Past event

Pivoting to Engineering With a Non-traditional Background

Jheanell Elliott Engineering Manager, The New Yorker
September 8, 2022 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET Virtual Free to attend
Pivoting to Engineering With a Non-traditional Background

About this session

Engineering.

Computer Science.

Do these titles strike you as intimidating? Out of reach? Or maybe like a goal for going back to school?

The good news is that even if you’re coming from a non-traditional background, these positions consist of tasks that anyone can learn. That means that as scary as engineering may sound, don’t be intimidated by the title. So long as you’re driven, you can reach it!

In fact, Condé Nast’s Engineering Manager at The New Yorker, Jheanell Elliott, transitioned into an engineering position from a background in graphic design. Now she wants to share her journey with others who are looking to break into an engineering role but aren’t sure where to start, what hard and soft skills they will need, or how to deal with the Imposter Syndrome that can come from transitioning into a new industry. As a hiring manager, she will share what she’s looking for in candidates that are coming from non-traditional backgrounds and how those candidates can stand out during the hiring process with their problem-solving abilities, creativity, and code.

Join us to learn:

  • How to launch into engineering when you are coming from a non-traditional background.
  • What hard and soft skills you will need to be successful.
  • Why problem-solving is so important and how it can make you stand out in the industry.
  • What hiring managers are looking for in potential candidates from non-traditional backgrounds and how you can stand out from the crowd.

Meet the speaker

Jheanell Elliott

Jheanell Elliott

Engineering Manager, The New Yorker

Jheanell is The New Yorker Product team's most senior engineering manager, focused on expanding the breadth and impact of the brand's digital presence.

Her primary focus is to build and maintain features targeted at improving reader engagement and discovery of The New Yorker's digital offerings on the web.

She has a 16+ year career that spans interactive media, visual/web design, and computer animation. Her previous roles as a graphic and interactive designer heavily influence her philosophy as a software engineer and how she thinks about user experience.

She is a firm believer that the most successful applications are the ones that are the simplest to use.

About PowerToFly

The bridge between professionals and the companies building what's next.

PowerToFly connects talent, community groups, and industry leaders in one platform. Meet hiring managers, recruiters, and peers from anywhere — and with our virtual events and exclusive career content, hone your skills and grow your network all in one place.

Community
800K+ Active members across every industry, domain, and geography — from anywhere in the world.
Verified experts
80K+ Domain specialists in healthcare, law, finance, and more — vetted and ready.
AI professionals
6,500 Annotators, red teamers, and model evaluators who've worked on frontier AI.
Countries
204 A truly global community, so you can connect and grow your network without borders.
Women & BIPOC
75%+ The voices most underrepresented in tech are overrepresented here — by design.
Years building
12+ Connecting talent with companies that value it, since 2014.

More Chat & Learns

See all events →
September 22, 2026
Chat & learn

The Consultant's Balancing Act: Career, Travel, and Everything In Between

Join Belgin Kocaman, Nina Loske, and Madina Makhmudova, three Industry Process Consultants and Solutions Architects at Dassault Systèmes, for a candid conversation about what it really takes to thrive in a global consulting career. Between building digital frameworks, guiding factory transformations, and advising…

Belgin Kocaman Nina Loske Madina Makhmudova
3 speakers
Register →
September 29, 2026
Chat & learn

Early Career, Real Talk: The Hiring Truths Nobody Tells You

You've done everything right: updated your resume, practiced your answers, applied to dozens of jobs. So why does it still feel like the process is a mystery? The truth is, most candidates only ever see their side of the hiring process. Understanding what's happening on the other side can change how you search, how…

William Chichester
William Chichester
Register →
October 20, 2026
Chat & learn

AI Best Practices for Job Seekers

AI tools have become part of nearly every step of the job search, from writing a resume to prepping for an interview. Join PowerToFly and Dassault Systèmes for an interactive conversation on how to use AI thoughtfully throughout the process, without letting it work against you. Our featured recruiters will cover where…

Sara Porter Abigail Young Raphaël Sainderichin
3 speakers
Register →