Making a Career Transition into the D.C. Tech Scene
Interested in becoming a developer, designer, or technologist in DC? Here are some tips to get you started.
1. Think About What You’re Interested In
If you’re interested in transitioning to tech, it’s important to understand that “tech” is a huge umbrella term. The technology field includes things like web development, database management, user experience design, product management, and many other fields. To begin a career in tech, it’s important to think about what you’re interested in.
First, think about your working style. Do you like working on big or small teams? Do you think more programmatically or big picture? Are you interested in working in healthcare, government, or nonprofit sectors? Do you prefer working by yourself or with a team? These questions will help you identify companies or industries you may want to work in.
Second, think about the type of work you like doing. Do you like coding? Do you like sketching and digitizing your ideas? Do you like interviewing and talking to people? Do you like figuring out and understanding the back end of computer systems? Are you constantly reading up on new technology trends? These questions will help you figure out the types of jobs you can apply for.
Asking yourself these questions will help you identify some of your personal interests, which will help you get a better understanding of what jobs to look for. Remember, you don’t have to have everything figured out. It will help you to have an idea of your goals and interests, but know that your thoughts may change as you learn more about the field and opportunities available.
2. Research Job Titles and Descriptions
Once you’ve figured out what interests you, begin researching the types of jobs that are currently out there. You can look on websites like Indeed.com and LinkedIn Jobs to get an idea for the types of tech jobs that are in demand. This will help you get a better understanding of the specific skills you need to get different types of jobs in tech.
Search for keywords that you’re interested in such as: designer, front-end developer, back-end developer, full stack engineer, systems administrator, database manager, etc. Pay attention to the job descriptions, responsibilities, and skills associated with each job title. Do you have experience with some of the skills or responsibilities listed? If not, think about learning some new skills so you can better qualify for the jobs you’re interested in. Don’t worry, you do not need to meet every single requirement listed on job openings, but it will always help you to continue learning new skills.
3. Get Involved in Meetup Groups and Organizations
Now that you understand the types of jobs that exist and the responsibilities associated with them, get involved in your local tech community. In the Washington D.C. Metro Area, we have a thriving community of technologists that encompass the wide ranging field of information technology. The D.C. tech scene has also been voted the best place for women in tech for three years consecutively, so definitely take advantage of the incredible community around you.
Here are some organizations to get involved in:
- Women Who Code DC: join their Slack channel for amazing resources, community inspiration, and local job listings
- DC Tech Meetup: meet other technologists in the area and watch demos of new tools from different companies
- Hear Me Code: join this community of women interested in learning Python
- ColorCoded: meet other technologists, learn new skills, and take care of your mental, physical, and emotional health
- CodeNewbie DC: if you’re a beginner learning to code, join this organization for practical exercises and help with coding. Check out their Mentor Mondays!
- Code for DC: use your coding skills to work on open source projects that can benefit your community
- DesignThinking DC: learn about design thinking techniques and apply them across various industries
- User Experience Professionals Association (UXPA): meet other UX professionals and attend events about UX design and research
- AIGA DC: meet and learn from other designers of all experience levels
4. Develop a Network
Studies have shown that anywhere from 70–85% of jobs are filled by networking, and not by cold applications through job websites. This is why joining a community and developing a network will be critical to your success.
Once you get involved in the community, begin to make strong connections with other technologists. Ask people to connect on LinkedIn or get their business cards, and follow up after you’ve met them. Ask to conduct informal informational interviews on the phone or in person, and get a better understanding of how other professionals got to where they are.
Furthermore, try to find a mentor that would be willing to advise and help you through your career transition. Having a mentor will greatly help you in your career, as they can provide valuable advice from their own experiences. A good mentor is someone you can talk to when you’re stuck on a personal project, facing a challenge at work, want to make new connections, or need to practice an interview with. It’s important that you feel comfortable with your mentor, and that you both respect each other as professionals.
If you’ve decided you want to be a front-end developer, start talking regularly with other front-end developers, and try to create a formal or informal mentorship with a developer you’ve connected with. Try to set up a regular time to meet or check-in with them, and be mindful of each person’s time commitments. Many of the organizations listed above have formal and informal mentorship programs you can tap into.
5. Learn New Skills and Build Your Resume
Once you begin applying for jobs, you will have to submit your resume and portfolio, and testify for your skill set. If you don’t have any tech related experience yet, don’t worry! Your soft skills are transferrable, and you can increase your value by learning skills that can apply to the jobs you’re interested in. There are a lot of free and reasonably priced resources that can help you learn new tech skills:
- General Assembly: take in-person classes and workshops to advance your skills, and meet other students and teachers
- FreeCodeCamp: complete challenges and learn how to code, then use your coding skills to help non-profits
- Lynda.com: get a free membership through DC libraries using your DC / VA / MD library card, and learn about design, coding, and many other topics
- Udacity: enroll in free courses and nanodegree programs for topics in tech
- Udemy: take affordably priced classes covering topics inside and outside of tech
- CodeSchool: learn to code in various languages through interactive exercises. Look out for their free classes and free weekends!
- Springboard: enroll in online classes covering topics like UX design, data science, and web development
For your portfolio, think about putting in real examples of work you’ve completed. If you want to become a user experience designer, think about creating a mock product, document your UX process from start to finish, and tell the story of your methods. Look to this resource for tips on how to create your first UX portfolio. If you want to become a developer, build a tool that showcases the languages you can code in, and utilize Github to show off your coding skills and the projects you’ve work on. For some examples of projects people have worked on, take a look at General Assembly’s student projects gallery.
Additionally, becoming involved in any of the above organizations is absolutely worthy of including on your resume. Contributing to certain projects can help you add work to your portfolio, and it’ll give you something to talk about during interviews.
6. Apply for Jobs
After doing all of the above, you will be equipped with all the necessary skills, network, and confidence to succeed in the workforce. Now get yourself out on the market and start applying for jobs! Some jobs may give you test prompts for coding or designing, and these will be good practice for improving your skill set.
Additionally, always think about ways in which your current job skills or other soft skills can be used to your advantage in tech. If you currently work in a job where you’re constantly speaking to people, talk about your communication and interpersonal skills when applying for jobs. It’s important to remember that you can add value to any team in your own unique way, and all of your current skills can definitely help you in your career in tech.
7. Take Care of Yourself and Succeed!
Just because you may not have a background in tech, do not be discouraged. The D.C. tech community is full of self-taught coders and designers, which means you absolutely can learn these skills outside of a traditional learning environment. It takes patience, diligence, and time, but it is definitely all worth it. While you’re learning new skills, meeting new people, and shifting careers, remember to take time for yourself. There is only so much an individual can do in a certain amount of time, so try not to become overwhelmed with all of it. Take time to do the things you enjoy, and you will feel recharged when you begin job searching and resume building.
Now go forth and meet new people, learn new skills, enter into the world of tech, and recognize your talent. You have your own interests and skill set, and you have the ability to contribute to any team. Do not get discouraged, take care of yourself, and get excited for your future. Good luck!
