Tech Career Guidance and Resources

We’ve become addicted to certifications and boot camps. It’s out of control. I spoke with someone recently that wants to work in cyber. He didn’t have a clue what role he wanted but his first question was, “what’s the next cert I should get?” (he had 3 already). YIKES. I don’t blame him for thinking this way. Somehow we’ve brainwashed ourselves into thinking that certs are the ultimate gateway. They are not! This isn’t an anti-education post. It’s a common sense post. Certs and boot camps are not magical doors that open opportunity (although some companies offering them will promise you the world). If you’re pursuing a technical career of any kind, here’s how I would approach it: RESEARCH Consume content from trusted sources to understand what career options are out there. FIND WHAT YOU LIKE Decide on something that you’d enjoy doing or that interests you. It sounds cheesy but enthusiasm for your career goes a long way. TALK TO REAL PEOPLE Connect with people that have made the same journey you’re making. Get the real scoop on your potential career choice. Learn how they got there. RESEARCH JOB REQUIREMENTS Research what employers are looking for (job postings). Look at the profiles of people that are in the job you want. Make a list of the most common requirements to give yourself a roadmap. BUILD YOUR SKILLS  Now that you know the role you want and what’s required to get there, start sharpening the axe. If this means getting some education, great! If this means building and documenting side projects, great! Be intentional about where you spend your time. 

If I did not have an internship, here's what I would do to increase my chances for next time. Multiple students have asked me in mentorship calls, "What to do if they don't have an internship?" Sharing a few options: (I followed #4 and #2) 𝟭. 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀: - Pick one technology (e.g., React, Python, AWS) and build a comprehensive project around it. - Example: If you're interested in AI, build a sentiment analyzer and deploy it on Hugging Face or Streamlit. 𝟮. 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 (focus on AI usage in every domain): - Clearly document your projects on GitHub using professional READMEs. - Add detailed explanations, architecture diagrams, and deployment links. 𝟯. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲: - Even small contributions count. Use sites like goodfirstissue.dev or explore GitHub repositories in your domain. - Document your contributions clearly on LinkedIn or your resume. 𝟰. 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀: - Engage in academic research projects or summer schools offered by universities or organizations. - This provides experience, mentorship, and networking opportunities. - Explore options like Stanford University Summer Session, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Summer Research Program, or the Amgen Scholars Program. Many universities globally offer virtual or on-campus summer research and learning programs -> check their official sites for deadlines and details. Ex: https://oge.mit.edu/msrp/ | https://lnkd.in/gPXEqgxn - 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦? In my freshman year, I joined the Stanford Summer School and Research Program. At the same time, I built my web portfolios to increase my chances of securing interviews with big tech companies. 𝟱. 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: - Post weekly or bi-weekly updates on LinkedIn explaining what you're learning or building. - This boosts visibility and demonstrates initiative to recruiters. 𝟲. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 & 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: - Leverage high-quality online resources like Coursera, Udemy, or FreeCodeCamp. - Example: Deep Learning Specialization or AWS Cloud Practitioner. https://lnkd.in/ggPDt7qV Internships are beneficial, but your career growth isn’t limited by not having one. Strategic skill-building and visibility can position you strongly for future opportunities.

Breaking into Tech: A Personal Perspective on Paving Your Pathway 🚀💡 1️⃣ Harness Transferable Skills 🧠🔄: Every profession equips you with skills that tech needs. My journey taught me that analytical thinking in healthcare or finance can be invaluable in tech. What skills can you transition? 2️⃣ Network Intentionally 🤝💬: From my experience, it's about who you know as much as what you know. Join LinkedIn groups, participate in tech discussions, attend virtual webinars, and be visible in tech circles. Engage, ask questions, and seek advice. 3️⃣ Invest in Targeted Learning 📜📚: I've seen peers transition swiftly with targeted certifications or bootcamps. No need for a full degree. Focus on niche areas like cybersecurity or AI that resonate with you. 4️⃣ Seek Tech-Adjacent Roles 🌐🔗: My colleague transitioned from a finance expert to a fintech project manager, using her domain expertise as a unique strength. Where can your experience be an asset in tech? 5️⃣ Pilot Side Projects & Volunteer💡🔧: A friend developed an app solving a healthcare problem and that became his tech portfolio. Consider creating solutions in your current field or volunteering your skills. 6️⃣ Stay Engaged & Updated 📰💻: Tech is dynamic. I ensure I'm subscribed to key tech newsletters and participate in forums. What's your strategy to keep up? Transitioning might seem a mountainous task, but remember, every tech leader started with a single step. Your tech journey is unique and valuable; embrace it. 🌟 I'd love to hear about your transition stories or any additional tips you might have. Let's form a reservoir of shared knowledge and experiences! #TechTransition #CybersecurityFuture

I've been advising, mentoring, and coaching career changers since 2021. How you break into tech in 2024 simply isn't the same it was in 2020, and certainly not the same as it was in 2017. Here's the trend I saw last year from the handful who successfully switched careers... Those who got their first tech job in 2023 had experience & knowledge in a specific industry (ex: healthcare). The companies that hired them were tech companies in their industry who valued their industry knowledge. Example: A client of mine was a preschool teacher for several years and she landed a SWE job at an EduTech company Another worked at a consulting firm in accounting and landed a role recently at an accounting software company 2 of my clients are currently prepping for technical interviews in the fitness and healthcare industries, their respective field of expertise Granted, they also had everything else going in their favor - Strong projects and resume and optimized LinkedIn profile. You can't do the bare minimum anymore and expect job interviews to fall outta the sky! Companies are being picker than ever because the investments and revenue aren't rolling in like they used to during the pandemic. So if you're struggling, remember to use your past experiences and industry knowledge as leverage. Don't stop up-leveling. And never stop networking. The opportunity might not arrive this week, but continuing to learn and grow means that you'll be in the right place and right time when the opportunity comes. P.S. Take what you hear about "I broke into __ in 4 months" with a grain of salt. Especially if they didn't break into tech in the past year. That info is out of date -- Interested in more corporate career and career change tips? Follow Stephanie C. and learn everyday 😊 Build your first project in 7 days https://lnkd.in/ghGTmtVe