EMPOWERING AUSTRALIANS WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CAREERS IN TECH

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The tech space is constantly changing and evolving. This is why it is such an exciting, challenging, and rewarding industry to work in. In this day and age, the key to a successful career in tech is to be equipped with the most relevant tech skills and to embrace lifelong learning, and be as curious and inquisitive as possible. 

According to the Tech Council of Australia, the Australian Government and the Australian tech sector have a shared commitment to create 1.2 million tech jobs in Australia by 2030. It is then forecasted that Australia will need to employ an additional 653,000 tech workers to meet this goal by the end of the decade. This is great news for those who want to transition into a tech career. It also means that the demand for tech courses has increased as people are looking for efficient modes of learning to be a part of this transformation. 

However, financial constraints can often get in the way of people receiving a quality education in their desired field, thus, limiting their potential to excel. In an economy where knowledge is power, how then can we make this knowledge more accessible to aspiring students? 

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Looking for a new career? Here are the 3 most promising tech jobs of 2023

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The tech industry experienced mass layoffs and budget cuts in 2022 that have many tech workers who were once flying high worried about job security. Despite the gloomy news, however, the labor market for tech talent continues to be strong. While big tech firms are making headlines for drastic cuts, tech talent remains in high demand across other industries. 

For example, industries like finance, healthcare, government and automotive, all of which have yet to fully digitally transform, are hiring tech talent. The City of San Francisco—a verifiable tech hub that should, in theory, have unlimited access to tech talent—recently shared that its vacancy rate for IT workers is 21%. 

For workers willing to look beyond big tech, well paid opportunities continue to abound. At General Assembly, we help people break into a career in tech so they can increase their wages and land a job with great benefits and working conditions—ultimately, improving their quality of life. 

Despite today’s economic landscape, we still believe this is a path to prosperity and that opportunities abound for tech workers. In fact, not having a technical skill set could leave you less secure in your career going forward as everything goes digital. 

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Why Entrepreneurs Should Learn to Code

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Entrepreneurship is on the rise. The pandemic led to a startup boom in the United States, with applications for new businesses increasing by 24%. Then, The Great Resignation accelerated the trend, with applications increasing 55% from 2019 levels in 2021. 

If you’re thinking about jumping on the entrepreneurship train, learning to code might not be the first thing that comes to mind. After all, computer science isn’t typically found in a business school curriculum. 

However, aspiring entrepreneurs should consider learning to code for a few reasons. Learning to code can help you launch your business faster, make better technology decisions, improve your creative problem solving skills, and better understand how your business operates. 

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Alumni Stories: Isobel Kieran From Publishing to Product Design

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Learning the knowledge and skills you need to work in a new field can seem daunting and pointless after years of experience working in one industry. Family responsibilities make it difficult for many people to dedicate additional time, effort, and finances to retraining.

After working in the same field for ten years as a creative director for crowdfunding independent publisher Unbound, General Assembly alumna Isobel Kieran retrained with GA and found her new career as a product designer with Red Badger. She sat down with career coach Jaz Broughton to talk about why she’s thankful she put aside her fears to invest in her future. 

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ASK ME ANYTHING: YOUR BURNING TECH QUESTIONS ANSWERED, LIVE.

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Making a career change can be as intimidating as it is exhilarating. On one hand, you’re excited about a new adventure, but on the other hand, you want to be sure or at least have an idea of where you’re headed. That’s why we’re excited to offer a new Livestream Series: Ask Me Anything.  

Whether you’re ready to start a new tech career or just exploring the options, our Ask Me Anything sessions are a risk-free way to get your burning questions answered live by an active industry professional. No matter where you are in the process, you can know you’re making an informed decision.

Join us on Wednesdays at 3:00 pm Eastern, starting January 18th. 

SCHEDULE:
Wed, Jan 18, 2023 – Ask me Anything: UX Design with Jason Early

Wed, Feb 01, 2023 – Ask me Anything: Software Engineering with Taylor Darneille

Wed, Feb 15, 2023 – Ask me Anything: UX Design with Brittney Posternock

Wed, Mar 01, 2023 – Ask me Anything: Software Engineering with Travis Huang

Wed, Mar 08, 2023 – Ask me Anything: Data Analytics with Branden Kornell

Wed, Mar 15, 2023 – Ask me Anything: UX Design with Todd Chambers

Wed, Mar 22, 2023 – Ask me Anything: Software Engineering with Taylor Darneille

Wed, Mar 29, 2023 – Ask me Anything: Data Analytics with Candace Roberts

Please note that all AMA instructors are US based.

CAREER TAROTSCOPES FOR JANUARY 2023

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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 should make some New Year’s changes at work and which should use this month’s grounded Capricorn vibes to move forward methodically. She also has some insight into abundance- both in terms of finance and recognition – coming in where you may least expect it. 

January comes in strong with the Saturn-ruled sign of Capricorn kicking off the new year. This is likely to cause an increase in motivation toward goals as Capricorn is known as the hardest-working sign in the zodiac. On January 6, we have the full moon in Cancer, bringing in an opportunity to look at where you can prioritize self-care and set up a sustainable work/life balance for the new year. On Jan 17, Mercury, which has been in retrograde since Dec 29, heads direct. This helps communication with colleagues and clients run much more smoothly and efficiently. Whatever your sign, January is an exciting month for all signs, so read on to see what treats are in store.

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5 Ways to Actively Conquer Career-Changing Fear

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Are you reconsidering your career path?

The thought of taking on a whole new career can be terrifying—especially when it requires that you take a few steps backward to get there. Feelings of self-doubt are normal as you go from expert to student again, working hard to learn the new skills that will help you transition to a more fulfilling career.

Doing work you are passionate about is worth the hard work it takes to get there. With mindfulness and mental health practices, you can squash the very normal feelings of fear and doubt that come along with change. 

We’ll walk you through five helpful ways to conquer the fear of career transition and provide actionable steps to help you feel confident and prepared for whatever is next in your career journey.

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GA Gives Back: Advocating for Societal Change through Unity and Generosity

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Giving Tuesday is an independent non-profit organization focused on unleashing the power of radical generosity around the world. The movement invites people and organizations of all sizes to transform and support their communities year-round by inspiring kindness and care for one another. 

During a time of such uncertainty, a movement like this is more important than ever. This is why some of our employees at General Assembly came together to launch their own virtual giving campaign — GA Gives, an internal campaign for Giving Tuesday.

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4 Key Elements of the UX Design Process: Fundamentals

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When you use a product such as an app or a website, you judge that experience by logic and emotion—how it made you feel. 

The functionality and the aesthetics have the potential to make you frustrated or happy. It’s not enough for a product to look good—it must also solve a problem or provide a user with actual value. 

User experience design, or “UX design,” is a method of thinking and a design technique for building products and solutions. When designing a product’s functions and interface, UX design considers the end user’s needs, goals, frustrations, and motivations. 

Why learn UX design? 

Current UX designers, or anyone looking to break into a UX design career, need the knowledge and fundamental skills to design a great product. 

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New Year, Same Career? 3 Ways to Get Started on Your Career Change Before the Ball Drops

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When it comes to the New Year, it’s well known as a time of renewal and new beginnings. Famously “out with the old and in with the new” is something we often remind ourselves of as we come closer to the end of a year. 

Amongst many other things, New Year’s Day is a celebration of having survived another 365 days, the period by which we keep a chronological record of our personal and professional lives. Your New Year’s resolutions may represent a deep need for you to exert some control over the future because we all know how dreadfully unpredictable the future may be. 

With a fresh new year, it may be time for a fresh new career. With 2023 just around the corner, you may be prompted to leave behind your old job and consider a new exciting career you will truly love. 

Keep reading to learn how you can leave your career change doubts behind in 2022 and start the New Year with a bang. 

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