Navigating a Successful Career Transition in the Technology Market
For those who want to enter the technology market or make a career transition
You are looking to enter the technology market or make a career transition and have purchased a course to help you with this. You've started a course in the area you're looking for, and consuming the materials provided, but you're not sure where to go and what to do next🤔.
In this text, we will explore the next steps that people in situations like yours can take and how they can accelerate the career migration process in the technology market.
Understand Your Goal 🏆
Before making a career shift, it's essential to understand why you want to make this transition. Often, the reasons can vary: you may not be satisfied with what you're currently doing, aspire to advance in your career, or have been drawn by information on the internet about well-paying positions💰(many people enter the market looking for this).
Deeply understanding the motivations behind this change is a crucial step because it will enable you to identify what's needed to achieve your goal. It's important to question yourself about your goals, passions, and professional aspirations. Don't be swayed by the hype.
Clarity about your purpose will guide your actions and decisions, making the career change more focused and successful. This understanding will help you establish an action plan and set realistic goals to achieve what you aim for in your new career path.
You don't need to build a 10-year career plan or know all the answers about a particular position. Just discover more about what you want to do, why you want to do it, and what you need to achieve to get there.
Engage on Social Media
We live in a highly connected world where we communicate through social networks, access information online, and qualify ourselves professionally remotely nowadays.
In this context, it's critical to involve your network to make it clear that you are active in the job market and looking to migrate or enter a new market, such as the technology industry.
It's not about writing a post declaring, “I want to be hired as a data analyst,” but showing your network that you are on the path to that goal. Share information about recent classes, provide your opinion on industry topics, discuss technical issues, and so on.
You don't need to become a LinkedIn influencer.
Talking about your transition indirectly demonstrates that you are acquiring knowledge and improving as a professional in the field.
Show your certificates; 👨🎓
Discuss the class you attended in the last few days that surprised you;
Highlight new skills acquired; 🖥️
And share what you're learning…
An engaged profile will appear more frequently to recruiters and will be seen as a professional who is up-to-date and dedicated to their career.
Talk to People in the Industry 💬
Certainly, many people in the world have gone through experiences similar to yours and can share those experiences with you. From a professional perspective, LinkedIn can help you connect with people who have a lot to offer.
Follow professionals in the field who share information about the industry they work in. They may be sharing information that is of great importance to you. Keeping up with trends can guide you on what technologies to study, for example, and keep you updated on market developments.
Additionally, many professionals offer mentorship, which can be valuable to you. More personalized guidance can be constructive in this process.
Don't hesitate to reach out. Send a message on LinkedIn, schedule a conversation or coffee meeting, and learn from the experiences of others.
Prepare Your Portfolio
Your profile is essentially a summary of who you are professionally. 📄
People won't contact you every time they want to know about your professional history; they will access your LinkedIn or website (if you have one) to see what you have done/achieved in recent years.
Having a well-constructed profile helps tell your story effectively and makes it easy for others to understand who you are as a professional. Showcase your education, achievements, experiences, and everything you consider relevant in your professional life to make your entire journey clear.
Building this portfolio is essential for job applications. 💼
Before scheduling an interview with you, the HR department of the company you're interested in will likely screen all candidates, reviewing their portfolios. They will look for candidates who have what they are seeking and have a career path aligned with the company's goals.
Be clear and straight to the point. Avoid overly complex words or lengthy texts.
Write a summary 🖋️, a text of up to two paragraphs that speaks to who you are as a professional and what your goals are.
Highlight your achievements. If you have worked in the market previously, it's important to showcase what you accomplished in prior positions. For example: “I managed a marketing campaign that generated $200,000 💸 in revenue within two weeks.”
Portfolio for Technical Roles
For those seeking technical positions, such as data analysis or engineering, it's crucial to include projects you've developed during your studies or professional career.
It's highly recommended to have a GitHub 🧑💻 account containing your code, contextual explanations, and how you solved problems. This way, it becomes clearer to recruiters the extent of your technical expertise.
An effective way to build a portfolio for technical roles is to develop solutions using public products, like public APIs or datasets available on platforms like Kaggle.
Build your solutions based on what you know and demonstrate your skills to people.
Don't Be Afraid of Interviews 📅
One point I always emphasize in the mentorships I conduct is the importance of participating in interviews. In my humble opinion, there is no ideal time to start doing interviews.
I say this because, if we create the idea of an ideal moment, we will always be postponing, thinking, “I'll start doing interviews when I completely master this subject” or “I'll start doing interviews when I finish the course.” Don't do that.
Start participating in interviews as soon as possible. 💡
Apply for positions at different companies and begin testing your skills in the interview process. This way, you will learn to tackle challenges, get to know different companies, share your stories, and, above all, feel comfortable in an interview.
Consider this: the sooner you start doing interviews, the more valuable “interview experience” you will gain, which will be a great asset when facing real interviews.
Ideal Timing for Career Transitions
There is no ideal timing for career transitions; that's the bottom line.⌛
A few weeks ago, I started talking to some people who are looking to transition into the technology market, and one of the most frequent questions I heard was, “When is the ideal time for me to make the switch?” The truth is, there's no such moment.
We are individuals with different stories and in various contexts, and we can't sum up an appropriate time for everyone to make this crucial career move.
Seek the necessary knowledge to facilitate the transition or, at the very least, feel confident in this process. Start participating in interviews to achieve the transition you aspire to.
There's no age limit. You're not too old to switch careers or enter the technology market. It's not too late for this transition.
In Summary
In summary, if you've come in search of a career transition or entry into the technology market, it's essential to understand your goals and follow some steps to expedite this process.
Many companies offer valuable courses with experienced experts, allowing you to build a solid knowledge foundation. Additionally, it's crucial to engage on social media and share your progress indirectly to stand out. Connecting with professionals 👨⚕️ in the field, keeping up with trends, and considering mentorships are valuable.
Prepare a clear and concise portfolio that tells your professional story and highlights your achievements. For technical roles, showcase projects, and if possible, have a GitHub profile.
Don't wait for the ideal moment ⏰; start participating in interviews and gain experience in the selection process.
Remember that there is no age limit to transition or enter the technology market. The right time is when you feel prepared and confident.
I hope I have helped in some way.
See you in the next post.