To say the Tech industry is BOOMING! at the moment would be an understatement. Industry 3.0 & the Internet of Things is revolutionizing the way work, interact and communicate with each other at an ever-alarming rate.
The countless amount of new tech start-ups, as well as the Coronavirus pandemic constituting the need for remote work, has opened a whole new realm of opportunities and prospects for not only recent graduates but also for those looking for a change of career.
The industry is indeed booming – but don’t be led astray by the hype – SaaS is still a tough & competitive industry.
If you’re expecting to walk straight into a job after graduation you might be in for a rude awakening. University is not the be-all and end-all for education; top tech CEOs speculate that over 70% of computer specialist job openings will remain unfilled due to universities not teaching all the required skills.
At the very least you will need to be a self-starter, dedicated to continuous learning and self-improvement. It is those very qualities which I assume brought you to this article – so continue reading to find out 5 Must Do’s to Get Hired at That Tech Start-Up.
Follow your Passion
The abundance of roles needing to be filled in tech companies leaves those looking to enter the industry spoiled for choice – there really is something for everyone. Perhaps you’re an individual who loves a consistent challenge, Coding or web development might be just what you’re after. If you possess a creative flair then maybe blogging, content marketing or design is more up your alley – whatever the role, some soul searching will be required to effectively answer this. Self-evaluation and reflection practices can be of help here.
Once you have found a role you wish to pursue next is to find the company that you want to work for – how important is it for a company to align with your values and morals? – again only you can answer this!
Create your own experience / Portfolio
Most graduates will face a common problem when applying for jobs these days; Entry-Level roles requiring X years of experience. A pivotal moment in your journey will be how much you let this requirement stifle your development. Many will see this requirement and avoid applying altogether due to a lack of experience. This is where the self-starter will rise above and create their experience opportunities. Are there internship positions available? Have you participated in freelance projects which you can talk about? Have you been involved with side projects/passion projects of your own? If these are relevant to the role, they can demonstrate not only experience but tenacity, resourcefulness, determination, and many other qualities that start-ups will undoubtedly need from their team.
Differentiate Between Your Hard and Soft Skills
Hard Skills
By definition, hard skills are a certain set of abilities or expertise required to perform a job. I alluded to this in the introduction of this article but it’s important to reiterate; You have recently graduated from university? Great, now what? Now you need to specialize.
Most people are familiar with the expression ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ this is what you want to avoid. Find something which you can own, something you can be the undisputed best at. At the very least, if you do choose multiple disciplines be within the top performing 20% – ideally specializing in 2 or 3 things that your start-up will need.
Soft Skill’s
There seems to be a lack of emphasis on soft skills considering their importance to landing a job in tech, or any job for that matter. Soft skills are social skills, people skills, character & personality traits, communication abilities and emotional intelligence.
Although we use some aspect of soft skills in most areas of our lives they will constantly need to be nurtured and developed. Soft skills are not something you learn in a classroom but rather through lived experiences. You might find you need to ‘check in’ with yourself to find how your soft skills are developing. Once you begin to progress in this area you might be surprised how they can enhance other areas of your development such as interview skills for example.
Invest In your Network
Network! Network! Network! We hear it all the time but what does it really mean?
It means being active in the community of your chosen field – but what does that entail? Perhaps you have joined a few social media groups, signed up for a few monthly newsletters and are ready to proclaim yourself as the next social superstar…Or maybe your more of the introverted type – you have convinced yourself either your lacklustre networking attempts were ‘good enough’ or networking is not possible or effective due to the pandemic – we both know these are excuses.
If you find a company your truly passionate about it will not be hard to put yourself out there, interact and get involved with the community. Be proactive and chase networking opportunities – companies too have had to adapt and innovate in these current times to nurture their online communities – start today with Ingenio’s ultimate guide to the Job Interview Process Weekly Webinars.
If you have gained value from this article and you’re looking to progress further then our course might be just what you need. Our 4 Steps to Get Hired by a Tech Company course has been curated from years of experience in the tech & SaaS industry.
If you are further along in your journey and are ready to take the next step, don’t be shy – reach out to us here at Ingenio and Find a Job today!
Written by James Coffey
