career development Tag Archives - General Assembly Blog

Alum Spotlight: Changing Careers as a Mom? Yes, You Can

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Juggling the responsibilities of motherhood is often described as having two full-time jobs — one that stretches into the late hours and another that spans the entire day. Now, imagine the additional challenges faced by single mothers who rely solely on themselves, carrying the weight of these two demanding roles without any breaks. It requires a unique strength and unwavering determination for a mother to embark on a new career path while fulfilling her maternal duties. 

Maintaining a resolute “Yes, I can” attitude is a crucial aspect of their transformative journeys. A positive attitude is a strong determining factor to success, but more support is always an advantage. At General Assembly, we have had the privilege of uplifting mothers from many backgrounds as they make successful transitions into tech careers.

In this article, we will explore the challenges of switching careers as a mother and how you can overcome them. It’s possible to change careers or start a new career as a mom, regardless of any limiting beliefs or underlying circumstances. 

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Harnessing The Power of Positive Thinking: 5 Career Change Affirmations to Tell Yourself

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Have you been feeling stagnant in your career? Found yourself dreaming of a passion outside your 9-to-5 role? 

If you answered “yes,” to either (or both) of these questions, a career change is on the horizon. However, if you haven’t made any moves to kick off this transition, your mindset might be holding you back. Taking those first steps toward a new career direction can be scary and overwhelming. Fear of failure and the unknown, leaving the safety net of a career you are comfortable in (but don’t love), can keep you running in place. 

Shifting your mindset can get you to a place where you feel confident and empowered to take that leap. That’s right: you can control your mind to achieve your goals. Positive thinking isn’t just a buzzword or fluffy theory: research supports it as a powerful tool that can help you open your mind, build better relationships, and achieve optimal levels of well-being, resilience, and yes, success. 

Ready to give it a shot? Let’s walk through some positive thinking exercises that will catapult you from “no, I can’t” to “yes, I can.” 

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5 Steps for Overcoming Career Change Imposter Syndrome

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As you approach your dream job or prepare to start a new business, it’s common to experience a sense of unworthiness and self-doubt that can hold you back. Imposter syndrome can prevent you from fully embracing your accomplishments and reaching your full potential. 

In this blog post, we aim to provide guidance on overcoming imposter syndrome for individuals who are considering a career change and are struggling with self-confidence about their ability to succeed in a new field. Additionally, we will explore actionable steps to help career changers like you overcome imposter syndrome and realize your aspirations.

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How Tech Skills Can Land You a Creative Career

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Traditionally, “highly paid” and “creative career” doesn’t appear in the same sentence, but as technology transforms every part of the creative process, the demand for creative technologists is surging, creating opportunities for artistic-minded tech workers. 

The internet and social media have ushered in a digital creative renaissance, where artists are experimenting with new mediums like augmented reality and virtual reality, and emerging tools like generative AI. Art exhibits have transformed from static gallery shows to immersive experiences created by UX designers. Digital artists increasingly rely on technology as their studio, leveraging software tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, Open AI’s DALL-E, and Procreate to create their next masterpiece. 

Similarly, the music industry is experiencing historic change. Software editing programs and virtual instruments have unlocked new possibilities for creative expression. Technology like streaming services have enabled artists to embrace new ways of marketing and distributing their music. Social media platforms make fan engagement possible in real-time. 

Even already tech-savvy industries like film, television, and video gaming are seeing new opportunities emerge thanks to innovations in 3D graphics, video streaming, and computer performance. The metaverse has unlocked an entirely new world for the entertainment industry to seize, emerging after the pandemic shuttered live events and forced entertainment companies to get creative with digital offerings. 

While technical innovation in creativity is exciting, it also poses legal and ethical concerns around things like an artist’s copyright and control over their work, meaning the field is ripe for innovation in the privacy, security, and compliance spaces. 

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The Future of Work: Exploring the Jobs and Workplaces of Tomorrow

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During Tech Week 2023, Kate Neilson interviewed panelists Betul Genc, Dr. John Fong, and Tashi Dorjee about the future of work in tech. Understanding how tech jobs may evolve over the coming years is not only important for working professionals looking to advance their career, but also for companies who want to upskill their workforce and attract the best talent.

Tech Week is a FREE week-long virtual series hosted by General Assembly that features sessions around trending tech topics. It is a great opportunity for people to participate in discussions with industry experts, ask questions, and learn about the latest trends that will shape the year ahead.

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No Tryout Required: Sports Tech Careers From the Evolving World of Sports

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When you think about jobs in sports, your mind probably jumps to professional athletes, coaches, or high-powered agents (à la Jerry Maguire). If you didn’t win the genetic lottery and those other highly competitive roles weren’t in the stars for you, you might have written off a career in sports. Sports lovers everywhere, rejoice: Sports tech is creating pathways for more professionals to join the game.

Industry analyst Research and Markets predicts that the sports technology market will reach $41.9 billion by 2026, a rise of 21.4% since 2020. Innovations using AI and machine learning that seem straight out of a Sci-Fi novel are here—but they’re not limited to just elite athletes. Sports tech has consumer health applications that can help all of us avoid injuries, build strength, and eat and sleep better.

If you love sports, there are many career tracks for programmers, data analysts and scientists, designers, and digital content producers. We’ve compiled the top areas that tech is transforming and the top tech careers in sports—no tryout required.

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How Data Is Revolutionizing Basketball: Q&A with Ballstar Co-Founder Vaughn Caldon

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Basketball has always had an incredibly passionate fanbase, fueled by the exciting and fast pace of gameplay and high-scoring matches. Some of the most famous athletes globally are professional basketball players, like LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Today, the NBA is broadcast in over 200 countries. 

As basketball has grown into a global phenomenon, technology has played a key role in taking the sport to new levels. Data analytics has transformed everything from how the sport is played and coached, to how fans engage with games and athletes. From tracking players’ performance to predicting game outcomes, data has become an indispensable tool for athletes and fans at every level. 

This surge of data in the industry has created unique opportunities for data scientists and data analysts who have a passion for both numbers and sports, as well as for UX designers and software engineers who bring this data to life via fan engagement apps and websites. 

To learn more about what’s behind this data-driven revolution in sports and the career opportunities it’s unlocked, we sat down with Vaughn Caldon, GA instructor and co-founder of Ballstar, a company at the forefront of data analytics in basketball. 

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Fast Break Your Career Change: Players You Need on Your Team

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March marks the beginning of the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament, also known as the Month of Madness. The tournament is known for its unpredictable upsets and exciting games, with fans filling out brackets and following the action closely. March Madness is a major sporting event in the United States, with millions of fans tuning in to watch the games on television or streaming online. 

But what if we told you that the concept of March Madness could also be applied to the world of a career change? Basketball teams are usually composed of 12-15 athletes, all of whom share a common goal and work together to achieve it, supporting and trusting one another. 

Just like in basketball, you need a team of people on your side to help you navigate the twists and turns of a career change. Making a career change often means entering a new industry or field, which can be daunting and uncertain. A good support system can provide the emotional and practical support you need, helping you stay motivated, focused, and positive as you pursue your goals.

This article explores the different types of people you need on your team when considering a career change and handy tips and tricks to fast-break your career transition. 

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ChatGPT: A Tool, Not an Enemy for Tech Jobs

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Have you tried ChatGPT yet?

Open AI’s latest chatbot is gaining people’s attention globally for its human-like responses and sophisticated capabilities. From writing stories and workout plans to essays, code, and more — at first use, it seems like there’s nothing ChatGPT can’t do. 

But what exactly is ChatGPT? And, more importantly, why should you care? 

ChatGPT is a natural language processing software that launched in December 2022. It’s a chatbot that answers your questions in real-time based on a huge pool of internet data and other sources. 

As natural language processing software becomes increasingly prevalent in life and at work, it will impact the way we operate. While you don’t need to worry about AI robots taking over any time soon, you do need to stay on top of these tech advancements and adapt as needed. 

With a proper understanding of their capabilities, AI tools won’t be a threat to you. They’ll be an aid. In this article, we’ll explore why ChatGPT is a helpful tool for people working in tech, how it can enhance productivity, and the soft skills that are more important than ever. 

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Top 5 Industries Hiring Data Analysts and Data Scientists

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Without data, humans make decisions based on intuition. However, we don’t make very good decisions with our gut. That’s because as humans we have our emotions, unconscious biases, and gaps in information to contend with. 

Everyone makes better decisions with data. For a business, poor leadership decisions can be incredibly costly. But companies don’t just need to collect data—they need professionals who can analyze and interpret it. That’s where data analysts and data scientists come in. 

Glassdoor and U.S. News & World Report have both named data scientist among their best jobs based on salary, job satisfaction, and career opportunities. Data analysts earn a median base salary of $66,370 in the U.S., while data scientists earn $103,525 on average. If you’re ready to jump into your first data analyst entry-level job, read on for how to break in and the top industries hiring data analysts and data scientists. 

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