At first glance, it seems like getting a profession in Tech is easy. Complete the relevant courses, get a certificate, and voila – you are an advanced specialist, ready to conquer new heights. There is also the complete opposite opinion – many newcomers to Tech who have just got their credentials say that it is difficult to get a job because employers want to hire experienced specialists. Who to trust? Sceptics who say it’s impossible to get a job straight after graduation, or training centres that promise the opposite? Let’s see if this is really the case – is it really possible to get a job immediately after completing a specialised course?
Where to begin?
Determine the direction and scope of your ambitions
The first step is to choose a narrow field if you have not yet decided what you want to do. An important criterion that should be considered is your personality, who you are as a person. Think about this: are social or technical sciences closer to you? And, depending on the answer, choose a profession for yourself. Accordingly, a technically minded person will be more inclined to do work related to computing, testing, development, programming, etc. While more creative professions (copywriting, design, marketing, etc.) will suit the other type. Before you start learning new skills, you should carefully consider everything, understand what you like more, what is easier for you to do, and what you want to do in the future, so the result will be better and work will bring more satisfaction.
It is also important to note that when choosing a profession, you need to assess its barriers to entry, for example: to gain new knowledge, do you need to enter university and obtain formal qualifications, or buy expensive equipment? An important criterion may be the choice of a place of work, whether it will be a company or freelance. If you choose a company, it is worth studying the vacancies and specific requirements of employers, and from the information received, choose your specialisation. When freelancing, things are somewhat different, because you can search for projects based on your existing skills and do not need to adapt to a specific company. See what professions are relevant now, study the market, choose the direction you are interested in and feel free to try something new.
Looking for suitable courses
The next step, after choosing a field is picking a training centre where you can learn new skills at pace. Nowadays, there are a huge number of various courses, seminars, webinars, both paid and free. Moreover, you can find a lot of information through YouTube channels and just by browsing the Internet.
Courses can be online, offline, of different duration, intensity and pace. If you start learning from scratch, it is definitely better to go for courses lasting from three months upwards, offering constant contact with experts and feedback. There are also Full-Stack courses, after which you can master several areas at once and continue working in the one you like the most, or even start your own business, applying the various skills you have mastered.
Don’t forget self-paced education
In today’s world, full of an immense flow of accessible and useful information, the rapid development of technology, completely absorbing progress, and colossal innovations, it is important to be on the wave of this information hype, show maximum interest, and delve into the study and knowledge of the new. Having received new skills in your courses of choice, you also need to constantly supplement and improve them yourself.
Regardless of your role, continue to attend trainings, webinars, conferences and develop constantly. Regular reading of technical literature and constant monitoring of the latest in the industry will definitely pay off.
More practice
The main requirement of employers for applicants is experience. Also, in any field, it is necessary to draw up a portfolio in which to describe in detail your skills, and abilities, and to present yourself not as an expert in theory, but as a specialist who knows how to apply knowledge in practice. For example, in UI/UX design, you need to create a portfolio of 3-4 layouts for websites and landing pages of varying complexity; for front-end developers – to lay out a couple of sites/landing pages, for back-end developers – to write at least one or two simple applications; for a digital marketer – to create a campaign for a store or brand. A portfolio of your work will greatly speed up the job search process.
A portfolio can be of several types:
- printed – this option is practical when presenting your work at a personal meeting with the employer
- electronic – it is convenient to send it to e-mail if necessary
- online – you can place it on your own blog or website for public access.
Portfolio Tips:
- Determine the areas in which you want to create a portfolio.
- For each direction, select your best projects. It can be 3-7 pieces in each section. This approach will help create a positive image of your skills.
- Make your portfolio beautiful and presentable.
- Post your portfolio on your own blog or personal website and keep it with you at all times.
Portfolio after the course – just like your resume, this is your business card for the employer.
Taking off the rose-coloured glasses
Be prepared for the fact that you won’t get astronomical numbers on your paycheck immediately after graduation, even if you completed expensive programming courses at a well-known school. At the beginning of a career, your salary can start from 21,000 – 27,000 GBP, and designers might even fulfil their first orders for a nominal fee, and sometimes completely free of charge to replenish their portfolio.
The main thing – do not despair and do not forget that fate favours the brave!
Who gets hired straight after graduation?
What employers in the world of Tech are looking for in the majority of junior candidates is not so much experience as the motivation of a future employee. How to quickly find a suitable job after a few months of preparation, what is life like after completing your training?
It is worth noting the fact that the labour market in the field differs from the markets in other areas:
- for most specialties, demand exceeds supply, as a result, companies adapt to employees, and change the way of attracting them to the company
- availability of work even without specialised education
- a large number of applicants and companies on the Internet
- rapid dissemination of information in the industry
- quick growth of salaries.
Searching for a job is a methodical, systematic task. Drawing up a high-quality resume is also an important, painstaking process, in the preparation of which we recommend resorting to the help of a specialist. The resume should indicate professional skills, and the current level of education, describe all your strengths, your inclination to continue learning, and readiness to engage in self-improvement even in your free time.
If you have just completed a Tech course and have no practical experience yet, you can confidently indicate all the skills and knowledge gained in your training and add a you’re your portfolio. Feel free to also point out that this was not an official commission, and the portfolio was created to showcase skills. In any case, it will be better than just describing the knowledge that was acquired without any work examples. Indicate where you acquired your credentials because often the reputation and status of the training centres plays an important role in the final decision of the employer.
Work after the courses: tips for employment
- It is important to find out in advance what your future employer is doing. Study the key achievements and successes of the company and share your vision of its development at the upcoming interview. If in the process of training, you committed to finding a job in a particular company, you should ask for advice from a local HR specialist in order to understand what factors you should pay attention to and get appropriate assistance in the learning process from instructors.
- If, as a result of a two-month reskilling, you are looking for a job in a radically new field, you should not hide the fact that you have previously worked, for example, as a teacher, lawyer, and bank employee. Tell potential employers about your successes at your last job, listing all the skills that you possess. Be prepared for the fact that HR professionals and employers will ask why you decided to change your profile. Be ready to tell what exactly attracted you to a new specialty, what you expect from your new job, and show your motivation and interest – this will definitely play in your favour.
- Be proactive and show your full potential. Preference is always given to employees who are aiming at constant growth and development. Analyse how you can connect your previous knowledge and skills (in case of reskilling) with the newly acquired ones in the courses, and how this knowledge can be transformed into innovative concepts because all unique ideas are nothing more than an improvement on an already existing one. By showing your employer examples of your blended skills, you will show yourself in a positive light and get a plus from the employer.
Where should you look for a start in your first job after the course?
- remote work in freelancer platforms
- internship in an IT company
- complete a simple order for little money or for free from someone you know, on the condition that they point out your mistakes and give you feedback
- start-ups or small businesses
- launching your own project (or going ahead with the one you worked on during your training)
- find courses that help you get a job after graduation (but beware, some malevolent training centres promise further employment in exchange for a percentage of wages over the next few years. If you carefully calculate the cost of such employment, you can understand that they are just trying to scam you for a considerable amount).
Tech courses don’t guarantee success: success in Tech is achieved by motivated people.
Experience proves that when selecting employees, companies are guided not only by the presence of a diploma and the professional level of the applicant but also by their personality. Often, the so-called soft skills are of particular importance – managerial skills, communication skills, responsibility, and initiative. It is important to keep a positive attitude and confidently apply for the desired vacancy. The careers of many successful marketers, programmers, and designers started with high-quality specialised courses.
Are there courses that do not lie and really help you find a job after graduation?
Most of the courses promise that after passing the final exam the graduate is guaranteed employment. Are there any courses with certain subsequent employment? After which it is very easy to find a job?
At DAN.IT, an instructor, a mentor, a course coordinator, and an HR specialist work with the student throughout their whole training. The centre’s methodology is use-case-based learning and practical training without boring lectures and superficial theory. At the same time, students have time to develop their personal skills and prepare for a job search.
Specialists from DAN.IT offer a modern approach to education. It is also possible to create your own course program based on existing knowledge. All areas covered by the centre are based on the TELEM methodology, which provides for maximum practice in the classroom, group work, and the best examples from real business world cases. Experienced specialists and experts in the technical and business fields are responsible for ensuring the high quality of courses, as members of the Advisory Board.
In the DAN.IT training centre, all students are supported by a mentor and an HR specialist. Individual meetings are held with the HR manager, where the previous experience of the trainee, expectations, and career goals are discussed. As a result of the analysis of all factors, the HR specialist selects the appropriate companies for employment. The recruiter also assists in the development and preparation of a resume for the course graduate.
Each student passes a test interview with an HR specialist, as well as a technical interview with a service station, which allows them to be as prepared as possible for an interview with potential employers. DAN.IT cooperates with many large companies, which are often primarily interested in hiring graduates of the training centre itself.
After the interviews, the HR specialist receives feedback from potential employers, and after careful analysis, instructs the student to work on mistakes. Throughout the course, students prepare their own projects and defend them at the end of the course. Curators and teachers also give advice on improvement and implementation. The summative and capstone projects can serve as a full-fledged portfolio or a starting step for independent business venture.
If you are looking for tech courses that will not only serve as a new start to a successful career but also as a great pastime – choose a training after which you will be hired and which will lead to real achievements!
