Switching Things Up: How to Break Into a Career in Tech
Switching Things Up: How to Break Into a Career in Tech
What you’ll learn
Skills you’ll gain
Some careers start to stagnate, and the muck can only be tolerated for so long. Changes in demand and opportunity in the tech industry has made it a tempting career river to flow toward. In this course, recruiter and leadership coach Forrest Johnson shares her knowledge on pivoting into tech, allowing you to focus on the most important part of your career journey - you. Forrest highlights the mindset behind job transition by asking learners to find a niche that fits both their career and personal goals. She then walks through the steps of transitioning careers, like building a network, writing an updated and eye-catching resume, creating enticing application materials, and prepping for interviews. Finally, Forrest shares how to make the most of your job search and how to manage yourself as you reach your new career goals.
Syllabus
Download syllabus-
1
Evaluate your current path Before you begin your career pivot into the tech industry, it's important that you take time to evaluate where you are at in your career path. 3m
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2
Choosing your ideal work In order to figure out what sort of job you want to pivot to next, you need to reflect on what sort of work you want to do and how to find a niche that will align with your experience. 3m
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Evaluating the timelines Take time to reflect on your needs as a person, not just as a candidate. 3m
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Learning the language The language of the tech world is both vast and niche. 4m
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Finding your entry point Your job research should culminate in recognizing what job titles match your qualifications and interests. 3m
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3
Researching companies The pool of tech is more like an ocean once you start to wade in. 3m
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Pinpoint career needs You need to be able to show that you are qualified, and that doesn't always come with a hefty price tag or more degrees. 3m
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Build your growth A great way to get started in your transition is to start growing where you are at. 3m
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Establish your brand Find your niche, establish your presence, and begin connecting with people. 3m
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Optimize your LinkedIn profile Make sure you can be found in searches! 4m
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3
Conduct informational interviews Informational interviews are a great way to build your network through intentional conversations. 3m
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Your elevator pitch The elevator pitch is all about your main qualities and interests, what you have accomplished, and where your story is going next. 2m
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Repackaging skills and experience It is not enough to tell your story, it also has to appeal to a new "genre" of reader (aka, a new industry). 3m
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Resume do's and don'ts Recruiters look at hundreds of resumes for each position they are hiring for and it is important to stand out on the written page. 3m
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4
Your cover letter story Using research and informational interviews, you should have an understanding of how your skills can be repackaged into the language of the employer. 3m
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Reaching out Wait until your materials are ready and you've already applied for the role. 3m
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Preparing your materials It is important to understand that this interview is not just about you, it is about what connects you to the company and how you will positively contribute. 3m
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Valuable resources Much of the tech industry relies on demonstrable success with the skills required for the job, especially in developer roles. 3m
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3
Get your tech talk ready This lesson will help you prepare a strategy to verbally communicate to others how you have learned toolings, programs, or coding languages required for your dream job. 3m
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4
The screening call Many job searchers do not get a peek into the hiring process before they go on the job hunt; so it is impossible to know the difference between an interview and a screening call. 3m
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5
Interviewing with the hiring manager The hiring manager interview is the most focused interview. 2m
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Engaging with the hiring manager There is an added pressure to stand out when interviewing. 2m
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Organizing for success Applying for dozens, or even hundreds of jobs, can create a blur of information and a slur of edited and re-edited documents. 2m
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Tracking & celebrating wins Job searching can be difficult and take a toll on one's fervor and mental health. 2m
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Saying no to yourself Skills and requirements are always a list of potential elements that would be beneficial in the job. 3m
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Being too formal Everyone who is hiring is a human too, so people really remember when you are able to connect with them in a genuine way. 4m
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Quantity over quality One of the easiest ways to burn out is by rushing through job posting after job posting and sending out materials without the time or effort to research. 3m
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1
Begin your journey Changing careers can be a daunting task, and changing into a career in tech can be even more daunting. 2m
Certificate
Certificate of Completion
Awarded upon successful completion of the course.
Instructor
Forrest Johnson
Forrest Johnson is a college instructor who pivoted into tech as a recruiter at Pluralsight. Forrest decided to switch to tech as a way to reinvigorate her career and align her passion for connecting experts with opportunities to demonstrate their skills. Her background as a researcher and teacher equipped her to develop fundamental job searching materials and hacks that serve as a useful guide to those who are looking to pivot careers and break into tech. Forrest holds a Masters and Ph.D. (ABD) in Humanities from York University. She loves coaching individuals to find their leadership potential through a "practice not position" mindset, and she avidly takes part in initiatives to make inclusion a lived career experience.
Forrest Johnson
Content Strategist, Writer, Author
Accreditations
Link to awards
How GoSkills helped Chris
I got the promotion largely because of the skills I could develop, thanks to the GoSkills courses I took. I set aside at least 30 minutes daily to invest in myself and my professional growth. Seeing how much this has helped me become a more efficient employee is a big motivation.
