General Assembly Blog

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

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Rebecca Szymczak, aka Cardsy B, author of The Saturn Diaries and tarot reader to the stars, consulted her cards and has tips for which signs are going to work with the expansive Jupiter-ruled energy of Sagittarius season to take big leaps ahead and which should be mindful of Mercury’s mid-month retrograde before signing new contracts. She also has insight regarding what to expect when it comes to year-end reviews.

Though we enter December in Mercury’s shadow period, we have the optimism of Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius to kick off the month before Mercury’s retrograde on December 13. It’s best to use the first half of December — particularly the time leading up to the 12.12 portal and new moon in Sagittarius on December 12 — to request needed approvals from clients and higher-ups and to finalize any pending contracts. This holiday season, more people may default to “vacay mode” earlier than usual due to the waning moon and Mercury’s retrograde, so it’s best to plan key meetings and initiatives for the first two weeks of the month. As we move into Capricorn season and toward the full moon in Cancer on December 26, it’s more important than ever to communicate clearly and follow up where needed.

Whatever your sign, growth and celebration are on the horizon. Sagittarius season serves as the expander and road opener — so read on to see what the cards have in store.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

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What’s not to love about working in a technical role? There’s the prestige of helping build cool digital products that make the world more efficient and more fun. Throw in the solid pay, the flexibility of hybrid or remote work, and plenty of opportunity for growth, and it becomes clear why many want to break into these fields. 

But there’s one potential hiccup — you’re not sure you can get a tech job without a degree. 

We’ve got good news for you: More and more employers, especially those in tech, are shifting their approaches and hiring based on skills rather than degrees alone. And LinkedIn predicts skill-first hiring will become the gold standard — sooner than later. 

Why this shift? The growing demand for skilled workers isn’t matched by the number of degree holders and qualified workers available. In 2022, 91% of employers struggled to fill vacant positions, up by 4% from 2021’s numbers. 

To overcome these shortages, more than 45% of hiring managers on LinkedIn used skills data to fill positions in the last year, up 12% year over year.

Tech companies are leading this shift, with giants like Google, Apple, IBM, Netflix, Meta, Dell, and others dropping degree requirements for several positions. By adopting a skills-based hiring model, tech companies acknowledge the emerging methods of talent acquisition, such as talent from leading tech bootcamps like General Assembly. 

Tech bootcamps have become viable alternatives to traditional education because they provide up-to-date training on in-demand skills while offering the type of flexibility, time, and cost efficiency that are absent in conventional higher education institutions.

Let’s explore why you no longer need a degree to succeed in your dream technical role.

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

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Rebecca Szymczak, aka Cardsy B, author of The Saturn Diaries and tarot reader to the stars, consulted her cards and has tips for which signs are going to work with the transformative energy of Scorpio season to make significant changes and which should watch out the sting of the scorpion’s tale with co-workers. She also has insight regarding recognition from higher-ups that can indicate well-deserved pay increases and new positions as we approach the 1111 Portal mid-month.

November comes in with a greater sense of optimism. This shift is partly due to the holidays arriving around the corner and partly due to increased energy from the new moon in Scorpio on November 13. This new moon serves as a portal to embrace and welcome the big changes we’ve been craving in our careers since 2023 began. Look out for increased clarity and communication between the new moon on the 13 and the 1111 Portal on November 11, bringing in exciting opportunities for many of us. As we move toward the Jupiter-ruled season of Sagittarius beginning on 11/22, good news of financial increase will likely arrive. Getting clear on goals and what motivates and fulfills us is essential, as the full moon in Gemini may bring up time-sensitive decisions.

Whatever your sign, forward motion and change are guaranteed. Scorpio season serves as the cosmic changemaker —so read on to see what the cards have in store.