Where can I find someone to interview for Software Engineer/Cybersecurity career questions??
Where can I find someone to interview for Software Engineer/Cybersecurity career questions??
Hello, I'm 16, live in the WA area and is interested in a career in Software Engineering/Cybersecurity, I have a school assignment that asks to find someone to interview for the career I want to peruse, I have no connections on these fields so I was hoping to be able to find someone to interview here. Any help on organizations or people to help me get in contact for interviewing would be very appreciated! thank you for reading!
4 answers
Wendy’s Answer
Wendy recommends the following next steps:
Dinesh’s Answer
Thank you for your question, I would suggest to finding someone to interview for your assignment in software engineering or cybersecurity can be a great way to gain insights into these fields. I would recommend on where to find potential interviewees:
1. School Resources:
- Teachers or Counselors: They might have industry contacts or know of alumni working in these fields.
- Career Fairs: Check if your school hosts career fairs where professionals from the tech industry participate.
2. Local Meetups and Networking Events:
- Websites like [Meetup.com](https://www.meetup.com/) often list tech-related events where you can meet professionals in software engineering and cybersecurity.
- Attend local tech events or conferences if possible.
3. LinkedIn:
- Create a LinkedIn profile if you don't have one and use it to connect with professionals in your area.
- Search for software engineers or cybersecurity experts in your area and reach out with a polite message explaining your assignment and requesting a short interview.
4. Professional Organizations: Check with some professional organization websites such as International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC)² or the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
5. Hackathons and Coding Clubs: Participate in local hackathons or join coding clubs where you can meet professionals and enthusiasts in the field.
6. Family and Friends Network: Ask family members or friends if they know anyone working in software engineering or cybersecurity who might be willing to help.
8. Online Forums and Communities: Engage in communities like Reddit’s r/cybersecurity or Stack Overflow, where you might find professionals open to interviews.
Tony’s Answer
You could always check with your parents, immediate and extended family members and your friends parents to see if they might know in that profession. Similarly, you could ask other adults such as business/computer teachers, as they may know of some seniors that went to college for that field that would speak with you about it. You could also put another post out on CareerVillage or other mentoring type group.
Hope that provides some ideas.
Tony
Paul’s Answer
Awesome initiative — reaching out like this already shows leadership and drive!
Here’s how you can find someone to interview and build your network even before college:
LinkedIn: Create a free profile (if you don’t have one yet), search for professionals in "Software Engineering" or "Cybersecurity" near Seattle. Most people are surprisingly open to helping students if you send a short, respectful message.
Tech meetups and clubs: Search sites like Meetup.com for tech groups, coding clubs, or cybersecurity events. Many groups welcome students and love helping newcomers.
High School and Community Resources: Ask your teachers, counselors, or career advisors — many schools have hidden connections through alumni networks!
Local colleges: Even if you’re not attending yet, schools like UW, Bellevue College, and local community colleges often have events open to the public.
Pro Tip:
When you reach out, keep it short and polite — introduce yourself, explain your school project, and ask if they’d be willing to answer a few career questions (email, Zoom, or even a 10-minute call works!).
Also: Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and shoot me a DM.
I’d be happy to connect you with a Software Engineer/Cybersecurity professional at the company I work for in Bellevue if you'd like!
You're already doing exactly what great professionals do: reaching out, learning, and building real connections early.
Keep going — you’re on the right track!