Derek Phillips, 24, Kodiak Robotics
Kodiak Robotics
Try to figure out what kind of company you’d like to work for, Phillips said. Finding a company that makes you excited to come to work every day is the most important step you can take to start your career on the right foot.
Hana Lodhi, 26, Waymo
Waymo
Lodhi emphasized the importance of taking opportunities to learn early in your career. Be observant, open to criticism, and willing to ask questions, she said.
Jay Kuvelker, 28, Kodiak Robotics
Kodiak Robotics
Use the job-interview process as an opportunity to learn about the company you’ve applied to work for, Kuvelker said.
Once you’ve landed a job, look for mentors and be proactive in seeking projects you can work on after completing the work you’re assigned, he added.
Melinda Kothbauer, 25, May Mobility
Telemetry
Kothbauer said one of her priorities at the beginning of her career was to find a company that would allow her to develop a broad understanding of the product it was developing, instead of forcing her to focus on a narrow set of tasks. Gaining that kind of big-picture knowledge will help you discover what you like and what you’re good at, she said.
Sarah Tang, 30, Nuro
LaunchSquad
Be kind, Tang said. If you look for ways to help your coworkers, you can build a strong professional network.
Shir Yehoshua, 29, Waymo
Waymo
Find work that you enjoy and that plays to your strengths, Yehoshua said. Don’t spend too much time trying to master things you’re not good at.
Luna Yang, 28, Aurora Innovation
Aurora Innovation
When working on a project, ask questions about why certain tools or methods will or won’t be effective, Yang said in an email. It may slow you down in the short term, but it will make you better at your job in the long run.
Andrey Rykov, 28, Yandex
Yandex
Find a balance between learning things and doing things, Rykov said in an email. It’s important to keep up on the lastest news in your industry, but don’t spend too much time on research that isn’t related to the work you’re doing today.