This program is a post-bac after all, so that means that almost all of us have a first bachelor’s level degree. Although much of your past experience in a different field will likely not go onto your tech resume, being able to market your background can prove the difference during interviews. You will find a lot of advice online that may advise you not to place any non tech experience and education on your resume. I find that following this logic will have you selling yourself significantly short. If you’re able to convey transferable skills during an interview or speaking to a recruiter, you can set yourself apart from other applicants. Moreover, many times, larger companies will see the benefit in hiring an employee that has better soft skills already developed, being able to speak on this aspect of your qualities can keep you in the hiring conversation.
Your previous education is not just a bonus on your resume either. Chances are your training can help you in ways that you did not realize. For example, my first undergrad degree was Kinesiology, specifically Human Performance. I did not think that this would in any way help with my coding skills, however, I realized that my previous degree required a thorough understanding of very complex systems in the human anatomy. By being comfortable imagining large systems and understanding their intersections, I was able to better , and more quickly grasp new code and repos.
Applications, interviews, code challenges, leet-code grinding, there is a reason why the process of finding that first job in tech is brutal. Lean on what made you successful in your previous position, or what made you learn and learn well during your previous degree. Once you can convey the extra value that you can bring to the table during those final interview rounds, you’ll find yourself as strong a candidate as any you’d be going up against.
Good Luck!
Leave a Reply