Career Development Category Archives - General Assembly Blog

Thanksgiving is the time of year when gratitude and appreciation are at an all-time high. During this season, some companies extend paid time off to employees, donate to charities for social good, distribute employee bonuses, and much more. Then there are the “others” who only oblige to the federal holiday with no paid time off or will pay a premium to employees who work on holidays. 

Additionally, with a global recession on the horizon, taking a career risk is more daunting than before. According to the Trading Economics Report, US-based companies cut over 29k jobs from their September 2022 payroll alone. Thus, most of us are just grateful to have a job these days. 

But why settle? If the last three years have taught us anything, it’s that life is short and anything can happen. You should be working at a job you love, period. But during such economic uncertainty, many overlook the maltreatment of our boss and the lack of benefits within the work environment because a check or direct deposit is still being received.

According to Gallup’s recent State of the Global Workplace: 2022 report, workers are experiencing staggering levels of workplace disengagement, unhappiness, and dissatisfaction, with 60% reporting being emotionally detached at work and 19% being miserable.

Albeit, being just “grateful” to have a job accelerates the stagnation of professional development and hinders your future career growth opportunities. But you can do more than that. So this holiday season, take the risk to return the gratitude and appreciation at a new job in tech with better benefits and pay that you will genuinely love. 

Since the digital boom, we’ve seen tech startups taking over the world of work. However, unlike big corporations, the Great Resignation has been a one-in-a-century opportunity for startups to snatch up great tech talent worldwide. 

Economic downturns are also times when entrepreneurs look for innovative ways to solve new problems, leading to the creation of new tech-savvy companies. According to ExplodingTopics, there are over 1.1 billion-dollar startups worldwide today. That’s a lot of skill gaps that need to be filled. 

Each year the number of tech startups continues to rise. Since 2020 the number has almost doubled. Startups continue to be one of the most popular companies to break into tech and build up invaluable work experience. Oftentimes, during the beginning stages of operations, company leaders will be heavily investing in the talent (people) who will continue to build, ideate, and refine the business model over time. 

So the demand for tech startup talent is out there, but how do you get into a startup with zero tech experience, and what are the benefits of working at a tech startup? Keep reading to understand the risk versus the reward. 

While “quiet quitting” by doing the bare minimum at work might be all the rage, the FatFIRE movement promotes the opposite: maximizing income today so you can achieve financial independence and retire early (aka, 🔥). 

Adherents to the traditional FIRE movement place a high emphasis on living frugally to achieve financial independence. The FatFIRE movement, on the other hand, encourages earning and saving more so you can live comfortably and prioritize enjoyment in your financially free life. Essentially, people who FatFIRE need to earn a lot more money throughout their career so they can save enough to live the good life, and not worry about pinching pennies.

Not everyone who pursues FatFIRE intends to quit working when they achieve financial independence. For some, it provides the flexibility and financial freedom to explore a passion project, volunteer or even launch a startup. Achieving financial independence means you’re not tied to a specific job or company just so you can pay the bills – you can do whatever you want. 

Ready to join the movement? A career in tech will help you jump start your journey to FatFIRE. Here’s how.

We’re seeing more people re-evaluate their current roles, hoping to swap them for something more fulfilling. The potential benefits of changing careers are plentiful, including increased job satisfaction and higher wages. Despite this, changing careers can be daunting and bring feelings of overwhelm and uncertainty about where to begin.

Our career coach, Sim Khandaker, is answering your questions to help you create a plan for success that aligns with your passion and purpose.

COVID-19 had a huge impact on the hospitality industry that’s still felt today.

With a 2-year halt on travel plans, 62 million hospitality jobs worldwide were lost in 2020, and 44 million in 2021. While it seems that travel has returned to normal, in reality, the entire industry’s seen a paradigm shift. There are labour shortages, decreased business travel, and a stronger reliance on technology.

The instability of the industry over the last couple of years paired with the current state of the industry has caused many people working in hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality jobs, to reconsider their careers.

If you’re in this position and feeling like it’s time to take action, you’ve come to the right place. This article walks through why people are leaving the industry, jobs to consider and how to make a career switch from hospitality worker to working in tech.

Although law enforcement is a well-paying job with a good pension, many police officers leave the profession in search of a more secure and balanced life. But, according to CNN, COVID-19, the great resignation, burnout, and a dramatic increase in crime rates across American cities make recruitment and retention difficult.

According to the police executive forum, which surveyed 200 police departments, there has been a 44% increase in police retirements and an 18% increase in cops quitting their jobs.Additionally, in a recent New York Post study, over 2,465 police officers have filed to leave the department this year (42% more than last year). Police officers who have had enough are starting to search for private-sector job opportunities.

Are you currently working in law enforcement, but ready to make a change? Keep reading for key insights on making the switch.

Most people have worked in a restaurant at some point in their careers—food service dominates popular first jobs like dishwasher, waitress, host, barista, and pizza delivery. Some stay longer to make culinary careers as chefs or managers.

Working in food service can be rewarding but also grueling, as seen in shows like FX’s ‘The Bear’. Whether you’ve just stopped over in food service or have been there a long time, you might be ready for a change. Rude customers, long hours, and high pressure leave many feeling depleted and wondering how to get out of the restaurant industry.

More than 6% of restaurant and hospitality workers quit each month in 2022—that’s the highest departure rate of any industry according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  While low wages and tips are the biggest reason workers cite in leaving, more than half also say that no amount of money would entice them back. Let’s take a look at one cook’s story, why departure rates are so high, and where workers are going instead.

It is a common misconception that investing in a career change is an expensive choice. As a result, many people may be afraid to make the move even when they have a burning desire to transition into a more fulfilling career.

Career change for Singaporeans could be a daunting prospect, especially for those wishing to enter the ever-changing and competitive tech space. However, once you decide to take that step, you’ll find that it’s completely possible.

In its movement towards becoming a smart nation, Singapore is seeing a huge increase in demand for tech talent in areas like cybersecurity, data science and software development. It is reported that there has been a 30.5% job ad increase in the computer and IT fields in Singapore and that 50% of workers will need reskilling by 2050. As such, General Assembly strives to offer financial support for our Singaporean students through subsidies under Infocomm Media Development Authority’s TIPP.

So, if your goal is to seek new career opportunities, transition into a tech role or secure a position at a tech company in Singapore, then you have come to the right place.

Read on to learn more about the subsidy so you can kickstart your career change today.

“Recession” is a word you don’t want to hear, especially when it’s followed by “coming soon.”

Unfortunately, if you’ve been anywhere near the internet lately, you’ve likely seen a lot of talk about record-high inflation rates and rampant lay-offs — both signs of a recession on the horizon.

This can feel scary. After all, no one is immune from the hard times an economic downturn brings. At the peak of a recession, companies tend to explore ways to cut expenses. This can involve reduced hiring, paused staff promotions, departmental budget cuts, and layoffs.

But here’s what you need to remember: you have more control than you think. You can take matters into your own hands to set yourself up for success by developing and diversifying your skills.

In this article, we’re going to walk you through three steps to recession-proof your skills and career so you can seize your future.