The tech sector is crying out for jobs right now. Estimates suggest that there are more than 340,000 unfilled openings in the industry, with the number rising.
For recent graduates, this is good news. It means that employers are crying out for workers who can fill positions, and they’re willing to pay handsomely for the privilege.
In this post, you’ll learn how to get a tech job after graduation. You’ll also find out more about some of the most lucrative career paths available to you and the workplace environment.
Decide On The Sector And Environment
Not all jobs in the tech sector are the same. In fact, because of the technical nature of the work, it is one of the most diverse industries out there.
Before setting out on a tech career, it is a good idea to do due diligence on where you want to work. Not all companies are the same.
Begin by finding an environment that will allow you to scale your career most effectively. For instance, ask yourself whether you work better in a large or small team, a startup or an established brand. You want to enter an industry in which you feel like you belong.
Research And Then Pick A Role
Next, do your research and find out what the market needs. Consider which electives on your course might be most suitable for your chosen career path. Don’t allow your job search to become unfocused. Turn yourself into someone who appears to potential employers as though they have a concrete idea of what they are aiming for.
After that, take a look at some of the roles available. For instance, you might want to consider becoming a:
- Java Developer: Java developer jobs involve developing programs and applications using the Java programming language. You’ll work alongside web developers, software engineers and others, typically in a business environment.
- Data Engineer: Because of their mathematical, statistical and computer science requirements, data engineering jobs tend to be extremely highly paid. Many workers earn salaries over $100,000 per year. Data engineers are responsible for transforming raw data into useful information, managing databases, and designing data architectures. Businesses will also sometimes draw on them to evaluate their performance.
- .NET Developer: .NET jobs involve developing applications that use Microsoft’s .NET infrastructure.
- Devops engineer: Devops engineers manage the software development cycle. Devops jobs typically involve substantial planning, coding, maintenance and update management.
Develop Your Hard Skills
Hiring managers for tech jobs want to see that you have the necessary hard skills to provide real value. Most jobs require you to be able to read, interpret, edit and write code. Therefore, before you graduate, spend as much time as possible practicing, sign up for a bootcamp, find a mentor, and pursue industry-recognized professional qualifications.
Good qualifications for entry into the tech sector include:
- Cisco Certified Network Professional
- CompTIA A+, Security +, Cloud +
- Oracle MySQL Database Administration
- Salesforce Certified Development Lifecycle and Deployment Designer
- Certified Data Professional
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Before you embark on any training, make sure that you understand the types of qualifications you need. There are plenty of coding bootcamps on the market that can help you kickstart your tech career. If you’re looking for JavaScript jobs, avoid training in irrelevant areas, such as database administration.
Where possible, align your hard skills both with what you enjoy and what the market needs. Focusing on these areas may qualify you for higher entry-level pay. In-demand technical skills for 2022 include analytical reasoning, mobile application development, artificial intelligence, data science and analytics, cloud computing/AWS, network and information security, and machine learning.
Develop Your Soft Skills
It’s clear that those working in tech require hard skills, but there’s also a need for soft skills as well – something that employers are paying ever-more attention to. As such, you’ll want to develop these too so that you’re in a position to both do your job and gain the respect of your peers.
Critical soft skills for the tech sector include:
- Project management skills
- Teamwork
- Communication
- The ability to present complex data in simple form
- Decision-making
- Detail orientation
- Ability to handle feedback and criticism
Reach Out To Recruiters In The Company You Want To Work For
Most tech graduates develop skills, graduate, and then canvas multiple companies, looking for openings. However, this might not be the best approach. Instead, you may want to set yourself apart from other candidates by reaching out to recruiters from specific companies. Firms are often more willing to entertain graduates who choose them specifically.
To get a job in a specific company, you’ll need to do some networking right away. Join a LinkedIn group or simply reach out to people in the company you admire and would like to emulate. You can also take part in online projects, post on job boards or join in with tech meetups.
Gain As Much Experience As You Can
Studying and working at the same time can be challenging, particularly when you are training in a highly technical field. However, if you want to build experience quickly and gain an advantage over the competition, it is a good idea to take part in a co-op or internship, particularly if you have a summer break. This way, you can put what you’ve learned into practice and begin forming relationships with potential employers.
Use every opportunity to interact with people already well-established in the industry, even if they are from another firm. Communicate your capability and deliver in unexpected, yet welcome ways.
Write A Stand-Out CV
Lastly, you’ll want to make sure that your CV stands out when you eventually do come to apply. Avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, think carefully about how you can tailor your CV for the job you want. Make it entirely clear to the recruiter that the resumé is written entirely for them and their firm, not just a boilerplate CV that you hand out to dozens of employers.
Make sure that your CV tells a story that makes sense. Include your responsibilities, accomplishments, and what you managed to achieve in any previous jobs. Remember, most hiring managers only have a few minutes to consider each application, so keep it simple.
