5 Ways to Stand Out in Tech While Fired from a Tech Trade School Founder


Anyone who follows the tech news cycle will know that 2023 will be the year where big names in tech are being laid off consistently every month.


The conventional wisdom is that jobs will be lost as companies compete for talent and hire thousands each month, but now the calculus has changed. First, let's talk about what has changed.

While it used to be possible to get accepted just by collecting certifications from your LinkedIn profile, now you're competing with hundreds of thousands of people with the same profile as you. Where a few years ago you were competing mostly with other entry-level talent, now you're competing with nearly 200,000 laid-off tech workers, many of whom are taking pay cuts or changing positions to regain job security. the work.


1. Look for jobs that experienced people may overlook



Yes, you probably dreamed of working at Google. And I'll be the last person to tell you to give up on that dream. But as industries begin to grow rapidly again during the recession, it's a good idea to figure out which "stepping" jobs will lead you to your dream job. All industries are cyclical, but I can tell you that technology always comes back because growth always comes from innovation. A good idea is to find unknown startup companies that are looking for people who are passionate and hungry for their space. This means finding companies that you're interested in but haven't raised a lot of funding yet and are getting a lot of media coverage. The more difficult it is to find a company, the less likely others will apply to work there.


If you find a startup company with a product you really like, but they don't have any job postings on their site, get in touch anyway! We have personally hired people who, when they contacted us, expressed their passion for what we do and saw how we could work for them. Startup founders are people who can take advantage of opportunities and work boldly even without being listed.


2. Don't just apply, but actively seek the hiring manager's attention.



When most people on LinkedIn click the quick apply button or send identical resumes and cover letters, you need to be proactive to stand out. This means doing uncomfortable things, like approaching people coldly. Active duty takes practice, and there are free resources like this online course to help you master it. But even if it's still not great, you're guaranteed to stand out because most people aren't doing anything terrible. And if you do something no one else does, you'll stand out.


A tip to get the attention of hiring managers, especially company founders, when applying to a startup is to explain, even if it's not obvious, why the product appeals to you and makes you the best person for the job. Authenticity can earn you a lot of points, so focus on products and services that you like or really like.


3. Get credentialing strategies in addition to your courses.


what the? Did the founder of a technical vocational school tell you not to go to class just to learn? Yes.


Talk to any of my students and they will tell you that I strongly believe that all education is worthwhile. But just because it's useful doesn't mean it will produce results in a short period of time.


The way to ensure that your online certifications and credentials will help you stand out to employers is to have a really strong story behind each class or certification program you take. Focus on courses that not only teach you skills, but also help you gain hands-on project experience that allows you to talk about how the skills you're learning apply in the real world. Ideally, you'll apply your newly learned skills to a real-world project, whether that's free or low-cost volunteer work for a local small business or non-profit organization, or applying them to your own business idea . This is a perfectly legitimate experience to have on your resume and in your job interview discussions.

Finally, I would like to say that many professionals get much more out of live courses than self-recorded or pre-recorded courses. Because it's a quick way to expand your network and connect with people who are doing what you want to do. 


4. Find ways to showcase your skills just talk about them



Most beginners talk about their skills in general terms. They say, "I have excellent communication skills." Or say things like, "I'm very organized and would make a great project manager." You may think it's confidence, but it just makes you look like everyone else. Instead, talk about the systems and processes you use to stay organized and how you've used those skills to accomplish complex things, like coordinating multiple people on a project or organizing a single complex project.


That's why it's so powerful to focus on building your skills, whether you're taking a project-based class or working on your own side project. When you talk about how you developed your skills by doing difficult things, whether you got paid for it or not, people start listening and it's just a matter of telling them you're great and hoping they believe you. It sounds like a lot. more compelling and impressive than before. .


5. Get your name out in the country and keep going.



Yes, do the basics, like letting your network know you're looking for an opportunity. But this is the first and most passive step you can take. Again, if you want to stand out, you need to focus on what other people are doing.

If someone promised you to start a relationship, don't wait for it to happen, do it every week until it happens. When reaching out to people for career advice, make sure you reach out at least a few times before moving on to someone else. People are busy, so you have to put yourself first. If you had a good interview but haven't heard back after a week, don't ask for an update like everyone else - send an email telling them what you'll be doing in the first week of the interview. Show that you are up for the challenge, unlike other applicants waiting for a job.

There is a big reason why so many people pursue a career in technology over the years. They offer the most flexibility, the fewest formal education requirements, and are among the highest paying jobs in the world. But like any competitive industry, if you really want to stand out, you need to make your case and explain why others should give you a chance.


Ambition and drive are rewarded in the tech sector. The more you take advantage of opportunities that others fear, the closer you'll become to the type of person you've always admired and aspired to be.

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