Why an online Coding Bootcamp is the fastest way to start a career in tech

Why an online Coding Bootcamp is the fastest way to start a career in tech by Michael Cheary It turns out boot camps aren’t only for fitness fanatics… For anyone looking to get ahead in the tech industry, gaining a recognised qualification can be key when it comes to securing a role. But with so many certifications out there to choose from, how do you know which ones right for you? Well, that’s where a boot camp comes in.We spoke to tech experts the Learning People, to find out why an online coding boot camp could be the perfect way to kickstart a career in tech:What is an online boot camp? An online boot camp is an intensive course, which aims to get students qualified as quickly as possible in their chosen subject.They can last anywhere between a few days and a few months, depending on the subject.And, because the topic is intended to be covered comprehensively, qualified learners will usually be able to apply for jobs in their field right away.  What’s does a coding boot camp cover? A coding boot camp can cover several different areas â€" from learning specific coding languages, like HTML, SQL or Python, through to getting up-to-speed with key tech-related project management methodologies, such as Agile or Scrum.However, many are what’s known as ‘full stack’, meaning they cover both front-end and back-end development.So, upon completion, you’ll be proficient in all the areas you need to get a career in coding.What are the benefits of a coding boot camp? Firstly, they’re fast.In fact, although many coding boot camps are self-paced, meaning they can be completed at your own speed, it can take as little as three months to get qualified.They’re also designed to be hands-on. So instead of lots of time spent in lectures, you’ll be putting your skills to the test in a series of practical exercises.And with the industry growing by 150% over the last 12 months, and average starting salaries of £30,000+ for qualified Web Developers, there’s never been a better time to get into coding.How will coding help my j ob prospects? It’s estimated that UK businesses sought out 750,000 digitally skilled workers in 2017 alone. And it’s a trend that shows no sign of slowing down.Not only has demand for qualified Developers never been higher, but because those with full-stack skills can work in a variety of different roles, they’re likely to be employed much faster than their peers.88% of Code Institute graduates are actually hired within just six months of getting qualified proving you’ll be ready to apply for roles as soon as you finish your training (and you’ll even have a handy portfolio of your work you can take with you to interviews).What does a Full-Stack Developer do?   A Full-Stack Developer works both within the front-end (what a user sees and interacts with) and back-end (the server/database/behind-the-scenes parts) of a site.Although it’s the most common career path for those who have completed a coding boot camp, it’s far from the only route. Other available careers could include becoming a Web Developer, or moving into a role in testing or quality assurance.Is a coding boot camp right for me? There are no entry requirements to sign up to a coding boot camp.All you’ll need is a passion for technology, and a way to access the online classes.Costs will vary, depending on the provider â€" however, most companies will offer flexible payment options (such as monthly plans), so you’ll never have to pay more than you can afford.And because you can start as soon as you sign up, not to mention manage your own modules, it’s easy to fit studying around your schedule. Even if you’re already in employment.So, whether you’re completely new to the industry, or you’re a current IT professional looking to take your coding skills to the next level, a boot camp could be for you.Why study with the Learning People?The Learning People is one of the UK’s leading providers of IT and coding qualifications.They’ve partnered with the prestigious Code Institute, who have designed and developed a course that’ll teach you everything you need to know to get started.Benefits of studying with the Learning People include:An easy-to-use online learning platformProgress reports, so you can see how you’re getting onFlexible payment optionsNUS student discount cardExpert career advice to help you find the right role after you complete your courseWhat are the benefits of studying with the Code Institute? Code Institute are globally recognised as leaders in their field â€" and their Coding Boot Camp is the only university accredited course of its kind in the whole of Europe.Aside from the 88% graduate employment rate within the first six months, they also boast a number of other key benefits, including community support 24/7 and flexible learning options.So if you’re interested in coding, and you’re looking for an industry leading course that covers everything, find out more about a Coding Boot Camp now.Find out more Interested in a career in coding? Talk to the Learning People today.The Learning People are one of the UK’s leading eLearning providers, specialising in world-class certifications in project management, IT and digital marketing.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the What job suits me?

Youre Not One of Those Networkers are You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Youre Not One of Those Networkers are You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career A client recently was frustrated because he only wanted to follow U.S. based people on Twitter that could buy his service. After all, he only shipped to those who were U.S. based and didn’t have a pricing structure for other countries. And, here we go with another question that really defaults to the greater question â€" is Twitter advertising or word of mouth? If you operate with the analogy of Twitter being a huge chamber of commerce networking event online, then his statement wouldn’t make any sense.   You would be the person at the event looking at everyone as if they were a potential customer and making decisions to engage in conversation only if you think you can “sell them” on what you have. We’ve all seen “those types” at networking events and we steer clear of them like the plague.   (tweet this!) They walk around â€" having no real meaningful conversation â€" because every interaction is patterned to when they will lunge forth with their spiel.   So, why should they listen to you except when it provides them the opportunity to talk about their product, service or themselves? While at first, you can point fingers at this person and say, “wow, you’re all about ME, ME, ME”.   The truth of the matter is they are focused on the one way advertising broadcast that’s just that- ONE WAY. Yet , networking is not one way and neither is Twitter. I agree, there are loads of advertising and one way conversations happening on Twitter.   And, to that I say, how’s that working for you? More often than not, I see that type of strategy getting people and businesses “one hundred percent of nothing”.   No one’s listening; no one’s engaging in conversation; no one’s sharing with their contact sphere (the people that they have influence over and who listen to them) and no one’s sharing with their clients (who may be the same as your target client). Often another business or publication, who serves the same target clients you do, can pass along your message to this contact sphere and get you noticed and engaged with others that you alone would have had to invest a tremendous amount of time, effort and even money to engage with. Yet, that’s what I hear from many businesses new to Twitter.   And, it comes in statements like: 1.   Why are we following people outside our shipping area? 2.   That magazine will never buy from us? 3.   We need to focus our discussion only on those who will buy from us? So, how are you enjoying 100% of nothing? If a business tweets to the Twitterverse and there’s no one there to hear it â€" do they exist? Here are some Networking 101 tips to apply to the online social world: 1.   Engage in conversation with people who engage you. You never know who someone IS; who they INFLUENCE or who they will BECOME. 2.   Spend time with people who also market or connect with your best target client and are in a noncompetitive industry.   It is better to borrow from someone else’s credibility in a group then to have to spend the enormous time and treasure for them to sample your character and competence (or even to notice you!) 3.   Third party endorsements are the goal.   Inspiring others to speak positively on your behalf to their circle of influence and having them tell their contacts “how wonderful you are” is much more powerful than you continually blasting people telling them “how wonderful you are”. Other thoughts? Author: Maria Elena Duron, is managing editor of the Personal Branding Blog, CEO (chief engagement officer) of  buzz2bucksâ€"  a word of mouth marketing firm, and a professional speaker and trainer on developing social networks that work. She provides workshops, webinars, seminars and direct services that help create conversation, connection, credibility, community and commerce around your brand.   Maria Duron is founder  and moderator of  #brandchat   a weekly Twitter chat focused on every aspect of  branding  that is recognized by Mashable as one the 15 Essential Twitter Chats for Social Media Marketers. Are you busy? Here’s some quick and easy tips on  Social Marketing for busy people.

10,000 Hours

10,000 Hours We all want to be considered the best at what we do. But how many of us are willing to do what it takes to get to the top? Malcolm Gladwell, in his book Outliers, wrote about the price of brilliance: 10,000 hours of study and practice. Researchers at Berlin’s Academy of Music studied a group of violin students who started playing at around the age of five, practicing for two or three hours a week. As they grew older, the students gradually increased the number of hours they practiced each week. By the age of 20, the elite performers had totaled 10,000 hours of practice apiece, while the merely good students had accrued 8,000. So, genius (or at least mastery) is achievable for all of us. That’s the good news â€" you don’t have to be born brilliant to become brilliant. That’s also the bad news â€" you’re only as good as you want to be. In this era of instant everything, it’s typical of us to want instant recognition of our skills and compensation to match. Try thinking about your time on the job as time spent mastering your skills. How has your performance improved over the last year? If you’re not making progress, you may be falling behind a peer who is working on mastery.

Create Strategy For the New Year Today - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Create Strategy For the New Year Today - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Building confidence as one builds business is the secret to getting ahead. Early stage entrepreneurs are frequently intimidated by those with more experience. And middle-stage businesspeople are often reluctant to step up to play a biggter game. Those who never take the risk to try more most often have to end their business. Treat everyone as an equal â€" this includes you! Phase 1: Increase self-confidence Personal Brand Foundation Never compromise on who you are or what your business stands for; walk away from questionable activity.  This speaks volumes for building relationships and trust.  Sales are built upon trust. https://youtu.be/1qvAtyCHSoQ   How to Accelerate Business Fear of failure     Failure doesn’t exist as long as you are willing to learn from error.  Change vocabulary from failure to marketing research.   The more open you are to learning, the more successful you will become. Focus Know that impossible doesn’t exist.  Statistics are made to be broken. With continued perseverance, your idea stands a chance for succeeding. Help communities needing your expertise Your reward is recognizing that you helped others to succeed.  The bonus is to find yourself in a leadership role. Possibilities Consider all possibilities for growing business in order to select the few that are directly related to your vision and principles. Likewise, respectfully do the same for your clientele. Trust and sales will continue to grow. Six Month Meeting Every six months business owners should faithfully review successes along with strategies that didn’t work out well.  Eliminate what did not work well, and leverage what did.  Then reset your 12-month goal. Doing so every six months is the key for supercharging achievements. Phase 2: Planning Computer and Devices Upgrade software on your hardware in the evening in order to not lose a day’s work. Profiles We usually get so busy with projects that our websites, bios, and online profile pages are forgotten. Check them to be certain they are up to date to reflect your recent experiences. The very people you wish to reach may already be researching your information. Materials Review all marketing materials, products and services, to ensure they are up to date and reflect who you are today. Decide if an image overhaul is needed to advance your endeavor. Phase 3:  Build Sales Follow-Up Get a user friendly database to capture the information of everyone you encounter. It will be virtually impossible to remember the name and title of every person at every company. Compounding the matter, people switch jobs and that information needs to be captured, too. Different types of business models such as global teams or a single entrepreneur will dictate the type of CRM to purchase. Each system has a different focus and it’s important to pick the one that best suits your business model, ease of use, and budget. Implementing daily usage will keep you on track for efficient follow-up. Check Your List Twice Make the New Year your best one yet. Create a wish list of all the things you know you need done but budget is an issue. Prioritize the list. Likewise, create a second list of all the things you can do to earn extra income. Following these guidelines will lead you to the Smooth Sale!

Delete your Objective Statement Now (and Replace It with This)

Delete your Objective Statement Now (and Replace It with This) Photo Credit -Usnews.comEvery time I see an objective statement on a resume, I cringe. It’s a dated and old-school practice that does nothing for you or your job search.I understand that many job seekers think they need an objective statement. It’s what we were all taught in high school or college, or whenever we might have been searching for our first job. But, there are two critical problems with objective statements. First, they’re usually completely unoriginal Resumes are marketing documents designed to sell you and your skills to an employer. You need to show you’re worth the price of your salary â€" and you’re a big-ticket item!When you decide to purchase something, it’s because it provides value to you â€" not because your purchase delivers value to the seller. Would you buy a $60,000 car because the salesperson needs the commission to pay for her summer vacation? Of course, not. You buy the car because of what it means to you â€" reliability, style, comfort.When y ou apply for a job, think of the hiring manager or recruiter as a customer. You need to convince them that investing in you will pay-off and deliver value to their company. Objective statements naturally work against this goal.Answer the Hiring Manager’s QuestionsInstead of using an objective statement, use a Profile or Executive Summary.The strongest start to a summary section is an elevator pitch: who you are, who you serve, and what you do. Align this opening statement with the specific position you’re applying to as much as possible IT Architecture Professional specializing in delivering customized technology solutions to support rapid-growth and start-up enterprises.Corporate Branding Consultant who powers customer engagement and loyalty transformations for Fortune 500 companies.Follow your elevator pitch with relevant facts and details: years’ experience, expertise, specific skills, etc.Show, Don’t Just TellevalRemember, it’s always better to “show” than to “te ll”. Replace generic statements like, “increase sales” with a more specific and descriptive example, such as “generate multimillion-dollar sales and spark 10% YOY growth”.The more factual support you can give, the more you help hiring managers fully understand how you will impact their business â€" and this makes their “purchasing decision” easier.The summary section is also a great place to explain how you deliver impressive results. What’s your secret sauce? How is your approach different than your competitor’s? Are you the queen of following-up and never taking “no” for an answer? Or, do you approach sales as a trusted advisor always excited to champion your customer’s goals?Explaining your “how” will differentiate you from other candidates and give hiring managers insight about how you will fit with their team and culture.Lead Your Resume with Your SummaryProfile or summary sections should be positioned at the top of your resume. This section puts the rest of your resume in context and will frame how everything else in your resume is perceived. Don’t limit yourself with too little space â€" as one of the most important sections of your resume, let the summary take as much room as it needs to be impactful.Depending on your position level, the summary section could range from 4 sentences (entry-level) to a couple short paragraphs (senior-manager and above).Many job seekers misinterpret the popular resume advice “focus on the company needs not your own”; job seekers tend to think this means they shouldn’t talk about themselves at all. It’s quite the opposite. Job seekers should focus on selling the skills and strengths they have that would be of most value to the company.Have a question about crafting your summary section? Let me know in the comments below!

Moving on From a Job Thats Not a Good Fit

Moving on From a Job Thats Not a Good Fit In a job or career thats not a great fit?   Feeling lost when looking for a new job?   Has your job been a means to a paycheck and joy has been lacking?In this episode youll hear the career change success story of a healthcare executive who found a career that fit her talents and interests, wound her way through a path of ups and downs and found joy in her work everyday.   The secret to her success?   A strong foundation in knowing herself, believing in herself and owning it.Youll also learn the nine Soul Search elements to uncover your ideal career and hear about an exercise you can use to figure out what sparks joy.   Lastly, hear my monthly career tip on Research and how to complete a successful informational interview.This is a time of great opportunity.   Its easier to change careers and start out in the work world than in years past.   Read more in this WSJ article referenced in the podcast.Always drive in the lane that makes you happy!Check out this episode!

When Writing a Resume Should It Be in Third Or First Person?

When Writing a Resume Should It Be in Third Or First Person?When writing a resume, you must understand that it is difficult to read through it and decide whether the information is correct or not. In order to be able to write a better resume, you have to know how to determine which section is correct and that section needs to be moved to another section.It is common for most resumes to be written in third person. You will find that this is the most common way to go about writing a resume. If you were to rewrite the resume as you go, then it would be easier to determine where the information should be added to. Instead of reading over the information and trying to figure out if it is correct, you will know where the information should be placed.When writing a resume, it is very common to try and cover as much as possible about your work history, education, skills, and any other personal details. The best thing you can do is to eliminate some of the more personal details from the resum e.If the information listed in the three-person section is personal then you can move it to the first person section. You can then add this information in that section of the resume.When writing a resume, you should always try to write in the first person. You should only write in the third person for work related information. By writing in the first person, you will be able to describe the tasks you performed for the company and what type of experiences you had during that time.A fourth person is when you describe yourself in the third person. You will be able to talk about your skills, leadership, hobbies, and other experiences. It is important to choose the information that best describes you.Many times it is not necessary to write in the same format throughout the resume. You should choose which sections of the resume to highlight and then focus on those areas in the resume. It is very common for many people to add some of the same information that is found in both sections of t he resume to make it easier to look through.By choosing which sections of the resume to highlight, you will be able to see what information is relevant and what information is unnecessary. It is important to keep the resume organized and it is important to keep the information that is relevant to your position. If you use the resume service, you will have an easier time keeping the information that is relevant to your job.