The following account was shared by Melanie Malott, Talent Acquisition Team Lead, Engineering at HubSpot and CodePath Volunteer.
After relocating to the Bay Area from the Midwest about two and a half years ago, I found myself looking for ways to merge my professional expertise with my passion for volunteering. Having already volunteered with organizations like Dress for Success and Girls Inc., I knew I wanted to continue making an impact, particularly in the tech space. One simple Google search later, I stumbled on CodePath.
What immediately drew me to CodePath was their commitment to supporting underrepresented groups in tech. As a person of color who has spent the majority of my career in technical recruiting, I saw an opportunity to use my experience to help aspiring technologists who might not otherwise have access to quality professional guidance.
I rolled up my sleeves and got to work—participating in CodePath’s resume review week, where I was matched with two students. I was immediately impressed with how prepared they were. They’d already created personal portfolios, were actively contributing to GitHub, and had valuable internship experiences under their belts. I wanted to do more than simply critique their resumes, so we discussed how to highlight their unique strengths and leverage their experiences during interviews.
The support provided by CodePath made the volunteer experience seamless. Before meeting with students, I received a packet of materials that outlined the session structure and provided student information. This preparation allowed me to focus on being present with the students during our conversations rather than worrying about logistics.
For other recruiting professionals who might be hesitant about volunteering, particularly when working with computer science students, I want to emphasize that you don't need to be a technical expert to have a positive impact. What matters is your ability to guide students through the recruitment process and help them understand how to present their skills to both recruiters and hiring managers.
Looking back, this experience has increased my passion for supporting BIPOC talent, whether they're just starting their careers or are experienced professionals. There's something powerful about being able to mentor students and have them see someone who looks like them in a position to offer guidance and support.
My experience with CodePath has shown me that even small contributions of time and expertise can make a big difference for underrepresented students navigating their way into tech careers. It's not just about reviewing resumes – it's about building relationships, sharing insights, and opening doors for the next generation of tech professionals.