How To Launch Your New Career In Tech
So you work in a field that isn’t tech, and you’ve decided to make the jump. You’re caught up on Silicon Valley, and you’re ready to trade in your dimly lit corporate cubicle for a cushy bean bag chair with a view of the ping pong table. What now?
Networking is key
A strong network is the single most important key to success in tech. This is how you will hear about jobs, get warm intros, and crowdsource answers to tricky questions for a long time to come in your new role.
Do: Network continuously and genuinely — don’t wait until you have given your notice to strike up a conversation. Tech communities have a glut of networking events. You can find the ones you want to go to by following community leaders on Twitter and joining groups on Meetup. You can cold email people who you follow or have researched and see if they are open to meeting but…
Don’t: Email perfect strangers, using a buzzwordy template to ask for a job or favour. People have their own networks to nurture, and they don’t owe you anything.
Get your brand together
Who are you and why should I care?
Do: Have your elevator pitch prepared. Know how to show your value in 15 seconds. Don’t be a generalist — pick an area where you can shine and make every attempt to push your brand towards it. Position yourself as the expert on that one thing. Once your foot is in the door, it’s time to discuss your complimentary skills, but your pitch should be clean and simple.
Don’t: Pitch your company/idea/self to everyone you meet all the time. See “genuine networking” above — position yourself as a thought leader without constantly plugging your product.
Spin your skills
The skills you developed in your former career are transferable to your new career in startup land, but you have to communicate them the right way.
Do: Do your research and understand the pain points of the company you want to work at. Then, focus on the things you learned in your old job that apply to that problem. You likely have knowledge which, coupled with a willingness to learn, is a big asset.
Don’t: Use corporate “we” speak when outlining your accomplishments. Your new boss wants to know you can roll up your sleeves and get the job done without a team of 50 working under you. And don’t tell the hiring manager that your megacorp “operated just like a startup”. It didn’t, and saying so demonstrates that you might not know what you’re getting yourself into.
Bonus tip: Once you land your dream job, it’s your time to give back! Leverage your unique perspective to coach others and contribute to the tech community.
