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At Women Go Tech, we often hear the same concern from women navigating tech careers: “I’m doing the work — but I still don’t know what hiring managers actually care about.”

To get real answers, our Community and Acceleration Program manager Anna Dąbrowska sat down for a conversation with our mentors – Judyta Wereda, (Digital Transformation Leader) and Vitalija Bartuseviciute (Senior Consultant – Data Engineer).

Below are the most valuable takeaways, directly from the hiring side.

How to Get Your CV Noticed

When Anna asked what truly makes a CV stand out, both mentors agreed: it’s rarely about listing the longest tech stack.

What really catches attention is clarity, relevance, and impact.

According to the mentors, the strongest CVs:

• Clearly communicate impact, not just responsibilities;
• Show decision-making and ownership, not only execution;
• Make it obvious what kind of role the candidate is aiming for.

And what gets overlooked quickly?

Vitalija explained:

“It is important to reflect how your experience connects to the role you are applying for. A clear message that links your background to the role description helps the hiring team immediately understand your value.”

What Hiring Managers Notice Beyond Formal Requirements

Anna also asked what employers pay attention to beyond qualifications and technical skills. The answer came immediately: how candidates think and communicate.

Vitalija shared:

“The way someone thinks is often much more important than the tools they know. Tools can be taught. Problem-solving mindset, structured thinking, and curiosity are much harder to teach.”

Mentors said they actively look for:

• How candidates reason through problems;
• Whether they ask thoughtful, clarifying questions;
• How they approach uncertainty or incomplete information.

As Judyta put it:

“Sometimes the strongest signal is not the answer itself, but how the person got there.”

Green flags mentors appreciate:

Asking thoughtful questions about the team, product, or company culture;

Being honest about gaps;

Taking ownership of mistakes and showing growth.

Can You Get Hired Without a Tech Background?

Anna raised one of the most common concerns within the Women Go Tech community: career switching.

The mentors were clear – yes, it absolutely happens, but successful transitions are intentional.

Judyta explained:

“People who succeed in career changes don’t try to erase their past. They translate it.”

Successful career changers often:

• Apply even when they don’t feel 100% ready;
• Connect previous experience to business or user value;
• Demonstrate consistent learning, not just motivation.

Vitalija added:

“A diverse background is usually much more of a bonus than a minus. Readiness is often something you build after you start, not before.”

What Mentors Wish Candidates Knew About Mentoring

Both mentors emphasized that mentoring is not about receiving step-by-step instructions.

Judyta shared:

“Mentoring is about understanding how decisions are made – especially the ones you don’t see.”

From the hiring perspective, mentoring helps candidates:

• Build confidence that naturally shows up in conversations;
• Recognize and communicate their strengths more clearly;
• Test assumptions before real interviews.

Vitalija reflected:

“Looking back at my career, I wish I had found a mentor sooner. During job interviews, you can always ask about the mentoring culture within the company.”

Why These Insights Matter Right Now

Hiring in tech is evolving – and mentors involved in hiring processes often see those changes first.

Today, what makes the biggest difference is:

• Clear positioning over perfect experience;
• Understanding how hiring decisions are actually made;
• Receiving feedback from people who sit on the other side of the interview table.

That’s why mentor-led programs remain at the heart of Women Go Tech.

Learn Directly From Mentors Who Understand the Hiring Process

Women Go Tech mentoring programs connect participants with experienced mentors like Judyta and Vitalija – professionals who can help candidates:

• Review CVs through a hiring lens;
• Share real interview expectations;
• Translate previous experience into a clear career direction;
• Prepare for interviews with confidence;
• Serve as professional references when appropriate.

With the guidance of an experienced mentor, the job search process becomes grounded in clarity, confidence, and informed decisions – not assumptions.