Gimena began to develop an interest in computers as early asher junior year of high school, during her computer science classes: “I felt like I had a knack for it and that I enjoyed it.”
Based on that feeling, she began researching careers related to technology, but all she could find were engineering degrees. “I didn’t fit the profile of an engineer—maybe it was just a prejudice, but I felt like it wasn’t for me,” she says.
“When I came to ORT University, I discovered the bachelor’s degree program—a major that combines business, customer service, and technology—and I knew that was what I wanted.”
Before finishing her studies, she had already started working—first for four hours a day, then eight. “It wasn’t hard for me to find a job. I’m very curious, and every so often I check the Graduate Portal to see what’s in demand, which profiles are most sought after, which companies are hiring, and whether they’re looking for senior or junior candidates.”
During that search, she came across a job opening at Falabella in Chile. “Moving to another country wasn’t part of my plan; I wanted to become independent, but not to that extent,” she laughs.
“The job posting said they were looking for the best tech talent and that an excellent academic background was a must. Even though I had my doubts about how much a good education actually makes you a good professional, I sent in my resume.”
From that point on, a long process of tests and interviews began. “I took an online test, had an in-person interview here in Montevideo, then traveled to Chile, and finally had a Skype interview.”
On the trip to Chile—which Gimena thought would just involve visiting the company’s offices—she faced the most challenging part. “I had thousands of meetings in a single afternoon. I remember a girl came in with a Word document full of questions, and I felt like my entire academic career was flashing before my eyes—from inheritance in Programming I to the design patterns we cover in Application Design, and everything in between, including databases.”
At just 24 years old, Gimena landed the job, beating out 50 other candidates. “I’ll be working as a developer for the company’s bank, and I’ll be part of a team with people from all over Latin America.”
“I start work on August 1st. For the first month, I’ll be staying at a hotel paid for by the company, and then they’ll help me find an apartment. They’ll also cover my moving expenses, travel costs, and visa processing fees.”
Gimena is nervous but excited about this new challenge. She’ll return to Uruguay for the graduation ceremony at Solís and will also continue working on the project with Aldeas Infantiles that she started for her thesis. “We created a video game to help teenagers become independent, and I’m going to keep working on that from there.”