Monday Guest Speaker Series: Developer Panel Edition
One of the key pillars of our program is helping students create a network of tech professionals to help them in their journey as they launch a new career. This summer we’ve partnered with Code Louisville to offer a Monday Guest Speaker Series to introduce program participants to others in the field and to expose them to new technologies.
On May 23, we hosted a pair of developers who spoke about their own very different journeys breaking into tech, advice for budding devs, and more. Demetric Simmons, a Systems Analyst for SD1 in Northern Kentucky, shared his transition into tech from a military career. He is a current Code Kentucky mentor and a recent bootcamp grad with plans of pursuing a MS in Geographic Information Systems Development. Our second panelist, Lydia M. Sites, has 19 years of experience in IT, most recently as an IT Project Manager with CBTS implementing infrastructure projects. She shared what it’s like being a woman of color in tech, how her roles have evolved throughout the years, and advice for those starting out.
We’ve hosted similar events in the past, and have been inspired to keep it going after coming across a steady stream of tech newcomers who arrive at training programs like Code Kentucky and Code Louisville armed with the same questions:
How do I get my first job in the tech industry?
How do I apply to tech jobs?
What sort of online presence should I have, and is networking really that important? (Spoiler alert: it is)
Lydia and Demetric addressed these questions - and many more! - for a packed Zoom of tech newbies eager for their big break. If you missed out on the panel, you can check out the recording here, but we wanted to share some highlights.
Forge your own path
Monica Remmy, our Northern Kentucky Employer Coordinator and emcee for the night, kicked things off by asking the panelists about their different roles and work experiences, including what they’ve done both as full time employees and contractors. Both panelists came from very different backgrounds, and were able to share insights into how they’ve navigated different roles, what it’s like to change jobs (including a horror story of moving countries to find out the job was not as it seemed), and what it means to be a contractor versus a full time employee. They agreed that each person is different, and you have to find the employment scenario and employer that matches best with your interest, skills, and expectations for workload.
“It’s great if you have a background you can incorporate coding into,” said Demetric, noting you can use past experience like customer service, communications, time management, etc. to bolster your new tech skills.
Lydia joked that she could barely use Powerpoint when she first moved into the tech industry, but that lots of self-learning and leaning on her mentors helped ease the transition and get her to where she is today.
And don’t get discouraged – it may take several languages or tech stacks before you find what really clicks for you.
“When I went to college, I started with Java and I didn’t like that at all,” said Demetric. “Regarding coding languages, there’s something for everybody. It just depends on what you want to do.”
After delving into Python learning, Demetric found a niche that worked well for him. He also encouraged finding what works best for the individual instead of just chasing what seems like a lucrative job.
“Tailor your interests to code instead of just chasing the money, because you’ll enjoy your work a lot more,” he said.
Standing out from the pack
At one point in her job search, Lydia noticed that her resume was holding her back from landing interviews. She went to a resume writing professional who helped her restructure things to be more enticing to employers hiring for the jobs she wanted. Code Kentucky employs a full time Technical Career Coach to help students fine-tune their resumes as they make the leap into tech. Our staff also helps conduct mock interviews, hosts workshops throughout the year focused on job hunting, and works hard to forge relationships with local and remote employers to position our students for jobs upon graduating from the program.
When job hunting, the panelists also encouraged students to manage their expectations and to find ways to pivot if their search isn’t giving results.
“Be realistic with what you can do,” said Demetric.
Those without formal tech experience and/or without a college degree usually aren’t starting in what turns out to be their dream job, but can use that job to climb the ladder to where they want to be in the future.
Making connections in the industry
Lydia noted that a solid network and a good reputation have allowed her to keep up a successful career, even during tough times.
“I waited way too long to network, and I have to be honest with you, I thought my career was over,” she said. “It’s really how you get the jobs.”
She encouraged students to “find their tribe” through Meetup events, or other in person and virtual events, and by using LinkedIn. One or two events a month can be a great starting point, especially if the events are targeted to groups that best fit your interests and needs. For Code Kentucky and Code Louisville students, we even have a #tech-events channel in Slack that’s updated weekly with great tech-focused events to check out.
Don’t wait until you’re desperate for a job to network – start now! Build the foundation so you’re prepared when you need it. Then when you land a job, you can stop networking, right? Wrong!
“On the job networking is huge,” said Lydia. “It’s a total ripple effect and I never underestimate staying in contact. One of my mentors always said, ‘If you stay ready you don’t have to get ready.’”
Oftentimes tech workers are also introverts, but being introverted and networking don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
“I do have to pump myself up to do it; it’s awkward networking,” said Lydia, a self-described introvert.
Her advice to folks in a similar situation is to know what you’re going to the event for, and to have an elevator pitch in mind to share.
Advice quick-hits:
Don’t assume you have a job until the paperwork is in your hands
Network early and often
Learn how to position yourself, and use the vocabulary employers are using in job descriptions on your resume
Employers are becoming less worried about gaps in experience; LinkedIn even added a way for you to explain time off, with caregiving as a reason.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Continue to find new ways to grow and learn throughout your career
If you’re a current Code Kentucky student, keep an eye on the #announcements channel in Slack for information on signing up for the upcoming Job Readiness Workshops. Our Technical Career Coach, August, will help you revamp your resume to make it more tech-friendly, create a LinkedIn profile that will get you noticed by recruiters and hiring managers, and learn interviewing techniques to help you land your first tech job. If you’re eager to get started now, reach out to him via Slack to set up a one on one consultation.
Visit codekentucky.org to find out more about how you can join the program as a student, mentor, or employer partner.
