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    Code Your Career: Staying Competitive in the Developer Job Market (VIDEO)

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    The world, especially within the tech industry, is changing faster than you realize. Many jobseekers are nervous about what these shifts mean for their future, as layoffs hit an all-time high in 2022 and business investments seem to be in flux. 

    So what do job candidates have to do in order to keep up with the hottest skills, languages, and trends in the industry? 

    Watch this on-demand webinar to hear experts discuss key findings from Hired’s 2023 State of Software Engineers report and share approaches to help you succeed in the developer job market. 

    You’ll hear from:

    Career Expert, TopResume, Amanda Augustine

    CTO, Hired, Dave Walters

    Engineering Manager, Greenhouse, Jeff Surrett

    Sr Software Engineer, Yum! Brands, Erik Andersen

    VP of Growth & Marketing, Educative, Steven Yi

    Read an excerpt of the conversation here and scroll down to access the full webinar. 

    How should software engineers prioritize which skills to learn in 2023? 

    Steven Yi

    There’s such a wide canvas of technologies out there and there’s demand for a lot of those in different scenarios. 

    If we start with enterprise, there’s a lot more interest there in the cloud, especially in regard to Amazon Web Services. The cloud is almost table stakes for most enterprises right now. There is also a lot of emphasis on back-end development specifically around APIs and integrating within existing systems and connecting front-ends to back-ends and things like that. 

    I also think there’s a lot more emphasis on more mature technologies. Examples include programming languages where you see more prevalence of Java and .NET. There are also more expectations around having data skills, specifically how to query and write sequel statements against relational databases (think Oracle and SQL Server). 

    If you’re targeting working at a smaller company or startup, I think the emphasis there is on having a more full stack experience — understanding both the front-end and the back-end. Front-end skills like React are certainly more important for those company sizes. For back-end skills, that transitions a bit more toward Go and Node.js in some of the newer programming languages and stacks out there. 

    And as far as the cloud, I think looking at this data is pretty interesting. Google Cloud Platform and Azure are more popular with smaller companies and startups, particularly because they’re easier to start up with. I think AWS has become a bit more complex over the years. 

    The last thing I would leave with this is to follow your interest and your passion to see what’s interesting to you. There are a variety of different niches out there. 

    Take mobile, for example. If you carved out a specialization on mobile development for Android, that means Kotlin. If you’re exclusively developing for Apple, that means Swift. Or cross platform development using a variety of different frameworks like Dart, Flutter, React Native, or Microsoft’s offerings like .NET, Xamarin, or .NET MAUI. 

    Data science and machine learning are exploding. That means Python or even the newer emerging technologies and programming languages like Rust. Or, go on the other end of the spectrum and go old school. 

    There are still niche offerings out there if you’re a Pascal developer with Delphi. I actually did a Google search this morning and several hundred companies are still hiring for COBOL.

    Related: Want to Ace Your Technical Interview? A Guide to Prepare Software Engineers 

    Watch the full collaborative panel discussion to learn how to: 

    Stand out as a top candidate in a crowded job market

    Efficiently and effectively prepare for behavioral and technical interviews

    Develop career plans to maximize growth and compensation opportunity  More

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      Want to Ace Your Technical Interview? A Guide to Prepare Software Engineers

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      Whether you’re early in your career or a seasoned full stack, back-end, or front-end engineer, technical interviews may be stressful if you feel unprepared. While the most important piece of these interviews is, of course, your technical skills, we have some strategies to help you put your best foot forward. 

      After all, going in with confidence and preparation is the best way to ease those nerves and let your skills shine through. So, what is it you’re getting yourself into? 

      Technical interviews put a (fun?) spin on the typical job search process. In many ways, they let you, as an engineer, do what you do best! Take them as your opportunity to “walk the walk” instead of just “talk the talk.” 

      We’ve collaborated with our partner Educative to bring you tips to level up your technical interview game.

      What this Technical Interview Guide for Full Stack, Front-end, and Back-end Engineers Covers

      1. How to prepare for technical interviews

      Technical interviews take many forms and are known by various names. We break them down. We also give you a multi-week plan to give you plenty of time to work through examples and study up using suggested resources.  

      2. What employers look for in technical interviews 

      We review some of the major concepts and skills interviewers assess specifically for front-end developers, back-end developers, and full stack developers.

      3. Common technical interview mistakes to avoid 

      After spending time reviewing what you should do, we warn you on what to avoid. Find the top three technical interview no-nos in this chapter. 

      4. Helpful resources 

      By this time, you’re well on your way to nailing your next technical interview. Use our compilation of links to more resources to continue studying with a narrower focus.

      5. After the interview

      In this section, we coach you through this post-interview phase, including how to use it to your advantage and other best practices. 

      Ready to download your comprehensive Technical Interview Guide? Here you go! More

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      FAQs from Jobseekers: Approaching the Technical Interview with Confidence (VIDEO)

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      Technical interviewing takes skill and is actually a skill in itself. In this AMA-style discussion (now on-demand!), experts helped jobseekers problem-solve their way to nailing their next technical interview. Keep reading for candid and actionable advice from the experts.

      You’ll hear from:

      Sophia Koehl, Partnerships, Hired

      Omkar Deshpande, Head of Technical Curriculum, Interview Kickstart

      Nate Becker, Candidate Experience, Hired

      Read the beginning of the conversation here and scroll down to access the full webinar. 

      What are the fundamentals of a technical interview? 

      Nate

      I think it’s important to note this is a multi step process. It’s not a one and done situation. I would read and reread the job description, do some research on the company, and review the fundamentals of your own technical specializations. For the more personal side, practice talking about your professional background. I recommend Interview Kickstart’s Technical Interview Checklist. 

      Consider the stages of the interview ahead of time. First, you have a phone screen, a sort of a “tell me about yourself and why are you applying.” Then, there’s usually a take-home assessment, which is preliminary and usually done through a test coding platform or a shared doc. From there, you’d have an on-site or in-person evaluation where your programming skills are assessed in real time by an interviewer. 

      If you are on the Hired platform, you could take advantage of assessments to showcase your skills to employers. A lot of the companies on our platform prioritize candidates who have taken these Hired assessments. Keep in mind that this doesn’t replace a coding interview and is more of a preliminary screen. 

      Omkar

      In an ideal coding interview, you are given a problem, or an unseen question. The interviewer wants to see whether you can design an algorithm or a recipe that correctly solves the given question by relying on fundamental computer science principles and problem solving strategies. Your solution also needs to run fast, take the least possible time, and use very little space.

      Once you have designed a correct and efficient algorithm, you have to implement it in the programming language of your choice with a high probability that the code would run correctly the first time you execute it. They’re testing your problem solving ability and your coding fluency. Both of these depend on knowledge of computer science fundamentals. That’s how I look at the structure of a coding interview. 

      Why is it worthwhile to spend more time on interview prep instead of jumping straight into applying and interviewing?

      Nate

      It would be to your advantage to consider the state of the market. Look at the time we’re in right now. This is a great time to take advantage of the downtime and prep. Take the time now to land an interview you really want. It may benefit your career in the long run to invest time and energy up front. When I say timeliness, I’m talking about the recent layoffs folks have been experiencing and the impact of that. Really consider if you have free time and do the prep work. We have a great eBook on layoffs and how to bounce back better than ever.

      Omkar

      The reality is that competition is high. People share frequently asked questions online on platforms like Leetcode. Everyone knows what questions are likely to be asked and they’re not easy to solve. Prep is necessary, otherwise you’re going to stumble on the spot. 

      There’s a misconception that interview prep is a waste of time because you basically have to memorize the solutions to those frequently asked problems. If you prep the right way, it’s an opportunity to relearn the fundamentals of computer science. Preparing properly increases your chances of getting multiple offers and thereby a significantly higher salary.

      When you start a new job, you have that confidence in yourself because you cracked the interview based on your understanding of computer science principles. You become a better engineer as a result of preparing in the right way.

      Other key topics from the conversation include: 

      Which programming language to use for a technical interview 

      How to create a study plan

      Technical interviews at FAANG companies vs smaller companies

      How to present your tech experience 

      And more!  More

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      How to Get Approved on Hired

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      Hired is a closed, curated marketplace that strives to create the best experience possible for jobseekers and hiring managers alike. In order to achieve this, our machine learning algorithm vets candidates and companies before they receive an invite to go live on Hired. 

      Candidates must have an in-demand skill set (meaning active Hired employers have open roles requiring those skills), ideally 2+ years of relevant experience, and a completed profile with a resume and/or LinkedIn URL included. Candidates must also display an intent to start interviewing right away.

      Companies must have a clear need to hire, and be willing to provide compensation and role details in the offers they make on our platform.

      In which locations can I find a job through Hired?

      Hired works with companies primarily in the US, UK, and Canada. Traditionally, we see our strongest presence both in terms of company and candidate volume in major tech hub cities. However, Hired now offers remote talent around the world. Provided candidates are open to remote work or the possibility of relocation while meeting our other criteria, they can go live to employers whoo source talent from all over the world. 

      What skill sets are companies looking for on Hired?

      Our primary focus is technical roles but we recently added some customer-facing positions, such as account executives and customer experience manager. Currently, open roles favor candidates with 2+ years of full-time experience in software engineering, product management, engineering management, data analytics/science, quality assurance, devops, design, and sales with a wide variety of specialties for each role. That said, we are constantly working with employers to scale their teams, so check this list periodically for additions.

      What type of roles does Hired support?

      Companies on Hired are looking to fill full-time/permanent and contract roles. These roles can be on-site, remote, or hybrid. Currently, we do not support internship, part-time, or C2C roles. 

      I am looking to begin my career in tech or transition into a technical role. Can Hired help me?

      Our companies are typically seeking jobseekers with 2+ years of full-time experience in a relevant role. As a result, Hired isn’t best suited for jobseekers fresh from a career transition or graduation. However, we partner with General Assembly and graduates of their software engineering and data science immersive programs can go live to our companies with less than 2 years of full-time experience. 

      I’m just interested in seeing what I’m worth. Is the Hired platform for me? 

      The Hired platform is meant for candidates who intend to start interviewing right away as the companies we support are looking to hire immediately. If you’re ready to start a new role within 30 days, we encourage you to create and submit your profile (for free!). If not, you are welcome to check out the Hired Salary Calculator to view offer salary data from others with similar skill-sets, specialties, and years of experience.

      Once approved, the platform promotes your profile to employers ‌for at least 2 weeks. When the platform detects a potentially good fit, the employer can request an interview and your job search progresses from there! More

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      Tech Candidate Spotlight – Manuel Cheta, Senior Software Engineer in the UK

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      Can you start by sharing a bit bit about your educational background? 

      After finishing Aerospace Engineering university courses I decided to go into the web development world instead. I am a self-taught Front-End Developer. I learned about HTML, CSS, Javascript after opening my first WordPress blog and learning how to modify the website and manage my hosting space as a webmaster. 

      Being self-taught, accessing Youtube videos and development blogs helped enormously. The biggest impact on my career was my decision to press on, inspect the websites, and see how they were built. 

      What would you like to learn more about?

      I recently became interested in psychology and how to help people work together to reach a common goal. In addition, I am interested in deepening my Front-End dev knowledge and connected areas like DevOps, Backend, cloud, and even AI.

      Of course, because I work in fintech, I am also interested in learning as much as I can about personal finance and investing.

      What led you to pursue a career in tech?

      I always had an interest in computers, ever since playing Prince of Persia on an Intel 286 PC in the 7th grade. Since then, I spent time learning how to install an operating system, how to debug programs, and how to help people set up their own computer or home network. 

      How has your skillset evolved over the course of your career?

      Each year, I start with the hopes of learning a lot. I do learn quite a lot and at the end of the year I feel more stupid than I felt at the start, so the cycle repeats. From learning regular HTML/CSS to working on full-scale single-page apps in various frameworks, I am always on the lookout for a better understanding of the basics and new stuff to learn.

      If you chose to specialize in one area, what was it and why?

      I specialise in Front-End and web accessibility. I love working in Front-End because it gets me as close to the user as possible. My open nature lends itself to creating code, which can be seen, read, and felt by the end user. I am also keenly interested in promoting web accessibility because I firmly believe that when you make your website accessible, you make everyone’s lives way better.

      Is your new role different from previous ones?

      This year, my focus was on fintech and as such, I worked in fintech. I call myself a nano-investor because I am just learning how to better invest my time and money. That was why I moved away from the e-commerce industry to fintech. 

      What are you most excited about in your new role or company?

      We’re starting a new project and I can have the biggest impact right now since my experience as a senior dev can bring in the most value in setting the direction of development. Having worked on many projects I can identify pain points and offer suggestions.

      What was your job search experience like before you joined Hired?

      When I was a junior dev, a number of years ago when sites like Hired didn’t exist, I would simply push my CVs to different platforms without any hope of actually getting a response. Now, Hired makes my life way easier because I can tailor my profile to the industry I am interested in and I receive interview requests only from the companies I would be genuinely interested in. 

      What’s your best advice for jobseekers on Hired? 

      Make sure to have a 1-2 page CV that’s not too long. Also, create a specific “keywords” section to help the automated system identify your domain of work. When setting your profile to “open for work,” make sure your short bio concisely explains what your interests are.

      Be sure to use the correct asking price for the role and industry you are in. In terms of the asking price, insert a specific number like 65,789 so you attract more inquisitive recruiter minds. 

      Related: Want More Interviews and Better Matches? 5 Key Tips!

      What would you tell someone who’s curious about Hired?

      Just sign up! Spend a bit of time writing the best descriptions you can in each section and make sure you indicate the specific industry you want to work in. 

      Any general advice you’d like to give other tech professionals?

      Spend time learning about the companies your are interviewing for and what their interview process is like. Being a good tech professional matters. However, companies are looking for people who are enthusiastic about their company and like to work with others. Therefore, soft skills are more highly rated than tech skills. Tech can be learned, but culture and caring for your colleagues is not an easily teachable and transferrable skill.

      Congrats on the job, Manuel! Interested in landing a great role in the UK like Manuel did? Complete your free profile on Hired today!

      About Compare The Market

      Compare The Market is a price comparison website and provides customers with an easy way to make the right choice on a wide range of products including motor, home, life and energy. Founded in 2005, Compare the Market has between 501-1,000 employees and is headquartered in London. In 2021, it made Hired’s List of Top Employers Winning Tech Talent.

      Tech Stack

      JavaScript, Node.js, MongoDB, AWS, C#, .NET, iOS, Android, Docker, Git, HTML, CSS, Scala, Java, Kafka, Kubernetes, Python, React, Redux, Big Data

      Benefits

      Life/disability insurance, work-from-home flexibility, volunteer time off, flexible working hours, employee discount programs, and more. More

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      Tech Candidate Spotlight – Robert Wells, Security Engineering Technical Leader in the UK

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      Please share a little bit about your educational background and which educational opportunities made the biggest impact on your tech career.

      I earned a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering with Computer Science from University of NSW in Sydney. This was one of the first universities to be on the internet, outside of the US! I also did a lot of self study.

      I make use of numerous online courses and certifications as well as *some* great resources on YouTube. Beware of YouTube because the S/N ratio can be quite low so Caveat Emptor! 

      What would you like to learn more about?

      I’d like to learn more about Site Reliability Engineering to become a more well-rounded DevOps Engineer. Additionally, I’m interested in Golang.

      I’d also like to explore ways to improve having difficult conversations, as well as how to lead and inspire others. 

      What led you to pursue a career in tech?

      I’ve enjoyed programming and tech since I was young. I’ve especially enjoyed teaching and helping others.

      I think I got it from my dad who started programming in the late 1950s. Having to explain binary arithmetic to my 4th class teacher when I was nine was a highlight!

      How has your skillset evolved over the course of your career?

      I started out using various languages at Uni. Then, in my career I saw the common aspects across languages, which made picking up new languages quite easy. 

      Working on a project for Qantas and BA introduced me to Continuous Integration before the term DevOps was coined. It also made me a firm believer in the approach so my skillset has evolved from being Dev focused to being DevOps/ARE focused.

      If you choose to specialize in one area, what was it and why?

      I have chosen to focus on DevOps/SRE to enable solutions providing high-quality feedback to developers in a timely manner. Quick, timely feedback massively improves a developer’s working experience and attitude. I can confirm this through my own personal experience!

      Is your new role different from previous ones?

      I have moved away from consulting (telling and showing companies how to do something) to actually designing and implementing for a company (being hands-on!).

      What are some of the things you’re most excited about in your new role or company?

      I’m looking forward to contributing to a company and product responsible for so much of the internet and its continued smooth operation. I’m excited to actually build and run things as opposed to telling people how to build and run things.

      What was your job search experience like before you joined Hired?

      A lot of roles were quite scattergun. They were not really suitable for a DevOps professional. Hired brought a lot more focus so all requests were more tailored to what I was looking for in my next role.

      What’s your best advice for job seekers registered on the Hired platform? 

      Keep your resume up-to-date. Use tools like Calendly to advertise open time slots for your availability to have chats. 

      Accept requests for interviews even though you may initially think the role is not quite what you are looking for. You never know where you may actually end up after your initial chat with HR.

      Hired is a great platform to connect tech talent to high-quality companies. I highly recommend it!

      Any general advice you’d like to give other tech professionals?

      Never stop learning. The day you stop learning is the day you start dying! There are great online courses through Udemy, and other various suppliers such as AWS, Hashicorp, etc. I also recommend *some* tech channels on YouTube. TechWorld with Nana has a very high S/N ratio, and there are many channels from suppliers and conferences.

      Congrats on the job, Robert! Interested in landing a great role in the UK like Robert did? Complete your free profile on Hired today!

      About Cisco

      Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create the Internet solutions that make networks possible. Founded in 1984, Cisco has 5,001+ employees and is headquartered in San Jose.

      Tech Stack

      Python, Spark, Javascript, React, AWS, Kubernetes, Java, Go, Docker, Microservices, Kafka, iOS, Android, Kotlin, Kibana, Datadog, Terraform

      Benefits

      Health/dental/vision/life/disability insurance, 401k plan/matching, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, stock options, employee discount programs, job training, and more. More

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      Tech Candidate Spotlight – Fred Campbell, Software Engineer in the UK

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      Can you share a little bit about your educational background?

      I earned a traditional degree in Experimental Psychology. I later trained in my late twenties as a Software Engineer through Makers Academy bootcamp.

      It was great and I learned a lot from this practical, hands-on experience. Joining a small startup after that provided a lot of educational benefits. I was able to try my hand in lots of different areas.

      What would you like to learn more about?

      Tech related: I’d like to skill up as a front-end developer. I only have back-end experience so far and feel I’m missing out a bit! Non-tech related: Gardening as ours is a mess!

      What led you to pursue a career in tech?

      I previously coded HTML sites in Notepad in the early 2000s and drifted away from it. I felt dissatisfied with my career in Education many years later. 

      I then decided to take up coding again since I enjoyed it so much. Needless to say, things have changed since the turn of the millennium!

      How has your skillset evolved over the course of your career?

      Developing soft skills has been important alongside technical skills. Good listening and communication skills are so crucial but often overlooked in favour of blunt technical output. Working to become a well-rounded developer rather than just technically proficient is essential.

      If you choose to specialize in one area, what was it and why?

      I ended up moving into back-end through circumstance rather than choice. However, I’ve always had an interest in design and would like to pivot more into front-end if I have the opportunity.

      Is your new role different from previous ones? 

      It’s in a very different industry. I’m moving from fintech into hospitality. Sometimes it can feel daunting dropping all that domain knowledge and ‘starting again’ within a new industry.

      What are some of the things you’re most excited about in your new role or company?

      A highly-skilled and friendly team, a great product with clear direction, and a collaborative working environment. I am also looking forward to learning new technologies I have not worked with previously.

      What was your job search experience like before you joined Hired?

      I spoke to a few recruiters but nothing felt particularly targeted and nothing fit my overall experience level. I found the process much more frustrating than it needed to be. There was so much noise and it was hard to find a good match.

      What’s your best advice for job seekers registered on the Hired platform? 

      Be responsive and get back to recruiters regardless of whether the job is one you’re interested in. When you do find something that seems to be a good fit, it’s important to be clear about what you’re looking for and the skill set you can provide.

      What would you tell someone who’s curious about Hired?

      Go for it! The process was so smooth and straightforward, and the companies on the platform are very high quality.

      Any general advice you’d like to give other tech professionals?

      Take a break from your screen every once in a while. Don’t work into the evening. Focus on developing core tech skills rather than chasing the latest trends.

      Congrats on the job, Fred! Interested in landing a great role in the UK like Fred did? Complete your free profile on Hired today!

      About Triptease

      Triptease is a SaaS startup building software to help the hotel industry increase their direct bookings. Their industry-leading products bring the right guests straight to the right hotel so they can get the best price direct. Founded in 2013, Triptease has 51-200 employees and is headquartered in London.

      Tech Stack

      TypeScript, Node.JS, Python, HTML, CSS, React, Redux, Jest, Google Cloud Platform, Docker, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, Redis, Airflow, Jupyter, Continuous Deployment, CircleCI, Test Driven Development (TDD), Pair Programming, Looker, BigQuery, Behavior-driven Development (BDD)

      Benefits

      Stock options, paid time off, maternity/paternity benefits, tuition reimbursement, career growth, diversity program, job training, and more. More

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      Common FAQs from Jobseekers: The Importance of Upskilling for Tech Talent (VIDEO)

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      In the current tech talent pool, candidates are searching for ways to upskill for that competitive edge. Upskilling is the process of continuous learning and an excellent way to stand out as a candidate. But with all the resources available, where do you start?

      Hint: with this blog! 

      We shared answers to common questions about upskilling in our AMA-style discussion (now on-demand!). Keep reading for an inside look into what the experts had to say. 

      You’ll hear from these Hired team members:

      Sophia Koehl, Partnerships

      Simon Mackie, Publishing Manager, SitePoint 

      Nate Becker, Candidate Experience

      Read the beginning of the conversation here and scroll down to access the full webinar. 

      How does upskilling apply to my career path?

      Nate

      Your field is always growing. It’s always changing and evolving. In your role and your company, there might always be new opportunities and if you look at your own role you can look at where it is now versus where it was when you started. You can get an idea that companies want you to specialize your skills and employers are always specialized in your role. You can see the importance of it even looking at your growth in your one role. 

      On Hired, employers put these skills directly in the job descriptions. On your candidate profile, you’re going to put these skills directly on there and that’s how we match you – according to this tech stack and these hard skills. It’s important in how you get matched and how you get seen. 

      Simon

      One of the great things about tech careers as a whole is you don’t necessarily need to go back to school to improve your skills, to upskill, or to transition roles. Once you’ve mastered those programming skills, development skills, and engineering skills, you can then shift your focus to look at learning frameworks and libraries, and keep moving on a path forward.

      When you’re looking at a career path as a whole, you definitely need to be upskilling to reach the end goal. Upskilling tends to involve projects. When you’re looking at the projects you’ll be working on, you need to identify the skills you need to be learning for your employer to achieve those project goals. Working on those projects is a great way to learn new skills and learn what you’re interested in to see where your career path could go in the future. 

      People in tech have a bunch of different skills they need to learn at different times. You could be a developer who needs to learn some Scrum skills. In the future, if you’re interested, it could lead to a career as a Scrum master or a product owner in Scrum. Upskilling is vital to you figuring out how you navigate your career path going forward. 

      Sophia

      I like what you said: you might just figure out what you’re interested in. That’s an important call out, especially in a tech role where the career path might not be as linear as another domain. You need to be in tune with your interests and when you upskill and you experience new skills, you might find something that you really like. That might help you carve out your career path. Hired partners with organizations like SitePoint, that provide workshops and upskilling opportunities. There are a lot of organizations out there wanting to support you through this. 

      Other key topics from the conversation include: 

      Upskilling vs reskilling

      Why now is a good time to upskill

      How to ask your company for upskilling opportunities  

      The best technical skills to upskill for 

      And more! 

      An inside look into SitePoint’s toolkit

      What technical skills should I upskill for? 

      Simon’s picks:

      There is so much to learn. How do I prioritize which skills to learn? 

      Simon’s picks include developer surveys like: More

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      Thinking About a Career Transition? General Assembly’s 4 Immersive Tech Programs to Help You Pivot

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      Have you ever considered a career change? Perhaps, you’ve daydreamed about making a transition into a field entirely different from what you do now. 

      The idea is not so far out of reach and making a bold shift in profession is more common than you may think. Last year, nearly 53% of employed Americans who quit their job switched to a different occupation or field of work. 

      If you are ready to take a leap into tech but feel unprepared, General Assembly specializes in equipping professionals with the in-demand skills they need to pursue a job they truly love. Your career transformation starts here. Keep reading for insights into programs to help you pivot into Software Engineering, Data Science/Analytics, or UI/UX Design. 

      What is General Assembly?

      General Assembly (GA) is a reskilling provider helping professionals at any experience level transition to or upskill in technical roles, enabling them to pursue a path toward higher paying salaries and more engaging work. 

      GA is a sister company of Hired, meaning both companies fall under The Adecco Group – the world’s leading HR solutions company. General Assembly and Hired partnered to create a mutually beneficial relationship supporting graduates of the Immersive Programs and the clients looking to hire them. Since the start of GA and Hired’s partnership, employers on Hired have sent more than 800 interview requests to GA grads.

      GA offers courses to suit the needs of any schedule. The full-time courses, referred to as the “Immersive Programs” or “bootcamps,” are 10-13 week learning experiences. Think of these as a comprehensive career transformation. For part-time professionals looking to learn in-demand skills in their spare time, GA provides evening, weekend, and 1-week accelerated courses. Remote individuals can participate in GA’s full-time and part-time online classes. 

      In this blog, we will take a deeper dive into GA’s Immersive Programs. Since 2011, the digital education pioneer has helped more than 670,000 learners gain the skills they need to be successful in today’s digital economy. It’s safe to say you’d be in good company!

      About GA Immersive Programs 

      General Assembly’s 12-week Immersive programs, built and taught by industry experts, are designed to equip students with job-ready tech skills in UX Design, Software Engineering, and Data. All Immersive programs include career coaching for extra guidance and support. Participants also have access to the expansive alumni network for opportunities to build and grow their own professional networking circles.  

      Now, let’s dig into why thousands of students trust General Assembly and Hired to help them make their next big career move. We’ll explore what students can expect from the different Immersive programs and how Hired supports students in finding their dream job.

      Why should jobseekers participate in a GA program?

      Immersive Programs are a great way to show employers you’ve got what it takes. These programs condense comprehensive learning into 12 to 24 weeks of study. Each course costs $15,950 USD with financing options available. 

      While they are a bigger investment, they take less time than traditional degree programs and come at a lesser cost. They are more hands-on than what you would have access to in school and have the outcomes and career support to help career changers land their first jobs in tech. 

      To ensure job-readiness, GA has systems in place to enroll students who are 100% committed to the challenge of transitioning their careers into the tech sector. The admissions process is thorough as GA produces the most graduates that go to household name tech companies. Although somewhat competitive, GA encourages applicants from non-traditional backgrounds and experiences. The admissions process includes:

      Phone Interview: Once your application is reviewed, the admissions team will interview you to understand your career goals and motivations, and assess course fit.Technical Assessment: You will complete a technical task-based assessment to ensure aptitude. Behavioral Interview: The admissions producer will review your technical project and interview you to further assess your motivation, commitment, and willingness to practice. Pre-Work Assignment: You will receive a pre-work assignment to ensure you are prepared for the Immersive course you choose. 

      All Immersives include:

      Exploration into new concepts and tools through expert-led lectures and discussions.A deep dive into topics and techniques via independent, pair, and group projectsIndividualized feedback and support from your expert instructional team.The opportunity to apply what you’ve learned to homework assignments and unit projects, building out a professional portfolio to show off job-ready skills.

      Let’s review General Assembly’s four Immersive Programs: Software Engineering, Data Analytics, Data Science, and UI/UX Design. 

      The Software Engineering Immersive

      Get a solid base of fundamental programming and computer science knowledge, as well as experience with languages, frameworks, and libraries employers demand.

      Throughout the course you’ll learn to: 

      Explore programming and computer science fundamentals, as well as software engineering best practices.  Create a front-end web application with modern JavaScript frameworks such as Angular or React. Develop and deploy full-stack applications with in-demand technologies such as Ruby on Rails, Python with Django, and Express with Node.js. Build secure full-stack applications by leveraging common design and architectural patterns like model–view–controller (MVC) and Representational State Transfer (REST). Practice version control and collaborative software development with Git and GitHub.Safely model and store data in SQL and NoSQL databases. Consume and integrate third-party application programming interfaces (APIs) in an application. 

      Curious about the student experience? Hear from a General Assembly grad who soon landed a role using Hired after completing the Software Engineering Immersive: 

      “GA was a chance to make a career change. Although [the course] was a lot to take on, it allowed me to learn so much in a short time frame. [GA] really helped prepare me for my current position, giving me the confidence to learn quickly and efficiently.” 

      As for the job search, “Hired was very easy to navigate and use. I particularly enjoyed how it alleviated the grind of sending out many applications. I could see my profile getting views and soon I was invited to interview for several companies… Hired gave us the platform to communicate and made the experience so simple. This process was also relatively quick for me — I got a job offer within two months of finishing the course!”

      The Data Science & Data Analytics Immersives

      Be poised to succeed in a variety of data science and advanced analytics roles, creating predictive models that drive decision-making and strategy throughout organizations of all kinds.

      Throughout the courses you’ll learn to: 

      Collect, extract, query, clean, and aggregate data for analysis. Gather, store and organize data using SQL and Git. Perform visual and statistical analysis on data using Python and its associated libraries and tools. Craft and share compelling narratives through data visualization. Build and implement appropriate machine learning models and algorithms to evaluate data science problems spanning finance, public policy, and more.Compile clear stakeholder reports to communicate the nuances of your analyses. Apply question, modeling, and validation problem-solving processes to data sets from various industries to provide insight into real-world problems and solutions. 

      The UI/UX Design Immersive

      Learn to approach problems with creative and technical acumen and design the next generation of successful apps, websites, and digital products.

      Throughout the course you’ll learn to: 

      Identify and implement the most effective methods of user research to gain a deeper understanding of what users want and need. Use interaction and visual design techniques to craft a dynamic digital product that brings delight and function to users. Conduct usability testing to make product experiences more accessible for diverse user populations and environments. Learn best practices for working within a product team, employing product management techniques and evaluating technical constraints to better collaborate with developers. Produce polished design documentation, including wireframes and prototypes, to articulate design decisions to clients and stakeholders. Touch on the basics of hot topics like service design, design operations, and design leadership. Engage in real client work to execute the UX design process from start to finish with sketches, user research, and prototypes.

      Where does Hired come in? 

      Simplifying the sourcing process

      When a graduate finishes the program, Hired and General Assembly have a specific process to connect companies with talent in the respective Immersive sectors. Here is insight from Outcomes Partnerships Manager, Lupe Colangelo, on the process:

      “When a student is close to graduating, their Career Coach outlines the Hired platform to the class and shares the signup process using materials GA and Hired have collaborated on to make the process easy!

      GA and Hired have created onboarding materials to make the signup process seamless for students. We communicate closely when students have questions and have held quarterly Ask Me Anythings where we walk through the Hired platform and have the Hired team join to answer student questions live.

      We recommend that all of our graduates sign up for Hired so they can take advantage of the platform and showcase their skills in this way.”

      Connecting employers to non-traditional talent

      At Hired, we encourage organizations on our platform to search for and connect with General Assembly graduates. Employers can do this easily by searching, “General Assembly Immersive” in the keyword search. GA students get interview requests from top organizations and these employers take advantage of focusing on skills-based hiring and diversifying their teams with non-traditional talent.

      Caroline Sequeira, HR Coordinator from OpenAsset was impressed by high-quality candidates with unconventional backgrounds:

      “I was blown away by how prepared Nell was overall. Because she comes from a non-traditional background as a former nurse, I was very impressed with her ability to walk me through some of her projects she worked on at GA, the way she talked about different technical skills that she learned at GA and how she used them in her projects. Overall I was impressed by her ability to incorporate her skills and experience in the healthcare industry into being a successful Support Engineer on our team at OpenAsset.

      She came prepared to discuss her background and did a great job talking about her experience as a nurse and her experience at GA, and how both of those experiences have led her to where she is today.

      Nell has been an absolute pleasure to work with and we are very happy to have her. For future opportunities, it is a no brainer I will be reaching out to GA grads on Hired. I really enjoy using the Hired platform – it’s straightforward, organized, and sends reminders for scheduling interviews. Plus, there are definitely a lot of highly intentional candidates on the platform – just like Nell!”

      Empowering companies to build their teams

      Marc Fischer, CEO of Dogtown Media, and General Assembly go way back. He considers access to General Assembly grads on Hired a fundamental part of building his business: 

      “General Assembly has been a fantastic partner since the early days of founding our mobile tech studio, Dogtown Media. In fact our first UX design hire was a graduate of GA’s first ever UX Immersive cohort. We’ve found GA’s emphasis on training UX designers, product, and engineering talent to address real world problems via user-centric technology has been a huge contributor to our team’s success in the mobile app development space. Whenever we have talent needs, our partners at Hired and GA have been there to support us and I’d recommend them to any company looking to supercharge their growth.”  

      Ready to make your career transition?

      As an Immersive student, you’ll receive dedicated support from career coaches who will help you set goals, make a roadmap for success, and stay on track with your job search.

      With a GA course, you’ll:

      Get an inside look at the industry through day-in-the-life talks, hiring panel discussions, guest speakers, and more.Cultivate a competitive candidate mindset, learning to assess your skill set against job descriptions, track progress, and recognize opportunities.Develop your professional brand: Polish your online and in-person presence, and build confidence to set yourself apart in interviews.Tap into an exclusive global network of experts, influencers, and peers, plus learn strategies for leveraging your existing connections, in person and online.Become an active contributor to the General Assembly alumni community.After graduation, you’ll also gain access to resources to help fuel a lifetime of learning. Dive into new topics or continue honing your new skills with discounts on a suite of tools, passes, and packages to premier events, and more.

      Regardless of where you are in your career right now, this is your reminder that it’s not too late to make a change to do the work you love. The Hired and General Assembly partnership was designed to guide professionals like you toward their dream job.

      See a GA Immersive Program you’re interested in? Get more information and see if you’re eligible for a discount. More