Bianca Lanoue, a University of South Florida graduate and technology architecture analyst at Accenture, built early momentum in tech through internships, mentorship, and community involvement while still in college. As AI and emerging technology continue to reshape the industry, her journey reflects how hands-on experience, strong guidance, and intentional preparation can help new graduates move from the classroom into competitive career spaces. Photo courtesy Lanoue.
As the tech industry continues to expand, and artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into everyday life and workflows, breaking into the field can feel both promising and highly competitive for new graduates. With the industry moving quickly, new tools are emerging, and companies are looking for people who can keep up with that pace.
In a field that often demands experience, coming out of college with only a degree is rarely enough to secure a position. Hands-on experience, professional exposure, and strong mentorship can be pivotal – making the difference between wanting a tech career and actually obtaining one.
That pressure is backed by the numbers. SignalFire’s 2025 tech talent report found that new grad hiring in tech is down 50 percent from pre-pandemic levels. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that recent college graduates saw unemployment rise to 5.7 percent in late 2025, with underemployment reaching 42.5 percent, the highest level since 2020. Handshake, a career platform that connects college students and recent graduates with employers, found that 57 percent of Class of 2025 students felt pessimistic about starting their careers, with many pointing to stiff competition for jobs and the rise of generative AI.
As entry-level opportunities grow harder to secure, the gap between earning a degree and landing a role is becoming harder to close without practical experience.
Bianca Lanoue is one example of what it looks like to take steps that propel yourself forward in tech. A recent University of South Florida graduate with a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, Lanoue completed internships with Accenture and TD SYNNEX before stepping into a full-time role as a technology architecture analyst at Accenture. She said those experiences gave her something the classroom alone could not.
“You’re not going to understand how companies work until you’re in them,” Lanoue said. “Being in school teaches you the concepts and sometimes a lot of the technical skills that you need. But that’s just the foundation.”
Lanoue adds that students hoping to enter tech should start studying the industry before they ever reach graduation. As AI and security continue to shape hiring needs, she believes students should be paying attention to what companies are investing in, what tools they are adopting, and what skills they expect employees to build.
That kind of awareness can shape everything from internship choices to coursework, certifications, and networking efforts while students are still in school. “If you’re new coming in, you know what tools and what skills you might need to go after and learn to succeed,” Lanoue said.
The preparation did not stop at internships. While at USF, Bianca Lanoue stayed active in organizations that helped sharpen the kind of skills employers still look for beyond technical ability. She spoke about leading Women of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow, and paying close attention to what it takes to bring people together, work across teams, and grow as a leader.
“The best leaders not only know how to get stuff done and stay on task, but they have this quality of being comfortable with their team members, so that their team members are comfortable with them,” she said. In an industry moving deeper into AI, that kind of collaboration and people-centered leadership remains just as important as learning new tools.
During her 2023 to 2024 term as president of Women of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow, Lanoue (Center) helped lead the organization for a year and a half, creating space for connection, growth, and leadership development among young women on campus. This captures the kind of teamwork, responsibility, and people-centered leadership that helped shape skills she now carries into the professional world. Photo courtesy Lanoue.
That same mindset continues beyond graduation. Along with her role at Accenture, Lanoue said she is helping rebuild the Tampa Bay professional chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers and has also taken an interest in spaces like AI Salon. Those connections matter because for students and new graduates, community can be part of the bridge into the industry. Being in the right rooms, staying connected to alumni and professionals, and learning from people already doing the work can open doors that are otherwise hard to find.
Mentorship, she said, is a major part of that process. The value is not just encouragement. It is honest insight from people who understand the industry firsthand. “You’re not going to understand how the company works, or the pros and cons of a company, on the website,” Lanoue said. “You have to find out from other people who already have that experience.” She credited one longtime mentor, Roth Marcelin, with helping her strengthen her resume, prepare for interviews, and better understand the professional world she was stepping into.
That guidance does not always have to come through a formal program. Sometimes it comes from alumni, colleagues, or professionals who are simply willing to stay in touch and answer questions with honesty. “You also don’t need a formal mentor to get all your questions answered,” she said. “You can just ask different people within your company, different alumni within your school.” For students trying to break into tech, especially as AI continues to reshape the field, that kind of access can make the path feel less distant and more possible.
For the next generation entering tech, her advice is to be intentional, stay teachable, and go after opportunities early.
“You have to ask for what you want,” she said. “Don’t wait for people to just give you opportunities.” She encourages young professionals to give themselves room to keep learning once they enter the workforce. “Be okay with being a student again,” she said. In a job market where entry-level roles are harder to secure, that mix of initiative, community, and preparation can make all the difference.
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More Photos
USF Class of 2025, earned her bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity before stepping into the tech industry through internships, mentorship and early hands-on experience. Photo courtesy Lanoue.
Bianca Lanoue officially joined the company full time in March 2026 after first building her experience there as an intern over two summers. The photo captures a full-circle moment in her journey, showing how early exposure, consistency and preparation helped turn an internship opportunity into a career launch. Photo courtesy Lanoue.
