, at the time, I was definitely discouraged.
During my junior year, when I got the hang of computer science a bit more and did pick up some better grades (although I still received a couple more Cs), I decided to become a course teaching assistant. The job included grading students’ homework and exams, and hosting office hours.
Quickly, I learned that I was wrong all along, and that, actually, a lot of people were struggling in computer science classes. Many students would come to office hours asking the same questions I once had, worried that they weren’t grasping concepts as quickly or easily as everyone else. Plus, especially for classes graded on a curve, it is, by definition, unlikely for everyone to be getting perfect scores, and for you to be the only person having a hard time.
People, especially in highly competitive environments such as college campuses, don’t really like to talk about their struggles. I saw this as well during my senior year, when recruiting for full-time jobs—people didn’t openly talk about their rejections. Once again, I felt that maybe I was the only one failing interview tests or receiving rejection emails. Spoiler alert: I wasn’t, and both of those things are normal, too.
Also know that—given that there is no strong correlation between GPA and future success, and that technology is a unique space where degree credentials are not always strict requirements—struggling academically is not only normal, but really okay.
REMEMBER WHAT YOU’RE BEING TESTED ON
On that note, it’s also important to be conscious of what, exactly, you’re struggling with.
For instance, some college computer science programs are quite theoretical, requiring various theory and math courses. This is perfect for people interested in the foundational elements of computing, and answering more abstract questions about algorithms.
Other computer science programs are project-oriented, teaching more about how code can be used to build interesting projects and applications. These programs might require more coding courses than theory or math. Other programs fall somewhere in the middle.
So, if you’re having a difficult time with coursework in an area that won’t necessarily intersect with your post-grad pursuits, remember these struggles are not an indicator that you won’t be able to succeed in your career. The Cs I received on exams testing me on abstract proofs and theoretical concepts have not, whatsoever, negatively impacted the data science and analytics I do today for Data, But Make it Fashion. And thank goodness for that.
I’ve previously written about more concrete ways tech can be applied to the fashion industry, including some examples from my own analyses. You can read more below:
TECHNOLOGY IS ACTUALLY EVERYWHERE
The good thing about technology today is that nearly every company you can think of uses it in some capacity, and therefore hires tech talent. And yes, that includes fashion companies. Your job opportunities as someone with a tech and coding skillset are not, in fact, solely limited to tech firms.
Think of any brand that lets you shop online (having a website requires software engineers to build and maintain it), any service that has an app (thus needs iOS and Android engineers), or any retailer that has a customer loyalty program (which requires storing and securing and analyzing data). Brands like Chanel and Dior and Nordstrom and Sephora and Ralph Lauren. And so on.
And the proof is in the LinkedIn job postings, too. Just from a quick search I can see that Nike is hiring a software applications engineer, Ralph Lauren is hiring an applications development analyst, and GAP is hiring a data scientist.
I’ve written about this previously, but that’s why having interests and hobbies outside of technology can actually be A Really Good Thing. In this example specifically, an interest in and knowledge of fashion would actually help you land some of these jobs.
For more on the importance of having interests outside of your field, I recommend reading “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World” by David Epstein.
The work I do on Data, But Make it Fashion—using data and analytics to decode and understand shifts across fashion—would not be possible if I did not possess both technical coding skills as well as an interest in fashion and style. Even though, when I was in college, a passion for fashion certainly didn’t seem like something that would help me in my technology career. I’m glad to have been proven wrong.
IN CONCLUSION…
Of course, the advice and guidance provided in this article is based on my personal experiences only, and there are many different ways to approach technology. But I hope this helps demonstrate how computer science can be a place for you, too, despite any ways that you might struggle, and whatever your separate, non-tech-related interests may be.