Hello! My name is Olayinka Atobiloye. I’m a fourth-year student at the University of Lagos in Nigeria, where I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a software engineer. I remember using Google to help me study and complete assignments in high school and being fascinated by how it worked behind the scenes.
I actually just found out about the Major League Hacking (MLH) Fellowship a few months ago while scrolling Twitter. A software engineer I am following posted about her involvement with the program, and I was immediately interested. I did my research and decided to apply for the Software Engineering Track for the Spring 2023 semester, and luckily, I got in on the first try!
Contributing to GitHub Docs as a Technical Writer
During the MLH Fellowship, I worked with GitHub Docs as a technical writer. I helped improve the Docs project while learning both technical and soft skills through practical hands-on experience. By contributing to a real-world technical writing project, I learned significantly more about technical writing than I had learned previously. For instance, I learned about how to write with accessibility in mind. I also learned to design content plans from scratch as well as how to use Git and GitHub.
Throughout the program, I was able to grow my technical skills and gained valuable career insights through workshops. During the MLH Fellowship, we also had to give weekly lightning talks, where we prepared our slide presentations and spoke on topics we were interested in to the other MLH Fellows. During these weekly talks, I also got to polish my public speaking and presentation skills.
Since the MLH Fellowship, I have been enlisted for more public speaking engagements. I feel so much more comfortable speaking publicly thanks to the lightning talks we had to give during the program.
Making Friends and Finding Mentors
One of my favorite parts about the MLH Fellowship was the sense of community. Everyone was super friendly and always ready to offer assistance in one way or another. I got to meet and interact with amazing fellows from all different backgrounds! Through the program, I became close with my project maintainer and my mentor, who helped me grow tremendously in my career. They treated me like an equal member of the team right from the start and took the time to have enlightening conversations with me about my career.
Landing a Role in Tech Through the MLH Fellowship
Toward the end of the MLH Fellowship, I landed my first technical writing role with Baeldung. The MLH Fellowship was a big reason I was able to secure a position as a technical writer. The program helped me improve my resume, develop my interviewing skills, and grow my technical knowledge significantly.
The MLH Fellowship is an amazing opportunity to break into a career in tech. If you are interested in applying for the MLH Fellowship, my biggest piece of advice would be to be as honest and genuine as possible in your application essays. Don’t try to sugarcoat your personality! Be real and express your passion and interest in technology.
See What the Fuss is All About – Visit our Website!
For more information about the MLH Fellowship and to apply for the program, visit our website here. Stay connected with Olayinka Atobiloye on her LinkedIn.