✨ Uber Career Prep!

Last year, I was doubting myself. (I still do!)😭

I applied to Uber Career Prep knowing I wouldn’t even hear back, just the norm, y’know. That’s the thing about hope when you’re used to silence: you still try, but your heart flinches first.

📬 October 31st, 2024

Still, I submitted my application; because I’m stubborn like that. Or maybe just because some part of me still believed.

📬 November 20th, 2024

Hi Valary,

We really enjoyed learning about your background and experiences. We are excited to move you forward in the interview process for the Uber Career Prep Program…

Wait what???

They were moving me forward?! I was excited😊 and scared 😭 and still somehow felt I wasn’t good enough.

It’s that weird little imposter syndrome cocktail. You get the opportunity, and then fear starts screaming in your ear: “Are you sure they meant to pick you???”

😩 Plot twist: I forgot to schedule the interview.

Yes. Me.

Enemies of success! I am my own ops sometimes.

I missed the deadline to confirm my interview slot… and I panicked.

But I emailed. And they were so kind. God really showed up in that moment 🙏🏾

💻 The Interview

It was a 2-hour back-to-back: technical and behavioral.

I came in smiling, trying to project confidence, but my palms were sweating so bad under the chair (hyperhidrosis gang, stand up 😭).

I tried my best to explain my thought process, to show my passion, to amplify the things I have done so far. Even if I didn’t feel like enough, I brought all of me to that call.

🎉 December 19th

Congratulations!

We’re thrilled to share that you have been admitted to the 2025 Uber Career Prep program. Less than 3% of candidates were accepted into this year’s cohort and you’re part of that incredible talent!

When I tell you I was happy 😭😭😭

I didn’t even share it with anyone right away… but I felt proud. Deeply, truly proud of myself.

🚀 The Program

Workshops started in January 2025, and it’s been nothing but growth since.

I even made a little bubbly LinkedIn post saying I was looking forward to learning and connecting; and I meant it!

But, I Did Half of It… From Kenya 🇰🇪

I was back home for a portion of the program, and it was rough.

Unstable WiFi. Random blackouts. I’d be mid-sentence during  my one-on-one and boom! Lights gone 😭😭 (but my mentor understood)

 It made me feel sad, annoyed, even angry at the conditions around me. Like why must trying be this hard Everytime? Why can’t it just work?

But we all know who came through for me.

💐 My Mom❤️

The encouragement she gave me… priceless.

She even asked my pastor, without me even saying anything, if I could use his church office for better reception.

So there I was: walking to the church office, laptop in this cute bag of mine, minutes before each 4-hour-long workshop, logging into Uber’s world from a sanctuary.

🥲 Fast Forward

I’m at the end of the workshop now.

I’ve struggled with submitting technical assignments (because Northwestern classes were classing 😭), but I showed up. I made connections. I pushed through.

Some of the things we did:

• Workshops with Uber engineers on DSA, comms, and tech problem-solving
• 1:1 mentorship on goal-setting, interviews, and career prep
• Take-home challenges, mock interviews, real feedback from Uber engineers!

And omg… the skills I’ve gained? Invaluable.

And you know what?

In one of our last mock interviews, my interviewer and I both struggled to solve this beast of a graph problem involving topological sort 💀😭 (technically just me haha). It was so real. We laughed through it, I kept trying again, and by the end of that interview…

He offered me a tour of the Uber SF office and a free lunch 😭

I took him up on it. I went.

July 25th, 2025. I walked into Uber HQ because I had said yes to an opportunity I didn’t even think I’d get.

🧠 Takeaways (Just because…)

1. Don’t doubt yourself. Ever. The fear might never fully go away, but neither will your light. Philippians 4:13
2. Follow up. Even when you miss deadlines. Especially when you miss deadlines.
3. Connect with people. Be a human, not just a candidate. People are truly sweet, if you are sweet to them!
4. God shows up. Periodtttt!
5. Let joy in. Let it feel real. Don’t minimize your wins.
6. Try. Even if it’s hard. Even if it’s sweaty. Try.

Challenge to Self:

• Next time I feel unqualified or afraid, I’ll reread this.
• Because I’ve been here before, and I made it through.
• Because I’m not just someone who applies.
• I’m someone who shows up.
• And I don’t need to feel ready to be ready.

I just need to try.

So Do You!!!

#StillITry💜💜💜

💌Valary