Tech Careers

What You Need to Do to Ride the Storm Out Along with social distancing, mask-wearing, and hand-washing, making your career recession-proof is an essential element of protecting yourself during these uncertain times. Even before the pandemic, many economists saw a recession looming right around the corner. Now, aided by COVID-19, the recession has arrived with a vengeance, with the economy shedding millions of jobs a week, countless companies shutting their doors, and whole industries undergoing dramatic changes in the way they do business. Individuals in the IT industry are not immune from this economic fallout, even those who have yet to face furloughs or downsizing. But just as tech companies plan ahead for uncharted waters, so too should tech professionals. Planning means taking proactive, creative, and sometimes uncomfortable steps that can help you ride this storm out as well as any others the future may bring. Here are four things tech workers can do to make their IT career recession-proof the proper way. 1. Raise Your Profile to Keep Your Tech Career Recession-Proof Even if you consider yourself something of an introvert, as many IT folks do, now is not the time to keep to yourself. Instead, make this the time to build connections, increase your networking activity, and expand your circle of professional relationships. Engage with colleagues both within and outside of your current organization, either directly or through social media. Contribute to conversations and dialogue about relevant topics and issues. Participate in webinars and other professional education programs, including acting as a panelist, speaker, or presenter yourself. Make sure your LinkedIn profile and other aspects of your online presence put you in the best light and contain the most up-to-date information about your career and achievements. 2. Make Yourself Uncomfortable When things are going swimmingly, it’s understandable to want to stay in your comfort zone. Why rock the boat? But when the sailing becomes rough and you find yourself and your career battered by strong economic headwinds, getting out of your comfort zone may be the thing that keeps you afloat. (My apologies if all those sailing metaphors made you queasy.) Going outside your comfort zone can mean many things. You can expand your skill sets and explore opportunities that you may not have considered under normal circumstances. If you are out of work, use that found time to stay abreast of the latest developments in technology and the industry. Even outside of the professional context, trying bold, new activities that push and test you can give you the confidence to do the same in your career. 3. Be Agile and Open to Change People tend to be creatures of habit, even in the always-changing world of IT. But now the world itself has changed in ways that seemed almost unimaginable just a short time ago. You need to recognize that the way you’ve done things, the way all of your training and experience told you how to do your job, may not make as much sense anymore Tech companies are rapidly redefining roles and responsibilities. You need to understand what drives these changes and educate yourself as to the direction the industry is heading to keep your career recession-proof. That means building yourself a business mindset, alongside your well-developed technical one. Stay up to date on industry news and get a sense of the big picture that frames your corner of the IT world. 4. Be Ready for New Opportunities that Can Make Your Career Recession-Proof If you are fortunate enough to still be working at the IT position you had before the pandemic struck, you could just count your blessings, keep your head down, and do your job. But doing that will leave you vulnerable and unprepared if and when the economic fallout from the pandemic and the recession falls on you. Keep an eye on top IT recruiting sites, job boards, and company career pages to get a sense of who is hiring and what positions are open. Be prepared to pounce on new opportunities by keeping your resume fresh and ready to send at a moment’s notice. GTN Technical Staffing: Connecting the Right Tech Talent With the Right Tech Companies Whether you are looking for a permanent position or temporary, contract-based work in the tech industry, GTN Technical Staffing can help connect you to the job you want. In boom times, as well as times of economic uncertainty, we can help you navigate an ever-changing tech employment landscape. Contact us to speak with a tech recruiter today to learn more. Read More on Tech Job Tips Will Taking Contract Work Hurt My Career and Chances at a Corporate Job Later?  6 Tips for Acing a Video Technical Job Interview You Don’t Need a Recruiter

In the Gig Economy, Contract Work Isn’t the Red Flag It Used to Be As many tech workers spend months or years on temporary or contract gigs, whether out of economic necessity or personal choice, they may ask themselves, “Will contract work hurt my career?” Meaning, will doing what you need to do or prefer to do to make a living in the tech sector today damage your prospects for permanent, steady, corporate employment tomorrow? While every employer works differently and will take their own approach to evaluating a candidate’s work history, contract work is no longer the red flag it may have been in decades past. In reality, most folks making hiring decisions understand that the world has changed. Hiring managers and tech recruiters know that contract work in the “gig economy” is no longer an outlier or a sign that a candidate is somehow “less than” just because they work on a contract basis. That said, employers do want to see certain qualities in the people they hire for essential roles. Therefore, extended periods or multiple stints of contract work may be called into question. So, you ask, “will taking contract work hurt my career in the tech sector?” So long as you have a compelling and understandable explanation for working temporary or short-term gigs and can demonstrate talent, commitment, and consistency as through lines in your work history, such work should not hurt your chances for a long-term corporate job Contract Work Probably Won’t Hurt Your Career – Especially Now As is the case in almost every other sector of the economy, tech companies increasingly rely on contract workers as a core part of their business model rather than as a way to fill in talent gaps here and there. It isn’t unusual for a company to have more temp workers than full-time salaried staff. Google, for example, employs more than 130,000 people on a contract or temp basis. That exceeds its 123,000 full-time employees. Many companies even incorporate a contract work option in their job search function. Given that tech companies are in constant need of talented contract workers, they are unlikely to see such work as unusual when it appears on an applicant’s resume. They know that top-notch programmers and others take temp gigs because temporary contracts often pay extremely well while offering exciting or interesting challenges. Contract work may only become more acute given the instability and uncertainty caused by COVID-19. When long-term planning becomes more difficult, short-term hiring becomes a way to address immediate needs without making lengthy commitments that could backfire if economic conditions worsen. Companies Recognize the Appeal or Necessity of Contract Work Tech companies recognize that the economic conditions that gave rise to the “gig economy” play a significant role in why so many people in the industry take on temp work. But they also understand that other factors may make contract work either a necessity or an appealing option at certain junctures in a person’s career. Perhaps someone needed to take care of an ill family member and needed the flexibility that comes with a contract position. Maybe a new parent took some time away from their full-time career to raise their children but still wanted to keep their skills fresh and remain connected to their chosen profession. As employers are now more generally attuned to issues of work-life balance and career paths that don’t always follow a straight line, they also will get how contract work fits into these paradigms. “Will Contract Work Hurt My Career?” Not If You Can Prove You Have the Goods Historically, hiring managers saw “job hopping” as a potential sign that a candidate either lacked the commitment to stay in a job or had issues that led to their frequent and repeated departures from positions. But such transitions are simply part of the deal in contract work. Projects end. New opportunities arise. Moving from one gig to another is more just the ebb and flow of being a contractor than a sign of wanderlust or incompetence. When a tech interviewer asks about your time doing contract work, explain why you took the position and why you (or the project) moved on. With those issues out of the way, the focus will turn to the substantive work you performed and how the experiences contribute to your qualifications for the open position. Whether you are moving on from a term gig or a corporate job, you still need to show that you have the goods. The quality of temporary work you performed proves just as important as it would be in a long-term job, and the people you worked for or with on a contract project can still provide you with positive references. Finally, remember that in almost all circumstances, a period of contract work on your resume is better than a period of no work at all. Companies would rather hire someone who demonstrates a solid work ethic and commitment to building their skill set than someone who sat around for months doing nothing. GTN Technical Staffing: Connecting Talented Tech Workers to the Industry’s Best Jobs Whether you are looking for temporary, contract-based work or a permanent position in the tech industry, GTN Technical Staffing can help connect you to the job you want. We are a leading technical staffing solutions company, encompassing SOW, staff augmentation, and direct hiring placement for Fortune 2000 companies. Contact us today to learn how we can help you navigate an ever-changing tech employment landscape. Read More on Technical Job Hiring 6 Tips for Acing a Video Technical Job Interview 10 Interviewing Tips for Tech Hiring Managers for 2020 Contract or Permanent Work? Here’s How to Decide

Have you ever contemplated quitting your job for something better? Are you having those thoughts now?  If you’re wondering if the grass is greener in neighboring pastures, know that you are not alone. Nearly half of all employees have contemplated leaving their current place of work according to the Society of Human Resource Management.  Reasons for Leaving Wanting a change of scenery can be for any number of reasons.  A common reason employees leave a company is simply because “the company isn’t doing well.” Rumors such as these can swirl fast around the water cooler and our recruiters have often seen that they are simply not true. Try to find some real evidence of this before you jump ship solely for this reason. One reason that can be hard to argue with is compensation. If you feel your time with the company and your talent should be yielding a higher pay, finding a job where you feel more appreciated may be a good idea. There are still few things to consider before jumping ship though. Lastly, if you are contemplating leaving your job, and co-workers seem to be high on the list of reasons for doing so, know this: You are not tattle telling or bailing for petty reasons. Coworkers can be like annoying office siblings and your frustrations are valid.  Managers also play a big role in determining company culture and the daily work dynamics. 1 in 3 say their manager doesn’t know how to lead them and nearly the same amount of people say that “their manager doesn’t encourage a culture of open and transparent communication”.  Co-worker tension is a problem for many Americans, which becomes a drain on company culture. 3 out of 10 employees will even site poor workplace culture as a reason they are irritable at home.  Decisions, Decisions It’s a strategic decision to make yourself the most valuable team member as possible, making you an asset to your current company and a valuable hire elsewhere. This can be done in a number of ways, such as sharpening your technical skill set and being a productive team member throughout projects.  Many companies you interview with will take a careful look at your work history. You will want something to show for it. This means you should have both technical and soft skills that were gained at each place of work, proving that your time at your previous employer was well spent. Soft skills can be anything from honed leadership to astute problem solving skills. You should try to understand other programs, or use the program you are an expert in, to add different strategic advantages to your toolbelt of skills. These, as well as obtaining new certifications are highly valuable in the job market. It is also important that you have specific examples to back such claims up. It’s not bragging on yourself, especially if the interviewer asked!  You will want to give them a reason why you are worth more to their company than you were to your old company. If you are looking to move up the ladder, increase your pay, or work in a more competitive or desirable position, your tenure should prove that you have what it takes.   Show Me The Money The company that could make you feel more appreciated could be the one you currently work for. While negotiating your pay can be difficult, it may be well worth your time as well as your company’s. The cost of hiring and training a new employee is very high.  There are also monetary costs, like consulting with a hiring agency or paying to post a job to a job board. Additionally, the loss in production from losing you can put added pressure on other coworkers, leading to poor quality and, potentially, loss of customers.  In many cases increasing your pay to keep you on board may be more cost efficient than onboarding a new employee.  Especially in a highly technical field, the training and certifications necessary to be an expert in a specific position can be very costly and take time to obtain. Time and money are two resources companies don’t like to waste.  Don’t Let History Repeat Itself Too Often Before you move on to a new job make sure it is one that you are confident you will like. Even if you have savings it is wise to have a job before you leave your current one unless there is a serious issue for leaving. This will help you take the right job to enhance your career, not simply be pressured into finding a job. This is a crucial part of your career because if your job history reads like a who’s who of the industry, employers may be wary of hiring you. While moving on from one job to the next is simply the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, the chapters can accumulate into a novel, or even worse a series.  Your past tells a story and it is very possible that you will be asked why you left, so be thoughtful as to why you are leaving and how you have improved in your time at your last job.  Considering whether or not it’s time for you to move on from your current place of employment can be a big step, but carefully considering your options will allow you to feel like your decision is a sound one. Know that the answer is not always black and white, and you may have more options than you realize. So, be patient and look for something that will satisfy both you and your career long term.   

In recent years the growth of non-traditional modes of working has grown greatly, many of which are fueled by silicon valley industries. According to the New York Times the occupation of contract or temporary work has grown by 9.4 million from 2005-2015. While some of those numbers are due to transportation networking companies like Lyft or Uber, the increase in this occupation style can not be ignored. Have you been considering a job change? Understanding the components of each type of work is important to understand what would suit you best. Both job types have unique advantages and disadvantages that when applied to your life could be ideal. Below are some things to consider when debating what type of work you want to do. Contract Work         Permanent Work Depending on your personality, your unique relationship with your coworkers in both modes of occupation can enhance your job experience. If you are the type of person who hears your significant other tell you about a dinner with the new neighbors on Friday night and you mumble something under your breath before saying yes  – meeting new people may not be your thing. Being a contracted worker requires you to interact and meet new people – in fact, it’s a key component of your job. On the other hand, with permanent work, you are able to be as ingrained (or unplugged) as you want to be with your coworkers and the company culture within the bounds of what your company requires of course. Some team building activities are unavoidable. In both occupation types there is ample opportunity to become a problem solver for your company. Let’s face it, most people don’t understand the technicalities of your job.  In fact, they don’t have a clue. When you work for a company day in and day out you have the opportunity to be the go-to-guy for solving problems. When a coworker has a problem or a task, he knows what is within your realm of expertise and can come directly to you for your help. However that also opens up the opportunity to pigeonholed to a task or even simply keeping up with database or website maintenance. This varies drastically from company to company, so this would be something to inquire about in a job interview. As a contracted worker you are able to come into a business and act as a change catalyst for solving problems. If a company is contracting out to you it is asking to do something that no one within the company can handle. Many offices are subject to “normal thinking,” meaning that they tend to subconsciously handle situations the same way over and over again and fail to think outside of the box. They find a normal way of doing things and stick to it. As a contracted worker you have the ability to take the blinders off and a present new way to handle a variety of situations. Now that we have established some of the working conditions of both jobs let’s take a look at some of the logistics. If you have kids there are pros and cons to both forms of employment. As a parent having flexibility in your schedule can be a huge factor in your job satisfaction. The ability to be there when your kids need to be picked up, dropped off, etc., is something that is hard to put a monetary value on. As a contracted worker, you often have more options in dictating your schedule than most permanent workers do. This factor makes contracted employment very conducive to a family lifestyle. If you are the primary breadwinner, stashing away retirement, or supplying healthcare benefits for your household then you will need to do some more planning as a contractor. These are important perks for any job, but the level of necessity varies from household to household. The type of work you do will most likely be better compensated with contract work, meaning you will get paid more for doing the same thing a permanent worker would do. It just does not provide the benefits that permanent work does, so you have to provide those on your own. Your daily commute is something that you should consider. There is not a hard-fast rule with either one of the options because each varies greatly on the job itself- it doesn’t matter if it’s contracted or permanent. While your commute may vary depending on the job you take, when you need to be in the office may be one of the things you can negotiate with your contract for both types of work. This is one-way permanent work mirrors the tendencies of contracted work, it just depends on the job. Really the only difference in commute is that with a contracted job, the commute will vary job to job and permanent will provide a consistent commute.  However as a contractor you are expected to have to make long commutes sometimes if that is what the available job requires. All of these components are things that should be considered when contemplating what form of work is most conducive to the lifestyle you strive to live. Everyone’s situation is different and what they are comfortable with varies too. No matter what, you should seek to find a job that is both functional and provides you with the job satisfaction you want. If you would like to explore your options, click here to see what opportunities GTN Technical Staffing can help you find. New York Times Article Quoted

The male-dominated IT career field is beginning to find its gender-balance. Tech headhunters are searching for great female candidates. Learn the trends.

Do you want to learn about software developer career change options? Are you considering a change? As the leading IT recruiter in Dallas, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, we often see IT types transition between a wide variety of positions.  It is not uncommon to see a Network Security Engineer who was a Software Engineer after starting in Product Development. If you’re currently a software developer, but you’re wondering career options to switch to something new, then this post might be helpful. In it, we explore career change options for software developers to consider.  We hope you enjoy it.

The software developer is the wizard behind the curtain. Software developers are the ultimate designers that connect people to the latest technologies. The best software developers are creative and have the technical expertise to implement innovative ideas. Writing code is one-way developers create. Historically, program code was written in four different languages: Java, C#, C++ or SQL. However, a significant number of niche programming languages are beginning to blossom and provide solutions to common problems and increase productivity.  These niche programming languages are giving Dallas area software developers an edge in productivity.

What’s the difference? The words sound similar but they possess significantly different meanings. Confusing one word for the other can make you look silly, or throw your boss into a panic if you say you want to reskill instead of upskill. “What? Do you want to change departments, or are you quitting?” “No, nothing like that! I just want to take a night course in Network Management so you can promote me.” “Oh! You want to upskill, not leave and start a completely different career… That’s a relief!” Hopefully, your boss isn’t that literal-minded, and just thought you were a bit dimwitted, rather than that you were abandoning the department.

Are you overwhelmed by the variations of software development career paths? Wondering which is right for you? The aspiration to become a software developer is something that many tech professionals share, especially today when the job outlook in the Dallas information technology (IT) sector is so good. But software development is more of a broad category than an actual job description, and there are many paths within software development you can choose. As a career software developer (as opposed to a freelancer or entrepreneur), the typical tech career path starts as a junior software developer and then moves to a senior software developer. After that, an IT professional can stay on the technical side and become a lead developer or can move to management and as you grow in experience and communications skills become a senior software development leader. In the booming Dallas tech market, there is a great deal of flexibility in terms of where you work, whom you work for, and what IT projects you work on. In today’s post, we’ll explore the different paths and opportunities available in the world of software development careers.

Two of the top jobs in technology are as a software developer or as a database administrator. The two jobs are neck-in-neck when it comes to salary and job availability and are pretty equal in the overall career satisfaction of people employed in those roles.