Written by: on April 30, 2018
At April’s meetup we asked our panel “Where are all the tech jobs?” and since then we’ve been inundated with questions and requests about how to start a career in tech. We’ve compiled some of the best advice, tips and training courses we could find – so now it’s over to you – as being proactive is one of our top tips!
Northcoders – In depth 12-week full-time coding courses currently held in Manchester, with a guarantee of a job at the end. They offer scholarships, financial aid and bursaries every intake for women, which are supported by ourselves and Thoughtworks.
OH! Catalyst – A free 10-week creative and digital training programme designed for those aged 18 – 30 year olds who want to get into the industry but don’t know where to start. Or even for those in the industry who may want to retrain. You need to attend for one day per week.
Agent Academy – An industry led and intense leadership development programme for 16-25 year olds. Our Communications & Events trainee went through the Agent Academy programme before coming to work for us and says that the Academy was one of the best experiences she’s ever had.
Codecademy – Online coding courses, flexible and free.
FreeCodeCamp – Another great free online resource for learners.
Future learn – Brilliant range of both technical and non-technical online courses.
DesignLab – If you’re interested in getting into UX Design and willing to invest in your training, DesignLab comes recommend for its structured approach and weekly Skype sessions with a designated mentor.
Udemy – Learn anything you like from £12 per course. We hear that the coding courses are fantastic!
The best thing you can do is network and build up contacts within the sector; see our section on meetups below. It’s also a good idea to make sure you have an online profile you can direct people to look at, whether that’s on LinkedIn or even a website / blog you’ve built yourself. You may want to consider doing an apprenticeship or a degree apprenticeship, these are becoming offered more widely across the region. These websites may be useful:
InnovateHer job board – A range of local jobs both technical and non-technical from excellent local companies who truly care about equality and diversity.
UK StartUp Jobs – Does what it says on the tin!
CW jobs – A portal for IT and tech jobs.
Rob Waterhouse from Shop Direct stressed at our April meet-up that meet-ups are key and where like-minded people will be. So, we thought we’d share with you some meet-ups that occur locally.
Ladies That UX – a meetup for women who work in or want to find out more about UX Design.
GDG Liverpool – is a meet-up for developer enthusiasts in the local community, focusing mainly on Android and Google technology.
Swift Society – are a collaborative group, powered by volunteers and tech enthusiasts who celebrate all things iOS. They host talks, networking sessions and social events.
Tech 4 Good – a meetup that brings together people who are interested in technology where we tackle some of the toughest social and environmental challenges we face today.
Creative Kitchen – a creative and digital meet up, offering developer breakfasts, evening meetups and more.
Finding a mentor can be daunting and difficult but once you find the right person your career can flourish. Luckily, there are now social platforms that make it a bit easier.
STEAM Role – is a social platform that helps young professionals to find and follow their STEAM role models.
Northern Power Women – have launched a peer-to-peer mentoring network which matches people from different organisations according to their skills and needs.