So, you’ve decided to start looking for a new job, or maybe even a new career path.
The process can be nerve wracking, from putting yourself out there at networking events to knowing the right lingo to use during an interview to actually negotiating the terms of future employment. There’s a lot to consider: Is this a life-sustaining job? What’s my career trajectory like? What should this position earn me?
Whether you’re stepping foot into the working world for the first time or looking for your fourth career change, we’ve gathered a non-exhaustive list of resources — some timely, some evergreen — that will help you out at whichever stage of the process you’re in.
There’s a bent toward resources for tech and other professional careers below, with some other options, too. And as always, we’d love to hear what other career resources you’re using; email more suggestions to philly@technical.ly. Happy hunting!
Meetups and events
- NET/WORK Philly: Tech job seekers, come on out to the biggest job fair in the region hosted by Technical.ly. (Yes, this is a shameless plug. It’s also happening tomorrow, Feb. 25. To prepare, check out data on the 500+ jobs you can find there.)
- Women’s Philanthropy Professional Networking Event: Learn how how strong networks and community engagement can improve your happiness and job satisfaction on the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 26.
- Redefining Success: Healthy Networking: Learn why networking can be so awkward and how to fix that at this Villanova University event on the evening of Friday, Feb. 28.
- Philly Tech Sistas: This meetup helps women of color interested in tech careers to jump into some new skills with inexpensive classes and events. The next workshop, “Sisters Learning Code: Intermediate HTML & CSS: Build a Multi-Page Website,” is scheduled for the end of March.
- Philly tech job search guidance: This meetup sponsored by career accelerator Pathrise was started to combat the loneliness that job hunting can bring, and hosts workshops and events to prep you when you land a dream job interview.
Organizations
- Philadelphia Works: This job training and placing nonprofit overs a range of services and recently partnered with Comcast for the city’s first-ever pay-for-success job training program.
- West Philadelphia Skills Initiative: This organization recruits, trains and helps place West Philly residents into stable jobs.
- PA CareerLink: Find free access to career resources and services with a host of online tools, such as a resume how-to and a “military translator.”
- Office of Workforce Development: This City of Philadelphia division was formed two years ago in an effort to direct job training and growth programs while addressing transforming industries and a changing population. Psst, it’s currently recruiting local tech companies to join its Greater Philadelphia Technology Partnership initiative.
Programs
- JEVS Human Resources: This nonprofit has multiple training programs, many of which are for young adults to enter the tech world.
- Hopeworks Camden: This nonprofit offers young people real-world tech education and training for steady jobs without requiring a college degree.
- Venture Cafe: The University City venue offers weekly programming on tech, professional development and entrepreneurship. The events are free; University City Science Center comms lead Kristen Fitch calls the space an “open, welcoming community to all.”
- Tech bootcamps: If you’re looking to learn to code — and whether you’re fresh out of high school, mid career or just looking to climb the later at your current workplace — check out our roundup of programs for a range of prices.
Slack groups
- We Evolve: This workspace has the goal of “supporting and encouraging women, trans men, and non-binary adults in and around Philly in their tech journeys” and has #jobs and #events channels to guide you to opportunities.
- Philly Dev: This community for Philly’s remote, contract and in-house dev community includes job postings and networking channels.
- Philly Startup Leaders: This group isn’t just for entrepreneurs, but those who currently (or want to) work for them.
- Technical.ly: Plenty of jobs and events chatter in this Slack community, too.
- Ladies Get Paid: This well-known national org (with a Philly channel) offers professional development, negotiation training and job advice.
Articles
- “How to Use Social Media in Your Career“: Trust The New York Times to publish this in its series of guides for all aspects of building a more productive life.
- “Questions you can ask about compensation“: This helpful blog post by software developer Julie Evans, shared recently to the We Evolve Slack group, points out 16 questions to ask during an interview or to your manager about getting paid.
- “Consider this Networking 101 from a bunch of corporate and nonprofit pros“: Sister site Generocity asked executives to share their tips for talking to strangers — like “Ask questions first.”
- This Week in Jobs: This witty newsletter/tech jobs column comes out every Tuesday. Subscribe here.
- Hiring Trends Month 2020 and How to Get Hired Month 2019: Our archives are full of resources like the ones mentioned here, but these two editorial calendar themes really ramp up the advice.
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This editorial article is a part of Technical.ly's Hiring Trends Month of our editorial calendar and is underwritten by Relay Network. This story was independently reported and not reviewed by Relay Network before publication.
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