How Ana landed her Graduate Software Engineer role at Booking.com
Meet Ana, Graduate Software Engineer at Booking.com, where she's about to build software used by millions of people every day. Her path there didn't start with a yes: the first time she applied, she didn't make it through the technical interview. A recruiter she'd met at a HerFuture event, months of preparation and advice from women already in the program helped her try again. It's a story about treating a rejection as a sign to come back better prepared.
How it all started
I studied computer science at TU Delft and graduated last July. I've always been drawn to the logic of it all. Tech felt like the right fit, but finding my footing in it as a woman was something I was still figuring out: I didn't see many events catered to women in the field. Then I heard about HerFuture, and it felt like something worth checking out.
The magic moment
I met Gaby, a recruiter from Booking.com, at my first HerFuture event. She had such great energy, and our conversation stuck with me. Months later, when I walked into my in-person interview at Booking.com and saw her there, she remembered me! It was so nice to see a familiar face.
Getting my foot in the door
I'd actually applied to the Booking.com graduate program the year before and didn't get through the technical interview. But instead of walking away, I reframed it: this wasn't a personal failure, I just wasn't prepared enough, and it's always worth another try. So I spent the months leading up to the next application studying intensively. This time, I also reached out to women who'd gone to my university and were already in the graduate program. They shared what to expect, told me not to worry too much and to just be myself, and that made all the difference.
How HerFuture contributed to my path
What HerFuture gave me was proof. Seeing other girls, girls just like me, fresh out of university, landing good jobs and building real careers in tech made it feel possible. When you're in the thick of job applications, scrolling LinkedIn, it can genuinely feel like no one is getting hired. But HerFuture showed me a different picture. And seeing women further along in their careers talk about their journeys, even back when it was so much harder for women in tech, that was something else. It reminded me that if they could do it, so could I!
Where I am now & what I do
I finished my degree in July and I'm starting the Software Engineer Graduate Program at Booking.com in September. For the first six months I'll be embedded in one team, then another for the second six months, and after that, they'll place me permanently based on the experience. I'm excited to discover the projects I'll be working on. Whatever it is, millions of people will be using it every day. After years of building things only ever seen by a professor, that feels like everything.
My advice to women who want to land a career in tech
Don't be afraid to reach out to people who are already where you want to be. I know it feels like you're bothering them, but most people are genuinely happy to help, and that one conversation can completely change how you walk into an interview. And if you don't get in the first time, don't take it personally. Ask yourself honestly: was I really prepared? Because if the answer is no, that's not a door closing, it's just a sign to come back better equipped. The hardest thing is being in the dark, so do everything you can to not be.
Ready to start your journey?
Join the community and put yourself out there: your next big opportunity might just start at a HerFuture event. Sign up at app.herfuture.nl.
