Career Karma

Today, millions of people are unemployed, suffer from self-doubt, and have built walls of “what-ifs” around them. The underrepresented community has been hit especially hard by the Coronavirus lockdown, which is why there’s no better time to start learning new skills and improving your career prospects. In 2016, Ruben Harris and Timur and Artur Meyster set out with a mission to demonstrate the possibility of breaking into tech, regardless of background. The trio wanted to break existing stereotypes around hiring individuals from non-traditional backgrounds through education, mentorship, and other resources. They created the Breaking Into Startups Podcast to feature inspiring stories of those who turned their perceived disadvantages into advantages, and their limitations to strength. The podcast today has over one million downloads and has helped thousands of people from non-traditional backgrounds embark on various opportunities and paths in tech and land jobs at some of the best...

Computer science often seems like a field open only to people who are fully dedicated to computing and mathematics. However, this could not be further from the truth. High-profile celebrities around the world have told their fans that they know how to code and that they also value learning to code . It’s not difficult to understand why these celebrities are interested in programming. After all, coding not only unlocks job opportunities—according to the non-profit Code.org , there are nearly 500,000 “[o]pen computing jobs” in the U.S. alone—but knowing how to code can help you solve problems more effectively. Here’s why these Black celebrities — that you may not have known were into coding — are learning the skill. Serena Williams Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Apartment List Serena Williams is a professional tennis player who has won 23 major singles titles throughout her career—the most won by any woman or man. Williams holds more Grand Slam titles than any other active player in...

Starting to learn to code can be a difficult process. Every time you sit down to practice your skills, you’ll likely encounter a problem that you struggle to figure out or an error that you do not understand. In many situations, it can feel easier to give up rather than to keep going. When you’re first starting out, there is a lot that can overwhelm you, from the technical terminology to the number of resources out there with different approaches to learning how to code. However, if you are willing to invest the time and effort in learning how to code, the rewards are plentiful. Not only does learning how to code open up a number of career options for you—you could become a consultant or transition to a career in tech—it also helps you refine your problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking skills. These are the exact skills that are growing in demand among employers. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of six “dos and don’ts” for aspiring coders. These tips will help you...

After you have successfully completed a job interview, the inevitable question of your new salary will come up. If you are just starting out as a new engineer, it can be difficult to figure out what salary you should ask for, and whether or not the number you have in mind is correct. In fact, many new software engineers , data scientists , and web designers skip the salary negotiation process altogether, even if employers are flexible on compensation, because the process can be tedious and nerve-wracking. Salary negotiation can be scary, especially when you’re just getting started. However, if you have a specific salary in mind, or think you are worth more than the salary offered by the job, you should not hesitate to negotiate. While you may not have as much experience as other engineers, if you can prove your worth to an employer, you’ll be surprised at how flexible they can be. To help you navigate your first salary negotiation as a new tech worker, we’ve compiled a list of top...

Coding bootcamps are short, intensive education programs designed to help people learn to code and prepare for a specific career in technology. Over the last decade, coding bootcamps have become a popular way to break into a career in tech. More than 20,000 people were expected to graduate from a bootcamp in 2019 alone. Bootcamps teach subjects ranging from full-stack web development to digital marketing and equip people with the practical knowledge they need to thrive in the modern labor market. Toward the end of a bootcamp, students receive career guidance covering everything from writing resumes to searching for a job. This improves job prospects after graduating. But how do you choose a coding bootcamp when there are hundreds of options, each with their own learning style and offerings? Let’s break down the top factors you should consider when deciding which coding bootcamp you’ll attend in 2020. 1. Read the Student Outcomes After deciding what type of bootcamp you want to...

While Silicon Valley may be known as the foremost tech hub in the U.S., there are a number of other emerging hubs across the country. Many people interested in pursuing a career in tech are now considering cities like Los Angeles and Chicago. Before you move to a new city to start your tech career, consider which cities have high-quality training programs that will help you learn the skills you need to thrive in the industry. Luckily for you, there are a number of excellent coding bootcamps all around the country — even in cities with nascent tech industries. We’ve compiled a list of the top cities with high-quality coding bootcamps. This list will give you a sense of where you could break into one of the best tech jobs and provide you with information about some of the top coding bootcamps in those cities. Let’s break down the top ten cities to attend coding bootcamp and explore some of the best training programs those cities have to offer. 1. San Diego, California Silicon Beach...