Career Pathways in Technology

The fastest way to transition to a career in data. - Learn SQL - Learn Python - Hire a resume writer - Do 5 Kaggle competitions Just kidding. Those things don’t matter as much as people selling you things want you to think they do. Why? Because knowing SQL and Python syntax but lacking the fundamentals and business context to address problems and build solutions is useless. And a pretty resume won’t bring all the recruiters to the yard, unless what’s on it is compelling. Finally, Kaggle is cool and all, but the incentives are much different than the real world. Spending 4 months on a 2% accuracy improvement makes sense in Kaggle-land, but will likely get you PIPed in the real world. Career transitioners often want to abandon their old life and focus on their new shiny skillz. But you have something new grads don’t. Experience. Embrace the skills that only come with experience and use that context to make your projects, resume, and interview more compelling. Sure, you still need to learn new things, but don’t discount your experience and the problem-solving that got you where you are now. #experience #career #tipsandtricks

Full Stack & Mobile Development Careers: Are They Worth Pursuing in 2023? The tech job landscape is constantly evolving, and 2023 has been a roller coaster ride so far. Recent uncertainties surrounding the hiring sentiment, especially in the past three months, make it crucial for tech enthusiasts, veterans and fresh graduates to recalibrate their career decisions. A Snapshot of 2023 Tech Hiring Trends: 1. Old is Gold: Despite the buzz around newer technologies, older stacks like JAVA and .Net continue to dominate with nearly 28% of market demand. This persistent relevance can be attributed, in part, to successful referral-based hiring in newer tech stacks. 2. Declining Stars: MERN stack, once a favorite, has seen a reduced demand for two consecutive quarters. Whether it's market saturation or declining investor's interest in early-stage startups remains a topic of debate. 3. The Machine Learning Wave: The demand for machine learning roles, encompassing data science and certain data engineering positions, has been steadily increasing, except for a minor dip in July. 4. Mobile Development:  --> Native Android is highest in demand. --> Followed by iOS. --> Followed by React Native --> Followed by Flutter. 5. Blockchain: The Blockchain industry hasn't shown much activity this quarter either. Too early to say anything on this, but safe to assume that it's a volatile market especially for the services industry. 6. Niche Technologies on the Rise: Microsoft Dynamics has been demonstrating promise. However, Salesforce, still maintains an edge as being highest in demand among the niche technologies. For fresh graduates, it's easy to follow the herd and pick popular tech stacks (MERN for example), but one must analyze the larger picture. Data reveals that niche (e.g., Dynamics, Salesforce) and legacy technologies (.Net, Java) account for a market share comparable to full-stack development and mobile development combined. This opens up avenues in less saturated yet equally rewarding sectors. Take, for instance, ServiceNow. Adopted by over 74,000 companies worldwide, its demand is spiking. Thus, sometimes it might be more beneficial to target sectors that, while having a smaller demand, also have a limited supply of professionals. Lastly, the rise of machine learning and artificial intelligence cannot be overlooked. Their combined demand is now eclipsing that of both full-stack and mobile development combined! Conclusion: When going for a career in full stack or mobile development, it's vital to see the evolving market trends, potential saturation points, and growth areas. Sometimes, the less famous path, be it legacy technologies or emerging niche sectors, can lead to better outcome. It's not just about following trends but understanding where you can add unique value and grow in the long term. (Source: Octagon) #techtrends2023 #MobileDevCareers #MachineLearningRise #TechJobLandscape #TechMarketInsights #NavigatingTechCareers

I started my career in healthcare. Two years later, I landed a role in tech sales at Microsoft. 7 tips I used to change careers (without experience): 1. I Focused On Clarity First Before I sent out resumes, applied, and networked? I focused on getting crystal clear about the specific types of roles and companies I wanted to work for. Juggling the possibility of multiple job titles and industries is overwhelming and stressful. When you have a single north star, you can invest 100% of your time and energy into it. 2. I Started With People Who’d Done It Before I crafted a list of criteria I wanted for myself: • Specific Job Titles • Specific Companies • Specific Locations • Specific Salaries Then I used LinkedIn to find people who met those criteria AND came from a non-traditional background like mine. 3. I Used Those Connections To Craft A Blueprint How do I build the right experience? How do I position my non-traditional background? What mistakes should I avoid? I used the connections I just mentioned to gain clarity on all of those things so I could craft a plan for building the experience I needed to fit the skills and narratives companies would buy into. 4. I Created My Own Experience I wanted to work in advertising technology (think Google Ads, Facebook Ads, etc). Rather than hoping someone would give me a chance to get experience? I went and created my own. I took courses, volunteered my skills for local orgs, then used those success stories to freelance. Employers want results, not education from career changers. 5. I Focused My Energy On Networking Online apps didn’t work. People would take one look at my resume and not see any traditional experience. When I networked with people? I could have a conversation with them. I could tell my story in my own words. And I could prove my value as the relationship built. That generated referrals and advocates. 6. I Spun My Background As An Advantage Most applicants had cookie cutter backgrounds. I told a story of how I had to learn this all myself, from scratch. I’d bring a new perspective, new takes, and new ideas to a take vs. simply adding someone with the same thought process as everyone else. 7. I Created Projects To Prove My Value When I landed interviews? I’d deeply research the company’s goals, challenges, and initiatives. Then I’d brainstorm ideas for how I could impact those and package them in a 5-7 slide deck that matched the company’s branding. I’d send it to my interviewers as proof of the ideas I could bring to the table. Showing them was far more effective than telling them. —— ➕ Follow Austin Belcak for more 🔵 Ready to land your dream job? Click here to learn more about how we help people land amazing jobs in ~15.5 weeks with a $44k raise: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

What would I do today if I recently decided I wanted to start a career as a software engineer? This topic has come up in a couple different spaces I'm involved in, so I wanted to put my thoughts out here. These are the steps I recommend whether you're a college student, considering a boot camp, or just taking the self-taught route, although the process will be a bit different for each depending on the phase of life you are in. First, find out which domain is interesting to you. Do you want to build websites? Do you love munging data? Are you more behind the scenes? Love science? Math? Tech has it all. Find a few areas that seem interesting to you based on your personality and learn more about them. Once you've found what interests you, you need to figure out what skills you need to learn in order to land a job in that field. I'm not saying to go learn the skills - I'm saying to just figure out what they are. Start by looking at companies in your area (they're more likely to hire you), look at job postings online, and try to message some devs. I've found that most are pretty friendly. "Hey I see you're a front-end developer, what tech stack does your team use? I'm trying to figure out what I need to start learning." Most would be receptive to that. After you narrow down a few key technical areas to start learning, start learning! Start small - learn the mechanics. Try to get stuff installed on your computer and print out some numbers. Don't jump right into tutorials that you blindly follow. Be uncomfortable for a little bit. Learn something basic, then change it up a bit and try to do a little more on your own. Once you've spent a week or two feeling like, "what the hell did I get myself into?" You've begun! You'll feel like that a lot. (I still feel like that sometimes). At that point, start a tutorial. Build a small project. This project won't get you a job. Now build 10 more, but after you're second one, join a community and try to find a mentor (I'd recommend Code Connector :D). The community will be your single biggest asset while you are learning, because there are usually a lot of people in there who will help you grow. Dive in and get to know people, and keep building those 10 projects. None of those 10 projects will get you a job. I'll reiterate that. After you start to feel comfortable with the smaller projects, implement an idea. You like pokemon? Build something around that? You like dogs? Build something around that. This one should be a bit more real. Try to learn how to do things correctly on this one. If it sucks and you're really struggling - that's good! You should! It means you're growing. You should sit in that for awhile. You should really try to understand this project. At this point, you're getting closer. You might sit in that state for 6 months, or a year and a half. It's a hard road, but it's a fun job. If you ever want to talk about getting started, shoot me a message! Hope this helps. #softwareengineering

I’ve looked at 100+ resumes and interviewed dozens of candidates over the last 3 months. Meeting candidates is one of my favorite parts of what I do. Yet so many people show up for an interview without having prepared to stand out and be relevant to the opportunity. So I want to share my process, in the hopes that it helps those going through interviews right now. And share what candidates who stand out do. First, before every interview I do a few things. I know candidates are taking their time to apply and then show up for several interviews. Interviews are a two-way street, and as a hiring manager I do my part too. Here are a few ways hiring managers can prepare, with a social media lens as that’s what I hire: 1. Read the resume, cover note if there’s one. 2. Visit their LinkedIn profile, posts and conversations. And the rest of their social footprint. 3. Explore the social media feeds of their current/past companies. 4. Experience their past company cultures on social media. 5. Research accomplishments and accolades highlighted in the resume. Now it’s your turn. Want to stand out and get the offer? Here are six things I look for: 1. Learn about the company you’re interviewing with so you can integrate relevant points for the role into the conversation. Example, if you’re applying for a social media role, look at the company’s social channels and come prepared to demonstrate your skills, highlight something that resonates, ask questions, etc. 2. Slow down, it’s not about answering questions the fastest. It’s about demonstrating that you’re a direct fit for the role through your answers. If you’ve not done it before that’s ok. Show your interviewer that you’re prepared to do it. 3. Share why you want this role at this company. Shared values? Connection to colleague culture? Speak to how it connects into your career goals, etc. 4. Lead with your skills and how they equip you to deliver results and impact for what the job description outlines. You may not have direct experience but skills are transferable, put that front and center. 5. Demonstrate that you understand the strategy behind your work, IE the ‘why.’ By doing this you show how your goals align to your team’s goals which align to your company’s goals. It speaks to your growth mindset, and that separates you from the pack. 6. Focus your resume to emphasize your skills and relevant experiences in relation to the job accountabilities. No relevant experience? That’s ok, lead with headlines that put your transferable skills front and center. Applying for job opportunities and the interview process can be can be stressful and intimidating. But when you get that interview it’s your time to shine! What tip can you add to help candidates land their next career experience? Please share in comments. #career #futureofwork #interviewtips #jobsearch

Embracing the multi-dimensional leadership path is a testament to the courage of reinventing oneself amidst the tapestry of vulnerability, intellect, and uncharted possibilities. Here’s the blueprint that I can think of: 🌱 Embark on a path that challenges not just your skills but also your perceptions, fostering growth and resilience. 📈 Advance through each role, embracing vulnerability as a strength, allowing every setback and success to deepen your understanding of self and leadership. 🏆 Cherish each achievement and insight, viewing them through the lens of personal and professional evolution. 🔄 Acknowledge moments of plateau as opportunities for introspection, recognizing the courage it takes to pivot and the strength found in vulnerability . 🛌 Embrace periods of rest as essential for reflection, healing, and preparation for the next challenge, valuing the emotional wisdom gained. 🚀 Pursue new ventures with the combined might of past experiences and a heart open to future possibilities, informed by the lessons of vulnerability and resilience. My journey, spanning roles in learning and development, B-School management, banking, coaching, tech and sales consulting, to founding a tech startup and now leading GTM consulting while building a technology platform and a GTM community, embodies the essence of vulnerability. Each step, a leap of faith into the unknown, has taught me that true growth demands embracing uncertainty with open arms. This diverse path highlights not just career transitions but a deep dive into entrepreneurship and community engagement, showcasing that at the heart of leadership is the courage to venture, learn, and evolve amidst challenges. The journey of embracing multiple careers is thus a canvas for intellectual curiosity, emotional depth, and the courage to be vulnerable. It's a narrative that weaves through the fabric of our professional endeavors, enriching them with the textures of our most human experiences. ⛴️ What does your leadership odyssey look like? Remember it's not just a story of career transitions, it's a journey of personal transformation and the discovery of our most authentic selves.

What are the unique benefits of working at a startup versus a large company? In one of my first days founding MyWellbeing, I was told that running a startup is like a 50 year career condensed into 5 years. Over 6 years later, that absolutely aligns with my experience. Below are the top 5 advantages I've observed in choosing a startup over a larger, more established org: 🔥 EVERY MOMENT COUNTS You won't be bored at an early stage startup and you are unlikely to have idle time during the day to twiddle your thumbs. Instead, you have an opportunity to fuel the company's mission and play a significant role in how the company grows, which is an extremely rewarding daily sense of professional purpose. 👯♀️ PEOPLE Most early stage startups have extremely lean teams. If you're 1 of 10 (or fewer), you are going to be extremely hands on with a small handful of lucky teammates. The unique highs and lows of the startup roller coaster often breed a depth of connection with your teammates that is unparalleled elsewhere and lays the foundation for career-long relationships. 👑 LEADERSHIP Not only will you have an opportunity to share your perspective, you will be expected to lead the function you're hired to own, which includes both strategy and execution. You likely will not be handed a crystal clear to-do list. Instead, you will be given a core metric or business lever to own and you will be in charge of ideating and executing. This builds an inclusive, end-to-end skill set that will support you throughout your career (and your life outside of work). 💸 FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY The earliest employees at a startup often have equity baked into their compensation packages. If the company does well, the financial reward of these options is often significantly higher then the cash compensation you'd be paid elsewhere. This can sometimes come with a lower cash base than traditional market rate at the earliest stages, so it's important to recognize that this is a high-risk-high-reward benefit. 🧠 GRIT Startups are not for the faint of heart. As you persevere through the highs and lows, you will learn to celebrate the highs and move on from the lows. This growth mindset, agility, and resilience will provide you the building blocks to handle a taller and taller order in your personal and professional life. What are your top 5 reasons for startup > larger org? Let me know in the comments 💬👇 #LinkedInTopStartups #TopVoices #startupadvice

After studying Electronics Engineering and graduating during the 2007 recession, I transitioned my career to Telecommunications and IT... then recruiting #engineers and #careercoaching in 2010. I started Engineer Your Mission during the pandemic, adding #lifecoaching to how I help engineers make forward progress in their lives and careers. My mission is to help engineers live on their own terms and develop better lifestyles. On this podcast with Ryan Atkinson of TechGuide, I share actionable steps on reaching out to recruiters, negotiating a higher salary, and strategizing your #jobsearch. I also emphasize the importance of personal wellness and work-life balance and share my daily success routine, which prioritizes FITNESS, FAMILY, FAITH, and FINANCES (in that order). If you're looking to pivot your career or want to start #jobsearching soon, then I promise you'll benefit from the insights I shared in this video, which I gained after 13 years of helping engineers and technologists #gethired

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴… 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 = 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 “I want to get into cloud… but I’m not trying to become a software developer.” I hear that almost every day. I just want to say this: You don’t have to code your way into tech. And no, you’re not crazy for wanting a new career without becoming a full-stack engineer, learning 7 languages, and living in VS Code 24/7. What you actually want is: ✅ A stable, high-paying career that gives you options ✅ A role where your work is respected and in-demand ✅ Confidence to walk into interviews knowing, “I can actually do this” ✅ Clear guidance that doesn’t feel overwhelming, scattered, or out of reach That’s not too much to ask. That’s exactly what cloud engineering roles are built for. Here’s what no one tells you: 🚫 You don’t need to learn to code like a developer... developers do that 🚫 You don’t need to become a Python master... You just need to understand... some of it lol 🚫 You don’t need to build the next Netflix, Uber or Slack product... You don't What you do need is this: ✅ You do need to learn how cloud infrastructure works ✅ You do need to get hands-on with tools like Azure, AWS, or GCP ✅ You do need to build small projects that prove you understand how systems work together 👉🏾 That’s how adults like the... Teachers, security guards, warehouse workers, nurses, customer support agents are transitioning into cloud right now. They’re not becoming developers, if they don't want to. They’re becoming problem-solvers who understand infrastructure, automation, and real business needs. So if you’ve been thinking: “Am I too late?” “Will this even work for me?” “Do I need to code to be taken seriously?” Let this be your the moment I give you the most clarity ever. 👉🏾 No, you’re not too late. 👉🏾 Yes, it can work for you. 👉🏾 And no, you don’t need to become a developer to change your life. Now that you know that, let’s get to work.

Networking can help you make ANY career transition ↔️ I've made a handful of small/minor career pivots myself, and I have friends & family who have made even BIGGER career pivots. There is one common element that helped each career pivot/transition story, and that is NETWORKING ✨. This Forbes article by career expert Caroline Castrillon captures this element perfectly and discusses how strategic networking efforts can help you make a career change or pivot! Remember, networking should be a consistent effort, almost like a habit. Don't just start when you need a job or when you have some obvious agenda. When you try to network with an alternative or hidden agenda, it comes across as inauthentic and disingenuous. With that said, here are the high-level of Caroline's five tips for networking for a career transition and my take on them + real stories of how they actually work 💁🏻♀️ ~ 1️⃣ Give contacts a chance to help. Reach out to people you already know and let them know that you're transitioning, or even make a post about it on LinkedIn! Let the world and the universe know your status and what you're up to! You'd be amazed at the people that come out of the woodwork and want to help you. When I started putting it out into the world that I wanted to do more speaking engagements, opportunities started coming my way! Just try it and see what happens! 2️⃣ Get valuable career advice. When my Dad realized that law school was something of interest, after a full engineering career (30+ years, 2x PE & MBA), he talked to lawyers he knew, including one of his former colleagues at his previous job. A good question to ask, specifically if you're making a career change, is, "If you were just starting out, what actions would you take to kickstart your career?" 3️⃣ Meet other career changers. Talk to other people who have transitioned into your target career, and if you can, find someone with a similar path/trajectory i.e SWE ➡️ PM. This way, you can learn about proven, tested strategies that have actually worked for people. 4️⃣ Practice your transition statement. I like to think of this as an edited, curated version of your "elevator speech," and remember to frame it as a story. Storytelling is crucial in interviews, and when you're making a career change, it's important to tell that story in a compelling way. 5️⃣ Build confidence. I think Caroline captured it perfectly when she said, "...confidence is not an innate, fixed characteristic. It’s a skill that can be developed." When my mom was transitioning from civil engineering to real estate sales, she built her confidence by working under another broker and building her resume. I built my confidence through a product fellowship and 2 product management internships! TL;DR Build confidence through experience and projects! https://lnkd.in/gA8ihBtu