Box, a tech company that offers cloud content management and storage solutions to businesses, opened its doors to De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) students, to share its vision, secrets to success and advice on making successful career choices.
Students were given a tour of the company’s offices in Redwood City, California, which provide employees with all the resources they need to enable them to do their jobs well, including food, laundry and relaxation spaces.
Dre Trudelle, senior director of benefits at Box, explained the importance the company places on making sure their values are embedded in their working practices.
She said: “We encourage you to bring your whole self to work. Whatever your background, culture, sexual orientation, you are free to express and be yourself because we focus on your ability. We don’t put people in boxes; data belongs in a box, people belong outside the box.
“We’re successful because we live and breathe our values and we value difference, our differences matter and that’s what makes Box great.”
Dre Trudelle, senior director of benefits at Box
The students also took part in a panel discussion with Box professionals, who explained how to get a head-start in tech and break into the industry, regardless of their academic subject choice.
Unicorns hang on the wall at Box, representing the company’s ambition
Lindsay Hickok is the company’s university recruitment manager. She said: “Box is a great place to start your career because there are lots of opportunities to learn and work on projects that will allow you to grow your career quickly. All of the people here are willing to help each other out.”
As part of the day, students had face-to-face mock interviews with recruiters at Box who showed them how to perfect their interview techniques to maximise their opportunities of being hired.
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Computer Science student Sophie Hughes said: “I like the discussions around career progression and being able to ask a real recruiter their opinion on CVs and the impression they have of them. It was great to be able to have that one-to-one opportunity to speak with a real recruiter from the industry about interview techniques.”
Business and Management student Vanessa Erivona said: “I learned that there are companies out there that really want to accept you for who you are, and what you have to offer, rather than what you look like - no limitations - and that you can bring your best self to work.”
Students are visiting top tech companies to give them an insight into the skills and talent needed for a career in the multi-billion-pound technology sector. A focus of this #DMUglobal opportunity is the ways in which companies are addressing a lack of diversity in the industry, where only 3 per cent of tech professionals are from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) background.
Posted on Tuesday 10 July 2018