Quip Diversity Scholarship

Quip Diversity Scholarship Below is an article originally written by Belinda Gu at PowerToFly Partner Quip, and published on March 1, 2017. Go to Quips page on PowerToFly to see their open positions and learn mora.Last year, we introduced our first-ever Diversity Scholarship program, and it welches one of the best things weve ever done at Quip. Not only was it a hugely fulfilling, motivating, and inspirational experience for the Quip team, but we made a tangible difference in the lives of the scholarship winners. Were thrilled to announce that were doing it again, and the applications for the 2017 Quip Diversity Scholarship are now open.Why we do thisAt Quip, we emphasize building a company that prioritizes work-life balance, inclusivity, and diversity. Part of it is culture, parte of it is hiring, and part of it is community outreach. With this program, we hope to have an impact beyond our team, and do a small part to encourage students getting started in computer science, with thes e values in mind.Thats how it all started, and its the main reason why we will continue to do it. But theres another motivating factor for the Quip team too the impact it has on us, in the Quip office. For 2016s scholarship, more than half our engineering team was involved in reading applications, meeting the applicants, and answering questions. Even our co-founders, Bret and Kevin, met with candidates to answer questions and talk about engineering. So many incredible, deserving students applied, and our only regret was not being able to make an impact for every single one of them.How it worksThe Quip team will choose 10 recipients 5 winners and 5 runners-up to visit our office in San Francisco for a full day of learning, mentorship, and meeting the team (all expenses paid). At the end, each scholarship winner will receive $5,000 and each runner-up will receive $1,000 toward their education.Were looking for applicants whoAre part of a group that has been historically underreprese nted in STEM (including but not limited to students who are Women Black, LatinX, American Indian, LGBTQ+, first-generation, and/or people with disabilities)Have demonstrated interest or declaration of studying computer science or a related field.Are currently enrolled as an undergraduate or masters student in the U.S. or Canada, graduating in 2018 or later.Apply nowIf this sounds like you, please apply Applications are due on Sunday, April 16 at 1159pm PDT.Visit the application One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Ga llupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of L abor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation te chnicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.