The future seems bleak, with news of a recession looming across the globe. Thousands of people find their careers put on hold, begging the question, “Is there a recession-proof career one can pursue?”
The short answer is that while no career is entirely recession-proof, tech roles have consistently fared better than others despite economic challenges.
Why Tech Skills Will Always Be In Demand
The past two years have proven how organizations rely on technology for its scalability and flexibility. For example, startups and small businesses have changed how they operate by implementing digital transformation to better cater to consumers. Companies have also started managing most, if not all, of their departments remotely through CRM and other business applications.
In fact, industry leaders share that despite the recession, companies can benefit more from investing in tech—whether in data analytics, digital products, online platforms, or AI. Clearly, the demand for tech solutions remains high, and so does the need for a strong tech team who can strategize, implement, and manage digital solutions and infrastructures.
As a result, the tech industry has attracted plenty of career shifters. It’s not uncommon, for instance, to hear stories of former healthcare workers, servers, finance consultants, and musicians making a 180-degree turn as they reskill in software development, data science, and digital design.
Making such career moves possible are bootcamps offering tech-related courses that help novices assimilate into the industry faster and at a more affordable rate than completing a college degree. One of them is General Assembly, a tech bootcamp that can serve as your ticket to career growth and stability.
The bootcamp provides quality instruction led by tech professionals with significant field experience, one-on-one support with career coaches from Day 1, and a career services team that keeps pace with industry trends and tech hiring needs.
Tech bootcamp General Assembly continues to impress as it bridges students to recession-resistant tech careers in software engineering, data science, data analytics, and UX design.
Find the right course for you!3 Ways General Assembly Can Future-Proof Your Tech Career
General Assembly is one of the pioneering bootcamps in the edtech space. With over a decade of experience, General Assembly has helped beginners and career shifters turn their careers around as they gain new and in-demand skills.
In fact, 95.7 percent of their students reportedly secured employment after graduating from the bootcamp. “[At General Assembly,] we are still hitting our target in terms of job placement within 90 days and 180 days,” says General Assembly Career Coach Zoe McGhie.
Compared to its pre-COVID outcomes, the bootcamp has done well despite the circumstances. Zoe says, “We’re basically back to normal. Our graduates are landing roles quickly, which is reassuring for our potential students. It helps them understand [and assess their career trajectory post-bootcamp].”
Recently, General Assembly helped two of its UX design alums secure their spots in Telus Digital’s Junior Designer program. Software engineering alums also got offered full-time positions at the Hudson’s Bay Company, Rogers Communications, and other startup companies.
The bootcamp has proven that it still churns out tech talent that small and big businesses need. Behind General Assembly’s continuing success are curated programs, comprehensive career services, and a supportive community.
Let’s break that down.
Programs that Teach Acquire Hard-To-Find Tech Skills
The tech sector offers dozens of career paths. However, if you are looking for sustainable growth, it is best to upskill in hard-to-find tech skills or skills that will remain evergreen as market needs evolve.
For this reason, General Assembly has curated immersive courses that can lead you to roles in software engineering, data analytics, data science, digital marketing, and UX (user experience) design. These are among the top disciplines in tech that do not require a tech-related bachelor’s degree.
General Assembly designs its courses according to industry trends and needs. You will apply and flex your abilities through exercises and capstone projects that deal with real-world problems. The bootcamp also lets you work in teams, developing your interpersonal skills. The goal is to transform you into a high-caliber professional competent in the latest tools and best industry practices.
Aside from the curricula design, General Assembly ensures that courses remain widely accessible. You can enroll full time or part time and attend classes online or on campus. If you have the luxury of time to focus on your studies, you can finish your chosen course in 12 weeks and join the job market. If you’re a parent or have a day job, you can opt for remote flex courses, which you can complete in 24 weeks.
Gain Access to Personalized Career Coaching
Bootcamps are redefining how educational institutions prepare students for future work. At General Assembly, you will have a dedicated career coach ready to guide you as you enter the job market.
Learning these job search skills is not only critical to your first job hunting experience. They will also serve instrumental as you move on to your next role, and the next, and the next.
Receive Support From a Community of Like-Minded Professionals
Over time, General Assembly has established a supportive and ever-vibrant community of learners from different locations worldwide, like the UK, France, Singapore, and Australia. With over 80,000 members in the General Assembly community, you can connect and find other learners near you.
General Assembly also sets up workshops and events where partner employers, industry leaders, and alumni share industry tips, industry-relevant resources, and job opportunities.
Finding Stability in Fast-Growing Tech Careers
In recent months, concerns for job security have increased tenfold as a recession threatens economies across the globe. Zoe McGith helps to confront these career jitters as a Career Coach at General Assembly’s Toronto campus. Below, she shares three tips students must remember to boost their chances of landing a tech job amid a recession.
1. Learn How to Build Your Network Virtually
Did you know that 85 percent of jobs are filled through networking? It’s a strategy that puts you right in front of potential employers and should be a key component of your job search. As Zoe shares, “I have very few students who can land roles without networking. [Those who don’t] end up putting out a higher volume of applications than those who network.”
Amid the pandemic, General Assembly quickly recalibrated its approach to virtual networking. Students learned to leverage digital tools to build connections with employers and like-minded professionals despite the distance.
2. Be Proactive
In a competitive job market, the saying, “Good things come to those who wait,” simply does not apply. Instead, good things come to those who hustle. That’s why General Assembly students are encouraged to start the career program if they want to find a job as soon as possible once they complete their course.
Zoe adds, “If they want to land a job 30 days after graduation, they can start the career coaching program to catch up with the recruitment cycle. We curate our support with whatever it is that the students need.”
3. Adopt a Winning and Positive Mindset
While we live in uncertain times, Zoe shares that those who tread in tech have better chances of finding career stability. Case in point, software engineers and UX designers are needed more than ever with the recent sweep of digitalization in every sector.
“Tech jobs exist everywhere,” says Zoe. “You can work in hospitality, finance, or any industry [with specialized roles] relevant to your tech skills. So there are opportunities in a lot more places than you think.”
Build a Lasting Tech Career
Finding a career that will provide stability and growth is a huge challenge, no matter your industry. But with General Assembly’s transformative approach to education, you are off to a great start.
You can trust the bootcamp to shape you into a skilled data analyst, data scientist, software engineer, UX designer, or digital marketer. Join the thousands of alumni who landed jobs in renowned companies like Microsoft, Google, Visa, and L’Oréal.
Your first step? Get in touch with General Assembly’s admissions team and find the right course for you!
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.