This article was first published by Jawara Gordon on Medium. “Congratulations to the Trailblazers!” she said as we received our certificates. Standing in a room full of supporters my cohort and I celebrated a tremendous victory. We completed a grueling, six-month-long, software engineering bootcamp which tested us in every way imaginable. We were the survivors, the lucky ones who made it to the finish line. As the lights faded and we said our goodbyes, I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen next. Having gone from almost zero coding experience
This article was first published by Thosyn Pax on Medium. The tech industry is known for its fast-paced environment, constant innovation, and high demand for skilled professionals. Building a professional network in this industry is important for career growth and development. Whether you are just starting out in the tech industry or looking to advance your career, networking can help you build relationships, gain new insights, and open up new opportunities. Where I come from, achieving one’s long-term goals, let alone reaching the top, requires strong connections. It has always
This article was first published by Jason Yip on Medium. On 29 Nov 2022, I learned I was being laid off by Spotify, official termination date 31 Dec 2022. This is a rough summary of my job search experience. I started looking the moment I got the same day “urgent” calendar invite on 29 Nov and had set my LinkedIn status to “Open to Work” on 30 Nov. At least 35 positions contacted me first. 25 led to at least an initial chat. The remaining 10 went nowhere after initial contact.
The Kapor Center and the NAACP recently shared the findings of their research on the state of diversity in the tech ecosystem. From PreK-12 education to tech venture capital, Black people must overcome various challenges to progress through their careers. The research examined Black experiences at each stage of the Leaky Tech Pipeline, providing insights into the steps we need to take to ensure Black folk can thrive in tech. The leaky tech pipeline PreK-12 For Black students in the PreK-12 educational system, socio-economic disparities and a lack of access to
When it comes to job interviews, everyone wants to put their best foot forward. But Black, Hispanic, and younger Americans feel the need to go the extra mile to impress potential employers, according to a study by the American Staffing Association conducted by The Harris Poll. The study found that while the majority of Americans prefer in-person interviews, white Americans (74%) were more likely to opt for in-person interviews over virtual or audio-only formats than Hispanic (67%) and Black (65%) Americans. Hispanic and Black Americans are also more likely to feel
Leading cybersecurity and digital skills training company ThriveDX has partnered with the OneTen coalition to help Black talent secure tech and cybersecurity jobs – without needing college degrees. In 2020, America’s leading CEOs, companies, and talent developers banded together to form a coalition dedicated to upskilling, hiring, and promoting one million Black individuals who do not have four-year degrees. OneTen’s growing portfolio of 70+ partners includes educators, trainers, and providing Black people with the skills needed to secure “family-sustaining” jobs across the US. The coalition reports that they have helped more than 65,000 people secure top
This article was first published by Priyanka Jain on Medium. What a weight off my shoulders!! I opened my to-do list and scratched off all the items tagged work. After 20+ years in the tech industry, I experienced a first last week. I was unceremoniously let go from my position as Director of Engineering on a Zoom call that lasted 5 minutes at the end of my workday. I’ve witnessed and been indirectly affected by tech layoffs before. As we weather this latest round of shake-ups in the tech industry, I
This article was first published by Jennifer Opal on her blog. Let me introduce myself… My name is Jennifer Opal, I’m a DevOps Engineer currently working for Dropbox Sign. Outside of my day-to-day, I’m a Multi-Award Winning Technologist, Technical Blogger, Keynote Speaker & Neurodiversity & Inclusion Advocate. On top of this, I also sit on the Co-Production Board of a UK-based charity called, ‘Neurodiversity in Business’. You can learn more about me, my work outside of my full time job as a DevOps Engineer & more by checking out my
This article was first published by Chuma Okoro on Medium. This one is for you, fellow engineer. Folks in other career verticals, just observe. Seeing the recent news about layoffs and hiring freezes at top tech companies like Meta and Twitter; anyone who works in tech must have their eyebrows raised. You did all that struggling to get your job as a software engineer and now the idea of losing that job, due to reasons out of your control, is real. In most employment contracts, they indicate that you’re an
This article was first published by Ikenwa Chukwunonso on Medium. The job market has been crazy this year with the high inflation rate and high-interest rate to cool off inflation meaning funding from venture capitalists and financial institutions have reduced due to high-interest rates. In January 2023, prices had increased by 6.4 percent compared to January 2022 according to the 12-month percentage of change in the consumer price index. Few companies especially in the tech sector are downsizing and reducing their burn rates which mean cutting jobs to properly navigate
