Candid Tip #16: Building a successful career in tech
In this week’s newsletter, we will be revisiting our archives and looking at an interaction between Cutshort and some of the leaders from the tech industry talking about “Tips to build a successful career in tech”.
Let’s dig in!
FAANG. MANGA. FAAMG. MAANG. GAFAM. MAAMA.
Six different ways of referring to the same five-six companies that all types of tech professionals dream of working at on a global scale.
At the same time, techies are also increasingly turning to relatively new and exponentially growing companies, forming a new digital identity for India. But sometimes, the smoke show of branding and the sheer size of the corporation influences your idea of a dream company.
If the company doesn’t align with your passion and values, it will soon become a nightmare.
We believe every techie should be able to achieve their dream. It’s pretty simple, and we are glad to share these secrets with you to make it possible.
Believe in YOURSELF. Take a deep breath, and let’s get started!
Having a long-term plan makes all the difference.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
You might have answered this question (a couple of times) and failed to give a proper answer. That’s okay if you need more clarity.
The point is…
We tend to forget that the question is meant to gauge whether you have at least a tentative plan and if you are taking intentional steps to further your career trajectory.
Think of your career as a marathon, not a sprint. Stop making decisions for this year and the next. Plan for long-term professional fulfillment.
Companies are of three types: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
India’s tech industry has crossed $200 Billion in total revenue with a workforce of over 5 million techies across almost 200k companies.
There are a lot of companies and many, many more candidates looking for jobs.
But does that mean that you apply to any company that would take you?
No!
Just like any relationship, you should always look out for questionable characteristics (the RED flags) and what you need (the GREEN flags).
Stop evaluating the company based on just the location, compensation, etc. Instead, look at the company’s mission, vision, and values, culture, and the views of their leadership team.
Recruiters hate rejecting; they want to hire as quickly as possible!
There is talent in the market, like yourself. But still, there is a huge gap between the demand and supply. While the industry continues towards its trillion-dollar goal, the hiring needs will keep growing yearly. On the flip side, we know there is a crisis for candidates as well.
Where is the mismatch happening?
Maybe we (techies) are going about it the wrong way. Read the whole job description - the years of experience, must-have skills, and responsibilites of the role.
Nothing is better than learning on the job
The tech industry has been evolving at an exponential rate. Even the broader topics of study are changing for developers. 5-10 years ago, new programming languages and frameworks were the main focus. Now, we’re seeing a shift towards learning APIs, security, and compliance. IT has become essential for developers, programmers, and any other type of techie to keep themselves updated, keep up with the latest developments, or get left behind.
So, wherever you are, in college or an entry-level or a mid-level job, or even the CXO position - ask yourself if the work you are doing now will help you in the future! If not, where can you go to acquire the skills you need?
Conclusion
Getting your “dream job” today can seem like a mammoth task. Though the process is long and a lot more difficult than before, remember this - nothing is impossible!
Follow these simple steps in your career to see some interesting results. We’d love to hear your success story too. Drop them in the comments below and we’ll highlight it in a future blog!
P.S.: This newsletter was a summary of our live session with some of the leaders in this industry. Click here to watch the highlights on YouTube.
That’s all the updates we have for you this week. See you in the next newsletter with more exciting updates!