How To Skill-Up When You are an Entry Level Programmer

wpengine — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 17:59:16 +0000

Programming is a smart career move – it’s a steady, solid career path with tons of room to grow and a significant amount of job security, as most companies rely on tech talent to some degree. As an entry-level programmer, however, you might already be wondering what to focus on to improve your career outlook and secure better positions for yourself down the line.

While you’re learning the ropes at your new job, here’s what else to focus on during the early stages of your career to help position yourself well for future work.

Upskilling for Entry-Level Programmers

What do you need besides a solid educational background and some work experience under your belt to help you succeed in your programming career? Focus your efforts here to get ahead:

Grow your network and Linux skills and get certified when possible: As a programmer in the early stages of your career, you don’t need to specialize to be effective and employable. Additional training in areas that you’re not super comfortable in yet can be beneficial in building your confidence to advance your career. Spend some time studying operating systems, networking basics, and keeping up to date with industry trends. You don’t need to become an expert overnight, but remembering to challenge yourself is an important habit to get into early in your career. After some time, your employer may even help you pay for certifications like LPIC- 1, Linux+, RHCSA, and more.
In-person networking: There’s the networking knowledge that’s crucial to technology jobs, and then there’s the ability to network as a professional. People from every industry and job experience level struggle with networking, so making this a priority early in your career can be a huge benefit. Learning how to talk about yourself, your career goals, and articulately answer and ask questions are skills that can significantly increase your ability to get noticed and hired. It’s also advantageous to find your people; developing personal and professional connections with likeminded people with similar goals and interests can help you grow as an individual and an employee. Start by joining online forums and groups for other programming professionals and grow your person to person connection skills over time.

Are you looking to get your foot in the door with top IT companies?

From specific technical training to better soft skills, slowing adding new skills and competencies is a sure way to help professionally position you for promotion or advancement. If you’re looking for your next programming role, get in touch with Open Systems Inc, today.

The post How To Skill-Up When You are an Entry Level Programmer appeared first on Open Systems Inc..

Tips to Build a Career in Embedded Systems

wpengine — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 15:28:07 +0000

As technology continues to advance, embedded systems knowledge is becoming increasingly important, and more related job positions are opening that relate to an in-depth understanding of embedded systems processes. Embedded systems positions focus on a combination of hardware and software design, focusing on the tools and technology that controls a device, process, or system. Many embedded systems professionals, for instance, have knowledge of how smartphones, pacemakers, and navigation systems work.

Knowledge of embedded systems is useful for professionals who want to do work for companies who focus on the Internet of Things (IoT) or are interested in designing systems that can help connect previously analog systems to the cloud. Embedded systems professionals often have job titles like embedded software engineer, system software engineer, and even research and design specialist.

How can you excel in a career in embedded systems?

Find a mentor: This might be someone in your office, a past supervisor, or even a professor. Finding someone who can offer feedback and guidance about your career path is a very valuable and effective way to grow your career.
Invest in education: Working in embedded systems will require a solid knowledge base. For some, this will be a college degree or an advanced degree, while others will invest in certifications and job experience; for most people, real career advancement will be a combination of all of these things. No matter what path you take, it’s essential to continually update and refine your skills to grow in your career.
Define your goals: Finding the next right step in your career is going to depend on your understanding of what your strengths are and the kind of work you like to do. Understanding these things will help you better shape your goals and give you something to work towards. Do you enjoy project management and delegating tasks? Do you excel at communicating with and organizing teams? If so, management might be a good fit for you and a natural career progression. For some, however, the next career move might be simply finding a company with a better cultural fit working in the same role.
Work with a recruiter: Growing in your career is a matter of finding the right opportunities and being prepared when you do. A recruiter can help with both. Not only do staffing firms have connections with companies who are actively looking to fill roles, but they also have a deep understanding of what these organizations are looking for to help you prepare.

Are you looking for a new career in embedded systems?

Our industry knowledge can help you find your next role and get connected with the right company to grow your embedded systems career. Give our recruiting team in Alpharetta, GA, a call today.