The hunt is real. Especially more now than ever. Overall, job statistics are good, but the major tech employers are all making big personnel cutbacks. So, there’s still opportunities. They may just be at less-known companies. Making your search more important and involved than prior.

If you’re reading this, you’re likely making a transition yourself. From some other field to Computer Science. Beyond the basic resume techniques, we need to relate everything as best as possible. If it’s not translating to the role in question, it shouldn’t be included. Remember to read everything about the role and organization. The more information you have, the more parallels can be drawn from your past experience that can be utilized. If the specifics of your experience don’t relate, how about aspects of the work. Team projects, management, teaching, etc.

It’s important to remember some of the foundational resume techniques that you should always leverage. “Less is more”. It’s important to convey information succinctly. It leaves desirable whitespace on your resume while conveying you’re a clear and efficient communicator. “Get over it, talk about yourself.” It can be hard talking about yourself. That’s is the whole idea though. Don’t downplay anything, you’re not bragging. Tell. Your. Story. “Express passion and interest.” If you have specific passions or interests that directly to your field share them! For example learning. If you’re applying to a company that emphasizes learning, they want to hear you are passionate about learning. Work it in.

Work your network. The people you are reaching out to may not be in Tech, Computer Science, etc. However, they may know someone that is. Even if their role isn’t tech-focused, internal referrals still hold a ton of weight in just getting an initial interview. This is especially important with smaller organizations. My wife works for a late stage start-up (preparing for IPO). The last three hiring rounds, there wasn’t a single new hire that didn’t have an internal referral source. So, work that network.

With the shift in job openings, every advantage available has to be taken. Don’t forget the basics of job hunting. I hope any facet of this helps you with your transition to a developer role. I’m utilizing all of these and always keeping my eye out for new approaches, techniques, etc.

Everyone has their preferred ways to learn new concepts, information, tools, etc. There is usually some degree of overlap between people especially for the same type of learning. I’ll cover how I like to learn generally below. There is an inherent emphasis on technical material.

Typically I prefer my initial information exposure through some form of in-person or video lecture. Where there is an instructor covering the material while providing examples to solidify the material being delivered. I work best having this initial audible delivery with visual cues. It allows to me to listen while focusing on notes and the examples. The added benefit of in-person is the ability to ask questions as they arise. Afterall, we’ve heard the best practice to make sure you understand everything before moving forward. Video lectures still provide this benefit by being able to pause it and then look it up before proceeding.  

Next, I enjoy more complex examples that I can work through on my own. This allows me to drive the material home. Working through on my own. Then having access to or provided at a later time to possible solutions. This allows me to review and see where my mistakes are or alternative approaches to solidify my knowledge. Without any structured ‘struggle’ its hard to really fully grasp concepts.

Any supplemental and especially text-based content I look to be clear, concise, and to the point. Paragraphs that can be summarized to bullet point main concepts should be. Even if its just to provide the initial point where subsequent material can be elaborated on. If the meaty details are first, it can be hard to work towards the summarized points that I should be grasping. Within that, too much fluff is distracting and loses the readers. Especially with technical material. We’re here to learn something and apply it. Let’s keep the material to the point.  

Lastly, the final step to really grasp new material is to apply it in whatever context is applicable. Without practice, its hard to really say you know something. No expert in anything is right out of school. They typically have years of experience applying whatever their subject is.