- \n
- Flexibility. <\/strong>The pandemic showed that remote work is indeed possible for companies. Now that workers are aware of this, more and more are embracing jobs that can flexibly fit their lives, not the other way around. In fact, a McKinsey study<\/a> revealed that 87 percent of workers would prefer a remote setup if given the opportunity.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Financial incentives. <\/strong>According to an online survey conducted by the American Staffing Association Workforce Monitor<\/a>, 63 percent of American workers consider competitive pay as the top draw for changing careers.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Fulfillment. <\/strong>Many are also leaning toward careers that offer fulfillment, whether that translates into a job that has real-world relevance or one that promises plenty of opportunities for growth and development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s no wonder that tech jobs are on the shortlist for most career changers. After all, the tech industry is known to offer any and, often, all, of the above. If you\u2019re one of the many considering a career change into tech, you\u2019ve come to the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6 Actionable Steps for a Successful Career Change to Tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs George Brumfitt, a senior career coach for tech bootcamp General Assembly, admits: \u201cLooking for a job at any point is tough, but changing your career means having to go through a couple more hurdles.\u201d To make your transition easier, we compiled the key things you\u2019ll need to keep in mind as you switch to a tech career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Narrow down your career options.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To say that the tech industry is vast is an understatement. It is an industry where, as the saying goes, \u201cthe world is your oyster\u201d. You can have your pick on which role or specialization to focus on, whether that means highly technical sectors like data science, software engineering, and cybersecurity, or creative fields like digital marketing and digital design. Whichever you choose, it is essential to have the drive and genuine interest in the field to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Conduct a skills audit.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Just because you\u2019re changing careers does not mean you need to start over from scratch. Take the skills you gained from your previous career with you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conduct a skills inventory<\/a> by assessing all your current skills and competencies. Then, identify which of these skills can be relevant to your target tech career. For example, if you\u2019ve worked in hospitality and wish to become a UX designer, you can use your communication skills to flesh out what end-users are looking for and apply them to your design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While this task may come easy to some, it also pays to ask for help from a career coach who may be able to spot skills you didn\u2019t even realize you had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Invest in technical training.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once you know which skills you can take with you, it\u2019s time to build the other vital skills to do the job. The good news is that there are plenty of paths you can take to hone your technical skill set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can go the traditional path of earning a four-year degree or take an alternative approach and enroll in self-paced yet short-term courses online. If you\u2019re looking for the middle ground, you can join a tech bootcamp, which offers the best of both worlds through its short-term yet intensive tech skills training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Gain hands-on experience.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The tech industry is a highly practical field, which means you\u2019ll need to gain some hands-on experience to be truly job-ready. You can do this by doing freelance work and building your own projects on the side. Others have also lent their skills to non-profit organizations for free, allowing them to do good and bulk up their portfolio at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip: Create an online portfolio accessible to everyone, including prospective employers, to showcase samples of your work and demonstrate your skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Build the right mindset to thrive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tech is a high-pressure industry. Because of the attractive benefits that the industry offers, whether financially or professionally, you will always find yourself in competition with thousands of candidates worldwide. Learning new tech, tools, and framework is, therefore, a never-ending process that you\u2019ll need to embrace to remain relevant in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Network, network, network.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Networking is especially crucial if you\u2019re getting into a new industry. Reach out to thought leaders, tech professionals, and hiring managers to learn more about industry trends and job opportunities. Don\u2019t know where to start? Look into online meetups and seminars abundant on professional networking sites like LinkedIn or hosted by tech bootcamps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While these are handy tips, we recognize that following through can be challenging and intimidating, especially when you\u2019re making such a big shift. So, we sat down with career changers Malika Johnson<\/a> and Anthony Pegues<\/a> as they share how they carried out these six actionable tips for a successful transition into tech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their secret? General Assembly<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\nGeneral Assembly is a pioneering tech bootcamp that offers comprehensive skills training and career prep support to career changers.<\/p>\nTake your first step to a tech career.<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\nHow General Assembly Prepares You for a Career Change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tech bootcamp General Assembly offers comprehensive support for career changers. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Courses for multiple tech careers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
General Assembly offers intensive skills training for the most in-demand tech fields today. Malika, for instance, enrolled in General Assembly\u2019s Software Engineering program<\/a>, following her previous career in business management. Anthony, on the other hand, reskilled via General Assembly\u2019s now-defunct Web Development program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
General Assembly also offers immersive programs in data science<\/a>, data analytics<\/a>, digital marketing, and UX design<\/a>. If you\u2019re unsure which path to take, you can join General Assembly\u2019s free online workshops and events<\/a> to get a glimpse of your career options. You can also schedule a call with General Assembly\u2019s Admissions team, who can help find the right course for you<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Flexible schedules<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
General Assembly\u2019s programs come in different formats: full-time, flex immersive, and part-time. If you want to complete your training as quickly as possible, you can opt for the full-time immersive programs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Malika chose this format, with the understanding that her training will demand full-time commitment. \u201cI chose the three-month Software Engineering program<\/a>…I couldn\u2019t work; I couldn\u2019t do anything. And thank goodness I was in a space where my family supported my decision at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt also was during the pandemic. So I thought that if I could master a lot of skills in three months and build projects, then in a few months, I could be on my way to finding a job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, you can also reskill in tech without having to give up your day job. General Assembly offers flex immersive<\/a> and part-time programs<\/a>, which cover the same curriculum as their full-time counterparts but at a more flexible pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Project-based learning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hands-on learning is at the core of General Assembly\u2019s teaching approach, which is why you can expect to work on projects, individually and in groups, during your training. Learning support is available along the way courtesy of your instructors and teaching assistants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe teachers care enough to think of you as more than just a number and give you advice that\u2019s specific to what makes the most sense for you and how well you’ve done in the program,\u201d says Malika.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The program culminates in a capstone project, which is an independent project designed to test your mastery of the skills you learned throughout the program as well as your readiness to enter the job market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Career Coaching<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Career support<\/a> is built into all of General Assembly\u2019s immersive programs. \u201cAfter the program, we were designated a career coach who made sure that our resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles are up to par,\u201d shares Anthony. \u201cMy career coach, Anna\u00a0 Kruger, helped me a lot to prepare for the job market.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Career coach George Brumfitt further explains how General Assembly\u2019s career services work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe work with two main pools of individuals at General Assembly. The first pool includes students trying to keep up with the courses. Our job is to prepare them for the real world before they even graduate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe second pool of people we work with are those who finished their program. We help them strategize their career moves and identify hurdles they are facing. For example, are they applying for jobs and are not hearing anything back from employers? If that\u2019s the case, we determine why and how they can improve their job search.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through one-on-one sessions, General Assembly\u2019s career coaches learn more about the student\u2019s background, strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations. \u201cAnd then [we tailor our coaching to their needs and interests] and figure out how to make their goals happen. As coaches, the more we know about our students, the better value we bring to them,\u201d says George.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
General Assembly currently has around 50 coaches around the world, all of whom regularly discuss different tools, challenges, and opportunities in the market to optimize the way they guide students and alumni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. A global community of tech professionals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re looking to build your professional network, General Assembly\u2019s global community is a good place to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Financial incentives. <\/strong>According to an online survey conducted by the American Staffing Association Workforce Monitor<\/a>, 63 percent of American workers consider competitive pay as the top draw for changing careers.