General Assembly Blog

Technology will likely transform more than one billion jobs in the next decade, which translates to roughly one third of all jobs, globally. That means that even if you don’t work in a technical role, it’s very likely you’ll need to be increasingly tech-savvy as your career progresses. If you’re ambitious and hoping to climb the ladder quickly, you can proactively pick up new technical skills that could help you advance in your current career and stand out from your peers. 

The first 90 days are crucial for anyone starting a new job, but the stakes feel higher for a career changer who is eager to get off to a strong start in a new field. You’ve worked hard to get here and you’re excited to jump right in, no doubt—yet, before you can reach the satisfying peak, you have to claw your way up through a landslide of information, sort through intricate workplace dynamics, and discover the new “you.” 

Why are the first “90” days so important? Well, according to Jobvite’s annual survey, 1 in 3 workers quit within the first 90 days of accepting a job offer. Most often, company leadership, culture, or duties differ from employee expectations. Perhaps there’s a change in the role’s responsibilities or flexibility. Sometimes better pay is offered elsewhere or a negative incident leads new employees to promptly quit. 

In a perfect world, every company would invest heavily in a well-planned onboarding program that gives new tech employees all they need to thrive. The reality is that, oftentimes, you’re on your own—sink or swim!

The first tech job you land out of boot camp may not be your forever home, but you can at least gain a strong foothold—picking up valuable skills, experience, and references by using a goals worksheet as your North star. The following action items can help you become acclimated to the waters of your new position with a refreshing sense of purpose and direction. 

After all the resume-writing, job searching, and interviewing, you’re finally about to embark on your new career. Yet, instead of feeling excited, you’re feeling stressed out. Don’t worry, once you understand the unspoken rules of the workplace, you’ll not only be prepared to survive your first week as a career changer, but thrive in your new job.

It’s as easy as one, two, three C’s–Competence, Compatibility, and Commitment. Keep scrolling and learn how to master them for week one success.

So you graduated from a bootcamp, gained new technical skills from finishing a course, or taught yourself what you need to successfully change careers. Now comes your exciting next step: acing an interview and landing your first job in tech. 

On average, each corporate job attracts 250 resumes, of which only four to six will get called for an interview. Of course, only one will get the job. How well you stand out will rely heavily on the stories you tell. As someone who is changing careers, you likely have a particularly unique or interesting story, and potential employers will inevitably ask about it in the interview. It’s important that your story persuades them to hire you. 

Whether you’re interviewing for a new job, seeking a promotion, or trying to land your next big role, knowing how to promote your expertise and value is crucial to unlocking new opportunities. Having the ability to showcase your digital footprint not only builds your brand but it supports you in your job search.

Approximately 250 applications are sent for a corporate job opening position on average. Platforms like CareerBuilder, having over 80 million active job applicants, and Indeed with 225 million resumes, makes it more difficult to stand out from a sea of job seekers all vying for the same end goal. With the competition becoming louder than ever, being equipped with the creative toolkit to market yourself and bypass the noise is crucial to landing your dream job.

There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for marketing yourself. Every job market is different, and so are the ways you can help yourself stand out from the crowd. You don’t need to be a marketing guru or have a huge budget to promote yourself. You just need to know how.

Here are 4 easy steps:

So, you’ve been Googling immersive programs late at night and you’ve stared into the smiling faces of alumni on bootcamp websites, wondering if you see your future self. You’ve cycled through the stages of online bootcamp shopping:

📱 Searching for hot jobs in tech
👩 LinkedIn stalking people with those jobs
🧑‍🎓 Googling courses and bootcamp programs that teach those skills
😮 Reading about time commitments and cost
📵 Closing your tab in a panic 
🤷‍♀️ Starting over the next day

Reading about immersive programs can be intimidating. Is it really full-time? Do I need to quit my job? Can I keep up with the coursework? How will my life change? 

• You’re interested in working in tech but don’t have the technical skills you need to get started
• You want a tangible certificate to add to your resume to help you go after that promotion or new job
• You’re a lifelong learner and want to level up your skills to use in your current job or small business

Let’s start with the reasons you may have been looking at immersive programs to start with:

With the sheer scale of innovation in the tech industry today, product management has become an in-demand skill. There’s a reason why Glassdoor has ranked Product Management as #10 on their list of the “50 Best Jobs in America for 2022”. With a median USA salary of $125,317 per year and 17,725 current job openings, there’s something for everyone.

But is a Product Management career the right fit for you? Keep reading to find out.

Networking is a skill that can supercharge your career in tech. The old adage is true: it’s not always just what you know, but who you know. Your network will play a huge role in where your career takes you, what roles you are considered for, and how quickly you learn new tools and techniques. Plus, networking can introduce you to lifelong friends—and you can even have fun along the way.