(Photo Credit @katekalvach)
April 29, 2022
Job Search Strategy, Pivoting into Tech
(Photo Credit @aaronburden)
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I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this ‘Pivoting into Tech’ series as much as I’ve enjoyed sharing it with you. Over the past few days, we’ve focused on setting goals, making space, and managing your current job. Much of that was focused inward, on prepping yourself and your loved ones for an impending change. Today we will direct our energy outwards and instead focus on how and why it’s important to speak to people who work in the tech industry very early in your search process.
Start with people you know & trust
Try and learn from trusted connections about the new industry you want to move into. While it’s also very important to do your ‘book learning’ to gather info about an industry, you also want to hear about an industry directly from the people working in it.
They can tell you what is overhyped in the media, and what is spot-on. They can share tips on what to highlight in your resume and on how to get in the door at specific companies. These initial connectors are often a treasure trove of information and you should treat them as important resources. And because you know and trust them, the barrier to starting your outreach is much lower (especially for those who are not big fans of networking).
Make sure to stay in touch with these initial helpers throughout your search (as they are the ones most often to be forgotten after one call).
Identify 3 friends/connections who work in tech
The rule of 3 appears in many places (including survivalist training and writing principles). And so I’m applying it here in networking too.
Start with 3 people. That’s all. It’s a nice small number that gives you a varied enough perspective on tech, but isn’t an overwhelming task to speak to ‘everyone you know’ in tech.
Look for people who are in roles and companies you are considering. Try to aim for connections who are at or just above the level you are seeking, as their information will likely be the most relevant.
Widen your circle of contacts
Don’t have those 3 connections, or want to broaden your tech network? Think about how you can leverage your current network to make introductions on your behalf to those who do work in tech. Try to find others who share common interests besides tech as it will help you overcome the cold of an initial outreach.
LinkedIn is an amazing discovery tool to help you find people. Did you know that you can use the filters to search specifically among the connections of one of your connections? It’s incredibly useful to use if you have that one friend who knows everyone (but can’t pluck names out of thin air).
You can also use filters or keyword searches to search for potential connections who share the following: fellow college alumni; past company colleagues; live in your area; share hobbies or interests; have the same country of origin, etc.
Ask for their guidance
When drafting a good tech networking email, it should start with who you are & your connection to the recipient. You should let them know why you reached out to them specifically, not just a generic message you cut/paste to everyone. And it should include a few open time blocks or a scheduling link to help make it as easy as possible for someone to decide to give you time.
Reach out to tell them you’re considering a move into tech and would appreciate their advice on how to get started. Maybe they made the same move you did? Maybe they work in the area you are fascinated with?
Schedule informational interviews to learn why they work in tech, what you need to know about company cultures/operating styles, and the skills needed for your target role(s). Make sure to write up questions in advance and order/prioritize the list. We’ll use the information you’ve gathered to help develop your specific tech career search strategy.
At the end of every call, ask if they have 1 person they can connect you with to learn more about tech. And then make sure to follow up with that person!
Keep track of your networking!
This is the number one thing that many job seekers underestimate in importance. Tech recruiters are ridiculously busy & overworked these days - and most don’t have time to network. Instead, you want to engage with people in the functional roles you are considering.
Your network is vitally important to your success in getting your resume reviewed! And so it’s also important to keep track of your success with networking outreach.
Check out this post for a great personal CRM tool to use! And then keep track of your networking stats/ratios. You want to know how many cold emails you’ve sent, how many converted to conversations, and in future, how many offered to make referrals. Tracking these stats will help you determine what to tweak in your networking approach as well as mitigate rejection frustration when some don’t respond.
Learning from people who work in the industry is a really important step that many career changers skip. I often hear job seekers say they don’t want to ask dumb questions, so they opt to go straight for resume editing. If you approach it in the right way, informational interviewing can provide incredibly valuable insights that will help you better target your search and help you grow the relationships that will help you succeed in your new company/role.
