In the age of artificial intelligence and layoffs, how should you approach your tech job search?
Know yourself.
Grow yourself.
Show yourself.
Glow yourself. (Couldn’t think of anything better that rhymed)
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Step 1: Know yourself.
Are you confident in who you are as a person? Do you know yourself deeply?
The more you focus on the world outside of yourself, the less confident you will be. The more you focus on your inner world, the more confident you will be.
Spend time with yourself. Cultivate your humanness. Sharpen your natural intelligence. Spend time on hobbies. Build deep relationships. Find an artistic outlet. Do more of what makes you happy. Have more fun. Dive deep into what makes you unique.
Differentiate yourself by being yourself. Only you are you.
Step 2: Grow yourself.
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Try new things. But don’t overdo it. Direct your focus. Too often I see people seeking their first or next job focusing on the wrong areas or juggling too many things at once.
For example, let’s say you’re building a personal project. Don't focus too much on the tech stack thinking that a company will hire you because you deployed your web app on native AWS instead of Vercel. Focus on solving a problem. Creating value with software is far more impressive than having experience with a certain technology.
The tools will always change, but ultimately we are problem solvers. Demonstrate that you can solve problems, even if those problems are your own. You are a user base of one. That's better than creating for a user base of none.
Step 3: Show yourself.
Marketing skills will be increasingly important. LinkedIn allows you to connect with people from around the world, in any company, and in any line of work. Use your LinkedIn to create your unique personal brand. If you have interesting bits about yourself on other parts of the internet, advertise those parts of you on your LinkedIn.
People are absolutely being hired based on their online identity. The hiring and interviewing process is very human-oriented and, whether we like to admit it or not, many personal biases come into play.
Suppose you're passionate about music. You never know who will be reviewing applications, or who will be on the other side of the interview. Maybe they also love music. You can't predict which criteria the interviewer will prioritize. A genuine human connection goes a long way.
Step 4: Glow yourself.
Next time you doubt yourself, just remember that this platform, and all platforms, are full of people talking loudly and confidently. It's all marketing. The more confidently and loudly you express your unique voice, the better your chances of resonating with potential employers.