5 Ways To Stand Out In Tech During Layoffs, From A Tech Career School Founder
For those who follow the tech news cycle, the year 2023 has been defined by month after month of consistent posts from the biggest names in tech.
As companies compete for talent and hire thousands of employees every month, the conventional wisdom is that you just have to get the job, but the math has changed.
First let's talk about what has changed.
In the past, the stack of credentials on your LinkedIn profile was enough to get you into a company. Today, you are competing with hundreds of thousands of people whose profiles look exactly like yours
A few years ago, you were primarily competing against other early-career talent. Today, you're competing with nearly 200,000 laid-off tech workers, many of whom will take a downgrade or change grade to regain job security.
So if this is the new reality, will you be competitive? Yes, you can, and here's how to do it:
1. Look for jobs that experienced people might overlook
Well, maybe you've always wanted to work at Google, and I'd be the last person to tell you to give up on that dream. But during an economic downturn, it's a good idea to consider a "stepping stone" that will lead you to your dream job while the industry recovers. I can say that while all industries are cyclical, technology will always come back because growth always comes from innovation.
It's a good idea to look for people who are hungry and passionate about lesser-known startups and their space. This means finding companies that might interest you but haven't yet raised a lot of money and have a lot of media coverage. The harder it is to find a company, the more likely others will apply to work there.
When you find startups that have products you like, but don't have job listings on their site, contact us anyway! I personally reached out and recruited people who expressed a passion for what we were doing when I saw a way to create a position for them. Startup founders are people who will take a chance and take bold steps to build a business for you, even if you don't have a list.
2. Don't just apply, but actively get the attention of hiring managers
While most people click LinkedIn's quick apply button and send off a tired resume and cover letter, you need to be proactive to stand out. It means doing unpleasant things, like coming into contact with cold people.
The art of cold calling takes practice, and there are free resources like this online course to help you get it right. But even if you're not good yet, you'll definitely notice, because most people don't do scary things. And when you do something that others don't, you stand out.
A tip to get employers' attention, especially if you're applying to a startup, is to say why you love their products and what makes you the right person for the job, even if it's not obvious.
Authenticity can earn you a lot of points, so focus on products and services that you really like, or better yet, love.
3. Don't just take courses, have a recognition strategy
Yes? Is the founder of a professional tech school telling you not to take classes just for the sake of taking classes? yes
If you talk to my students, they will tell you that I believe that all education is beneficial. But just because it's useful doesn't mean it will give you short-term results.
The way to help your online credentials and certifications really stand out to employers is to have a really strong story behind each course or certification program you take.
Look for courses that don't teach any skills, but instead help you complete hands-on projects that illustrate how the skills you've learned apply in the real world. Even better, if you volunteer for free or low-cost work at a local small business or nonprofit, use the skills you've learned to work on real-world projects or apply your own business idea. These are completely valid experiences that should be on your resume and interview history at the time of your interview.
Finally, most professionals I've talked to get more results from live classes than pre-recorded, self-paced classes because it's a faster way to grow your network and connect with the people you really want.
4. Find ways to demonstrate and speak your skills
Most beginners talk about their skills in general terms. They'll say things like, "I'm an excellent communicator" or "I'm very organized and would make an excellent project manager." You might think you're showing confidence here, but it just makes you look like everyone else.
Instead, talk about the systems and processes you use to stay organized and how you've used those skills to accomplish something complex, such as coordinating a large number of people on a project or organizing a complex project yourself.
That's why it's so powerful to focus on developing your skills, by taking project-based courses or working on side projects.
When you talk about how you've developed your skills through hard work, whether you get paid or not, people start listening to you and it's more convincing and impressive than just saying you're good and hoping you're good. believe you you.
5. Get your name out there and proceed
Yes, set the stage to tell your network that you're looking for opportunities. But this is only the first, and perhaps the most passive, step you can take. However, if you want to stand out, you need to focus on what some people do.
If someone promises you a relationship, don't wait for it to happen, keep going every week until it happens.
When approaching people for career advice, follow up at least a few times before moving on. People are busy and you need to prioritize yourself, not the other way around.
If you get a good interview but haven't heard back in a week, don't ask for an update like everyone else, send an email asking what to do in your first week on the job. You are waiting to show that you are ready to take on the challenge against other candidates.
There's a big reason so many people have sought tech careers over the years: They're the highest-paying jobs in the world, with the most flexibility and the lowest training requirements.
But like any competitive industry, you need to really make your case stand out and explain why this opportunity is worth pursuing.
Ambition and entrepreneurship are rewarded in the technology sector. The more risks you take that others are afraid to take, the closer you are to becoming the kind of person you've always admired and dreamed of being.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home