No matter how experienced you are, reflect on your core interests for a career can cause fresh perspectives. I was reminded of this during a recent mentoring session where I made contact with a young professional exploring new career paths.
I want to share some important takeaways from the conversation that is possible with you or anyone who is through the twists and career growth.
To encode or not to encode?
One of the first things we have touched was how important it is to think beyond specific skills – such as coding – and rather focus on industries and problems that you really care about. Coding, like any technical skill, is a tool. What really drives the longevity and fulfillment in a career is your passion for the space in which you work.
- Is your energy by solving problems with finance, healthcare, media or another domain?
- Can you translate problems from a specific industry into technical solutions?
- If you look at the world, there is something that makes you say, ‘There must be a better way’?
To align your technical growth with your personal interests is how you maintain momentum when it is difficult.
The development of your technological skills requires time and effort. You need something on the other hand that will help you reconsider your choices.
By getting this by the interview
We also discussed an interview anxiety, something many of us have experienced.
My advice: Treat interviews like a muscle that grows stronger with repetition.
Practice, take yourself up and review yourself. Identify areas where you stumble and work to improve.
Ask a trusted friend to help you practice with a ridiculous interview. They can act as the interviewer and ask a series of questions. Set up your phone so your phone records you with video and audio. Once you have been through the exercise, review the band. Look at where you stumbled, where you lost thinking, or where you could have been clearer to respond to a question. Then repeat.
I also recommend to check “Brilliant Black Minds” by Karat, A resource dedicated to black professionals tighten their technical interviews.
Brilliant Black Minds offers free ridiculous technical interviews and connections with some of the world’s top companies to help black software engineers take the next step in their careers.
Use your community and network
Finally, we investigated how the community plays a major role in personal and professional development.
Of course I’m a strong advocate of the Blacks in the technology community, which includes both seasoned technical professionals and those who go to the industry. Whether you strive for a role in engineering, project management, sales or operations, a support system can make the difference.
We have wrapped up by talking about how to distinguish yourself, especially in competitive spaces such as web development. It is one thing to build technical skills, but standing out often comes down to the unique portfolio you create and the network you cherish.
In summary, career exploration and preparation for the interview is not just for those who actively hunt – they are important practices for all of us. Even if you are satisfied with your current role, your skills will keep sharp and stay attached to your personal and professional interests, helping you grow and stay ready for everything that comes next.
