Things to Consider when Looking for a Coding Job

If you’re reading this, you probably appreciate that the jobs market has changed: There’s a shortage of coders, and more and more employers are looking to coding bootcamp graduates to fill the gap.
That’s good news for anyone who wants to forge a new career in coding. However, that same jobs market is crowded, constantly evolving and (arguably) the process is flawed and inefficient. And there are nuances in looking for a job in both the modern market and in the tech industry.
Here are some things to consider when you’re looking for a job, specifically looking at how to make the most of your time while you’re looking.

1- Examine what you’ve learned and what you’re good at
Was there something you particularly enjoyed in school, college or Coding Bootcamp? Was it collaborating, project work, a particular language or something else?
This is something to consider when job-searching. A Full Stack Diploma makes you a great allrounder, but even all-encompassing roles will often weigh on one duty above others. Think of what you’d like to be doing most and keep it in mind when upskilling further and when browsing job ads.
(We’ve also written a separate blog post about job titles and keywords to search for.)

2- Know that it requires patience
An unfortunate paradox of the workplace (in any industry) is that employers value experience. That means that the first job you land will take time: It’s easier to get a job when you already have one, and (here’s the paradox part) it’s easier to acquire experience when you have some experience.
But don’t be disheartened. Code Institute graduates are working right now for some of the biggest and most exciting companies in tech, including IBM, Apple, Intercom and Twitch, while some others have cool tech startups of their own.
A Diploma in Software Developments gives you some of the most in-demand skills in the modern job market. But recruitment processes can be onerous and inefficient, so it can take time for the right candidate and the right job to find one another.

3- Work on your projects before employment
A great thing about coding is that your expertise can snowball. Take project work, for instance. The projects that you worked on during the course will have room for improvement, and you (hopefully) will accumulate even more knowledge and expertise after graduation.
Without the pressure of a deadline, you should use the time before employment to tweak and fine-tune your project. Think of it as a portfolio piece that’s at least as important as your cover letter and CV.

4- Look at your interview skills
Nobody likes job interviews. The nerves! The scrutiny! But an often overlooked – and positive – factor in job interviews is that you can prepare for them. Research the kinds of questions that are asked for the position you’re going for. Many of the same questions reappear in job interviews, both in software development and in general.
Practice talking through your work with a friend. And run some practice Q&As with a friend too. (This is easier and less awkward if you’re friend is also a software dev and you can swap roles.) Look at “whiteboarding” (solving a problem on a whiteboard during the interview) and screen-share interviews (problem-solving on a screen you share with a coder or engineer).
Reacquaint yourself with your CV, the course, your skills, both hard and soft (here’s a post about soft skills). And of course, read about the company itself.
One of the reasons job interviews are daunting is because you don’t know what to expect. But the more you research and practice, the more you’ll be able to predict.

If you’d like to know more about coding bootcamps and how they can prepare you for the workplace, why not download our brochure?