TechHire Job Readiness Roadmap

One of the first steps in moving towards job readiness involves creating a strong, viable resume that you can use to apply to jobs with.

Instructions: Watch this resume workshop video and then use this Viable Resume Check List to guide your resume revision.  

Additional Resources:

Write an Incredible Resume: 5 Golden Rules   

General Interview Preparation

Use these Interview Guide and Practice General Interview Questions to prepare for your upcoming interview. Some other helpful resources are listed below:

• Top Interview Tips: Common Questions, Body Language, & More – Indeed
• How to Ace Your Job Interview Over Zoom – Proven Recruiting
• How to Prepare (& Ace) Your Digital Agency Interview – Seer Interactive

Feeling nervous? Here are 3 mindset tricks to help calm interview anxiety. Don’t forget to follow these Interview Follow Up Best Practices to ensure that you send a thank you within 24 hours of interviewing to increase your chances of success!

ESL Interview Preparation

If English is your second language, you might find these strategies or these communication tips helpful in finding more success in the interview process. You can also take ESL classes for free at San Diego Continuing Education.

Technical Interview Preparation

In addition to the first general screening interview, there is typically also a technical interview and in some cases, a longer technical exercise. To prepare for the technical interview, review these Practice Technical Interview Questions.

For the technical exercise, start with looking over this Proven Method to Technical Interviews article to develop your strategy. Then, practice actual timed exercises & review solutions with these websites (some require a sign up): 

• HackerRank – Programming, Data
• Leetcode – Programming
• Intervewing.io – Programming, Data, Product Management, Systems
• Pramp – Programming, Data, Product Management, Systems, Behavioral
• Google Coding Video Example
• Geeks for Geeks – Programming, Data
• Java Coding Interviews – Programming

Now that you have a resume that you can apply to jobs with, you’ll need to supplement it with a LinkedIn account. 90% of recruiters in San Diego use LinkedIn to find candidates for roles, and some won’t consider an application unless a resume has a LinkedIn.  

Watch our LinkedIn Workshop recording and reference this presentation to guide your profile revision, including how to highlight your new tech skills. If you are looking to optimize your profile and get noticed by recruiters, check out this video from Candor!

Additional Resources:

How to Make a Great LinkedIn Profile 

How to Use LinkedIn to Network – 5 Networking Tips

Portfolios are crucial in the application processes of many career paths. Here is a great resource to help you get started on building your portfolio.

• How to build an attractive digital marketing portfolio that gets you hired | Zest Blog

Expanding your professional network and connecting with tech professionals is an integral step in your job search. In a climate where there’s less than a 1% success rate for applicants who apply through job websites, you NEED to network in order to land your next opportunity.

Review this Networking for Job Seekers Master Class and connect with professionals in your field to ask for informational interviews from your companies of interest.

Also consider joining these online communities to connect with professionals and access mentorship, guidance, and job or volunteer opportunities: 

• Mentor Mesh Online Tech Community
• San Diego Tech Hub Community and Slack Channel 
• Start Up San Diego Community and Slack Channel
• San Diego JavaScript Community 
• San Diego Data Visualization Group
• San Diego Tableau Group
• San Diego Java User’s Group
• Amazing Design People List – free design mentors
• One Club for Creativity San Diego

Not all job search strategies are created equal! It might be far more useful to land an interview by developing 3 new LinkedIn connections than it is applying to 30 jobs on websites. As you finish you steps in this roadmap, set up a meeting with your TechHire program specialist to develop a job search plan with SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely) goals that make sense for you.

Check out this great resource:

• 9 Ways to Optimize Your Job Search – Proven Recruiting

The next step in moving towards job readiness is learning how to research the local labor market. Do you ever wonder how to identify key skills, technologies and industries that employ your desired occupation? These resources will help answer those questions and more.

Instructions: Watch the Labor Market Information Workshop recording and click here to read the step-by-step guide and get started on learning the industry.

Questions to consider:

1. In the EDD Labor Market tool, which industry stands out to you?  
2. In the EDD Labor Market tool, which industry were you not aware of that you are now considering?  
3. In the EDD Labor Market tool, once you find an industry that interests you, which employers do you envision yourself working for?  
4. In the O*NET Tool, which “Abilities” listed do you feel you have experience with? Furthermore, if asked about this ability in an interview- how would you answer?  
5. In the O*NET Tool, which “Work Activity” excites you the most?