Chantal Cuellar, future community manager. I chose digital!
Femmes du Numérique:To begin with, what is your definition of “digital”?
Chantal Cuellar:When I hear “digital”, I immediately think of “screen”, whether it’s TV screen, computer screen, smartphone screen, and so on. As a result, digital is then closely linked to the connection between individuals.
FDN:Women, an opportunity for digital. Digital, an opportunity for women. What do you think about it? Why did you choose this sector?
CC :When I embarked on the digital path, I never thought that women had fewer opportunities than men, or more to prove. It’s a developed and, above all, booming sector, where there’s room for everyone as long as they’re motivated and competent.
FDN:Did you encounter any difficulties in choosing your career path, or on the contrary, did you receive support? How did your teachers, guidance counselors, family, friends and parents view your choice?
CC:I decided to get involved after doing some research of my own, which above all corresponded to the image I had of what my future career should be. The people around me encouraged me, even though they didn’t fully understand my future missions (older people and/or people with no knowledge of the digital sector).
FDN:During your studies and internships, how do you feel about working in a predominantly male environment? Do you feel you’re treated differently from male students and trainees?
CC:I’ve never felt any gender difference. On the other hand, I felt a difference linked to age and my lack of experience: very little tolerance and mutual aid.
FDN:Tell us about your career plans. How do you see your career?
CC:I had 18 months’ work experience in the agricultural supplies sector. During this period, I held the position of Homologation Project Manager, which involved ensuring that the company obtained marketing authorizations for its products. Very quickly, I didn’t feel fulfilled (for many reasons), mainly because my job didn’t generate enough communication and interaction with others. It was something I really missed.
So I thought of a job that would allow me to have a lot of contact with people while finding a booming sector…and then the job ofCommunityManagerappeared!
At the moment, I’m still discovering the profession, as I’m still in training. Nevertheless, what I see of the profession, what I’m told about it, the courses I’m given, the contacts I make on social networks… it all fascinates me! I’m always connected (too much so, according to my husband) and I love interacting with others. I’m looking forward to meeting people, learning from others and, above all, being part of a team to promote a company’s image. The most important thing for my future job is versatility! (as well as good humor if possible).
FDN:You’re part of generation Y. How do you view gender equality issues?
CC:As an independent married woman, I have no worries about this issue. My husband, my family and my friends know me, they know that I’m independent and that I’m not some frail little thing. Having the “respect” of those around me and knowing what they think of me, I confess that I don’t ask myself the question of gender equality every 4th morning.
Nevertheless, I am aware of certain inequalities between men and women, particularly in a professional context, and I believe that these inequalities must not be allowed to persist. For example, a woman is underpaid for the same work as a man. ¨Why? I don’t understand it.
But on the other hand, I don’t think that issues of gender equality should be invoked at every opportunity… at the risk of undermining the credibility of the discourse. To argue that a man should do as much laundry as a woman is frankly meaningless. Everyone does what they want in their relationship. You have to fight for equality in a professional context, not a personal one…
FDN:What advice would you give to a high school student hesitating to enroll in a digital curriculum?
CC:When we’re in high school, we’re referred to guidance counselors, but they (more often than not) don’t know what’s best for a particular student….and how can you blame them? At 17 or 18, we ourselves don’t know what a career is, what the world of work is like, what prerequisites we need to master, what our expectations are in a professional career, and so on. And yet, we’re asked to make choices, starting with the decision as to which stream to follow (S, ES, L, other), we’re asked to plan ahead… but as teenagers, we don’t know anything, and even those who do are not immune (and they’re right) to wanting to change direction later on.
All this to say that if I had any advice to give to a high school girl, it would be in order, from:
- Think about your project carefully, ask yourself the right questions and your personal expectations,
- Do a field study (which no one tells us about, except when it’s time to do the week or 2 internship in3rdgrade…) by contacting experts in the field, phoning to ask what their daily lives are like, and gleaning as much information as possible!
- And one thing we don’t think about when we’re excited about starting a new project is thinking about what’s next, asking ourselves what the possibilities are for career development (in case the job becomes redundant after a while), so as to minimize the risk of problems at work, frustration and not knowing what to do with your professional life because you feel you’ve come full circle.
Biography
My name is Chantal and I was born in Africa. When I returned to France in 2004, I followed a “Biology” career path, punctuated by my first professional experience in the agro-supplies sector (pesticides) with DuPont. After 18 months with the company, I decided to retrain because my job didn’t suit me. I needed something different, more interaction with people and a more “exciting” job than the one I was doing, which was very administrative. So I found the Community Manager training course in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, which I started in February 2016. I’m currently on the course, about to start a 4-month internship and begin a new life… professionally!
