Top tech job hunting tips in a pandemic
If you’re entering the job market for the first time, it may seem like you’ve got a mountain to climb. However, the tech industry has proved remarkably resilient, growing over 40% during a global pandemic.
Here are some of the steps you can take to stand out as a candidate:
Understand what kind of role you’re after
There are a huge range of both technical and non-technical roles available in the industry, so you don’t have to have completed a computer science degree to start applying for jobs. Many marketers, journalists, finance professionals and sales leads begin their careers in the tech industry as it's full of opportunities.
There are multiple ways you can explore what your specialism might be so think about what type of role would suit you, typically there are:
Grad schemes are training programs, usually between 12-36 months, designed to move you around the business to different functions for around 6 months at a time
Grad jobs are roles designed at the grad-entry level and will be with specific departments and require specific skills.
Internships are short 8-12 week programs designed to immerse grads or soon to be grads in the world of work and gain valuable ‘in-office’ experience.
Decide where you want to work
Finding the right tech role during the pandemic will be much easier if you have a clear idea of what kind of company you want to work for. Landing a job at a tech giant like Microsoft or Facebook is fantastic for anyone’s CV, and established tech companies generally have the resources and infrastructure to help you progress in your career.
Start up's ****can help you get ahead really quickly, but also involve a lot of risk - they are among the most progressive businesses around - they encourage creativity, individualism and are void of hierarchy.
Instead of planning your career around a job at this or that company, try and establish what skills and experience you want to gain and what sort of culture you’d want to be a part of.
Get ready for recruiters
Before you get out there, do a quick digital health check of your online presence and ensure that your social profiles reflect exactly what it is you’re looking for. These days, companies large and small are hiring remotely, so you need to ensure your digital presence is as impressive as you are.
Once you’re ready to go, start looking for early careers or grad recruiters on LinkedIn, follow companies you’re interested in across all social media channels, and start building up a network. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there - sliding into someone’s DMs on LinkedIn can even be professional and help you obtain some advice or even a mentor.
Upskill and get ready for your career
Building a career is a journey, not a destination, and you should look for as many opportunities as possible to help you get ahead.
Our Tech Career Readiness program is a free 4-workshop career accelerator for university students and recent graduates that is designed to build your awareness of the different career pathways available to you in tech. Running in partnership with partners like Google, DeepMind, Salesforce, Arm, Ebay and Microsoft, it will help you build your hard and soft skills for entering the industry - Find out more.
