Making a career change: Frances's story

After working as a buyer and manager in retail for nearly a decade, Frances O’Brien felt stuck. At a crossroads, she left her job to pursue a new path. She signed up for a training program in software engineering and decided she wanted to make this her career, but she wasn’t sure where to begin. 

“At the end of the training, I felt like I had the experience to get a job in software engineering, but I didn’t know how to start or exactly what jobs to look for. I didn’t really know anyone who could help; I didn’t have any contacts in the field,” Frances explained. 

She discovered PA Women Work and was connected with a staff member who encouraged her to participate in 3 Cups of Coffee. She was matched with a mentor in the software engineering field who provided her support and guidance to get her new career off the ground. 

“My mentor helped me learn how to develop relationships with people in this industry. She helped me identify the skills I had gained in the training, and the skills I was bringing from my previous work experiences,” Frances said. 

Frances accepted a software support role at ConnectiveRX earlier this year. She’s building her skills and growing her connections and hopes to further her career in the field. 

Thank you to our 3 Cups of Coffee funders for making stories like Frances’s possible: Arby’s Foundation | Arconic Foundation | American Eagle Outfitters Foundation | J. Jill Compassion Fund | Jack Buncher Foundation | CNX Foundation | Snee-Reinhardt Charitable Foundation