8 answers
Brian
Student
Orlando, Florida
1
Question
Asked
1035 views
How can a Software Engineer re-enter the industry after a career break?
Hello CareerVillage Community,
I'm a software engineer with several years of experience in web and application development. Due to personal reasons, I had to step away from the industry for a few years. Now, I'm eager to return to my career and get back to developing software.
I'm seeking advice on the best steps to re-enter the industry successfully.
Specifically:
- What strategies can I use to update my skills and knowledge to align with current industry standards?
- How should I address my career gap in my resume and during interviews?
- Are there specific resources or programs you recommend for someone in my situation?
Any tips or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Login to comment
8 answers
Jeff Sloan
Software engineer - firmware Retired
106
Answers
Updated
Jeff’s Answer
Hi Brian,
You have already received lots of great suggestions and ideas. I just want to highly recommend that you use your prior network, contacts and connections. In your time as a developer, you made friends, had colleagues and co-workers. Reach out to all of them, especially the people who were impressed with your skills and work. Let them know you are looking to re-enter the industry and ask for suggestions, recommendations and insight into their current company. You'll also need several references so this would be a good time to ask.
I agree that it is very important that you take refresher classes. Make sure you list all of them and show that your time away was productive and your skills are still relevant.
If you graduated college, check with the placement office. They can help you with your resume and job referrals. Also, most offer practice interviews if it's been a while.
I also agree that honesty is the best policy when discussing your time away. Keep it very high level and re-focus attention on all of your classes, and efforts to stay relevant.
Also, don't expect to come in at the same level that you left. You will probably have to take a lower level job to start but you should be able to prove yourself and advance quickly.
Best of luck!
You have already received lots of great suggestions and ideas. I just want to highly recommend that you use your prior network, contacts and connections. In your time as a developer, you made friends, had colleagues and co-workers. Reach out to all of them, especially the people who were impressed with your skills and work. Let them know you are looking to re-enter the industry and ask for suggestions, recommendations and insight into their current company. You'll also need several references so this would be a good time to ask.
I agree that it is very important that you take refresher classes. Make sure you list all of them and show that your time away was productive and your skills are still relevant.
If you graduated college, check with the placement office. They can help you with your resume and job referrals. Also, most offer practice interviews if it's been a while.
I also agree that honesty is the best policy when discussing your time away. Keep it very high level and re-focus attention on all of your classes, and efforts to stay relevant.
Also, don't expect to come in at the same level that you left. You will probably have to take a lower level job to start but you should be able to prove yourself and advance quickly.
Best of luck!
William Nwaogu
Construction, CAD and BIM
299
Answers
Lagos, Nigeria
Updated
William’s Answer
A Software Engineer trying to re-enter the career after career break can try the following tips:
Re-train through continuous professional developments and short career courses for software engineers.
Re-register or upgrade professional membership as a software engineer.
- The IACSIT Software Engineering Society (SES)
- IAENG Society of Software Engineers
- Chartered Software Developer Association
- IEEE Computer Society
- Association of Computing Machinery
Re-activate practice license for software engineering.
Enrol for certifications such as -
- Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional by ISC2
- Professional Software Developer Certification by IEEE Computer Society.
- Certified Software Engineer by The Institute of Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP).
- MySQL 8.0 Database Developer Oracle Certified Professional.
- AWS Certified Developer Associate by Amazon Web Services, leading to AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional or AWS Certified Machine Learning.
- Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals by Microsoft Corporation, leading to Azure Security Engineer Associate, DevOps Engineer Expert, Azure AI Engineer Associate, Azure Data Engineer Associate or Azure Solutions Architect Expert.
- C Programming Language Certified Associate (CLA) by C++ Institute
- C Certified Professional Programmer (CLP) by C++ Institute
- C++ Certified Associate Programmer (CPA) by C++ Institute
- C++ Certified Professional Programmer (CPP) by C++ Institute
Participate in events and programs that enhance software tech skills.
Upgrade computer, software and other software engineering tools to match with current requires, versions and market demand.
Search and apply for new software engineering opportunities in places like - Turing, SimplyHired, Crossover, Upwork, Indeed, FlexJobs, ZipRecruiter, Dice, Remote.co and likes.
Participating in software engineering volunteer schemes can help in self improvement through collaborating with others as it is a learning opportunity.
Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure for web application development, development of AI solutions, fintech solutions for realtime financial analytics, blockchain and financial market solutions; geospatial analysis solutions in geographic information systems, urban planning, and transportation management, and other specialized software solutions are areas where Software Engineering are in high demand.
Mastery of IT best practices such as: ITIL version 4, ISO 20000, COBIT, ISO 270001 and likes is a requirement for success in software engineering.
Mastery of web development frameworks - DJango, Ruby on Rail, Express, Angular, Node, React, and .Net frameworks in Visual Studio and likes is necessary.
University of Silicon Valley is a place to learn software engineering with high level of industry exposure, if you can access fund or self finance.
https://usv.edu/academics/computer-science/bachelor-of-science-software-development/
DISCLAIMER: User should know that success depends on individual's effort to apply counsel.
Information published in this medium are valid and true. Therefore, success comes, if right input of effort is made by an individual who applies these stated counsels.
The Counsellor is not liable to any individual's failure or outcome. Thus, continuous monitoring, mentorship, self reviews and, or appraisal can be adopted as means of check against failure.
Re-train through continuous professional developments and short career courses for software engineers.
Re-register or upgrade professional membership as a software engineer.
- The IACSIT Software Engineering Society (SES)
- IAENG Society of Software Engineers
- Chartered Software Developer Association
- IEEE Computer Society
- Association of Computing Machinery
Re-activate practice license for software engineering.
Enrol for certifications such as -
- Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional by ISC2
- Professional Software Developer Certification by IEEE Computer Society.
- Certified Software Engineer by The Institute of Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP).
- MySQL 8.0 Database Developer Oracle Certified Professional.
- AWS Certified Developer Associate by Amazon Web Services, leading to AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional or AWS Certified Machine Learning.
- Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals by Microsoft Corporation, leading to Azure Security Engineer Associate, DevOps Engineer Expert, Azure AI Engineer Associate, Azure Data Engineer Associate or Azure Solutions Architect Expert.
- C Programming Language Certified Associate (CLA) by C++ Institute
- C Certified Professional Programmer (CLP) by C++ Institute
- C++ Certified Associate Programmer (CPA) by C++ Institute
- C++ Certified Professional Programmer (CPP) by C++ Institute
Participate in events and programs that enhance software tech skills.
Upgrade computer, software and other software engineering tools to match with current requires, versions and market demand.
Search and apply for new software engineering opportunities in places like - Turing, SimplyHired, Crossover, Upwork, Indeed, FlexJobs, ZipRecruiter, Dice, Remote.co and likes.
Participating in software engineering volunteer schemes can help in self improvement through collaborating with others as it is a learning opportunity.
Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure for web application development, development of AI solutions, fintech solutions for realtime financial analytics, blockchain and financial market solutions; geospatial analysis solutions in geographic information systems, urban planning, and transportation management, and other specialized software solutions are areas where Software Engineering are in high demand.
Mastery of IT best practices such as: ITIL version 4, ISO 20000, COBIT, ISO 270001 and likes is a requirement for success in software engineering.
Mastery of web development frameworks - DJango, Ruby on Rail, Express, Angular, Node, React, and .Net frameworks in Visual Studio and likes is necessary.
University of Silicon Valley is a place to learn software engineering with high level of industry exposure, if you can access fund or self finance.
https://usv.edu/academics/computer-science/bachelor-of-science-software-development/
DISCLAIMER: User should know that success depends on individual's effort to apply counsel.
Information published in this medium are valid and true. Therefore, success comes, if right input of effort is made by an individual who applies these stated counsels.
The Counsellor is not liable to any individual's failure or outcome. Thus, continuous monitoring, mentorship, self reviews and, or appraisal can be adopted as means of check against failure.
Victor René Opio
Project Management Consultant
8
Answers
Poteet, Texas
Updated
Victor René’s Answer
1. The strategy should be to first examine your current skills. Depending on how long your break was, use the SMART method to do some introspection.
● Are your skills specific to the current industry?
● Are your skills measureable to stand up to software development today?
● Can you achieve being a software developer today with your current skills?
● Are your skills relevant?
● Are your skills timebound (timely or on time) with what software developers are using today?
If no, to any take some courses or buy some books. If you can't afford them get a job that pays the bills and move towards your goal.
2. During interviews just be honest without revealing to much personal information. Example: It was necessary for family, personal, or a change in the industry.
3. LinkedIn premium offers excellent courses and is verifiable and affoardable. There are many companies that offer courses and certifications at varying prices. If you can't afford them and can learn from books, create a Github account and practice your craft. Save snippets of code in your wiki and refer to it for different scenarios. Software development is about reuse. Focus your development on forms and collecting and posting data. Create some calculation projects like applying discounts to retail inventory (let's say mobile phones). Create different brands with different attributes and prices. I hope this help.
● Are your skills specific to the current industry?
● Are your skills measureable to stand up to software development today?
● Can you achieve being a software developer today with your current skills?
● Are your skills relevant?
● Are your skills timebound (timely or on time) with what software developers are using today?
If no, to any take some courses or buy some books. If you can't afford them get a job that pays the bills and move towards your goal.
2. During interviews just be honest without revealing to much personal information. Example: It was necessary for family, personal, or a change in the industry.
3. LinkedIn premium offers excellent courses and is verifiable and affoardable. There are many companies that offer courses and certifications at varying prices. If you can't afford them and can learn from books, create a Github account and practice your craft. Save snippets of code in your wiki and refer to it for different scenarios. Software development is about reuse. Focus your development on forms and collecting and posting data. Create some calculation projects like applying discounts to retail inventory (let's say mobile phones). Create different brands with different attributes and prices. I hope this help.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6333
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Brian!
How to Re-enter the Software Engineering Industry After a Career Break
Re-entering the software engineering industry after a career break can be a challenging yet rewarding journey. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this transition successfully.
1. Update Your Skills and Knowledge
The tech industry evolves rapidly, so it’s crucial to refresh your skills and knowledge. Here are some strategies:
Online Courses and Certifications: Platforms like Coursera, Udacity, and edX offer courses in the latest technologies such as cloud computing, machine learning, and web development frameworks (e.g., React, Angular). Consider obtaining certifications from recognized organizations (like AWS Certified Developer or Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate) that can enhance your resume.
Attend Workshops and Bootcamps: Many coding bootcamps offer intensive training programs designed for individuals looking to upskill quickly. Look for local or online options that focus on current technologies relevant to your area of expertise.
Self-Directed Learning: Utilize resources such as GitHub repositories, technical blogs, and YouTube tutorials to learn at your own pace. Building personal projects can also demonstrate your skills effectively.
Networking with Professionals: Join local tech meetups or online communities (like Stack Overflow or LinkedIn groups) where you can connect with other professionals. Engaging in discussions about recent trends will help you stay informed.
2. Addressing Your Career Gap
When it comes to addressing your career gap on your resume and during interviews, honesty combined with a positive spin is key:
Resume Strategy:
Functional Resume Format: Instead of a chronological format, consider using a functional resume that emphasizes your skills over the timeline of employment.
Include Relevant Projects: If you’ve worked on any personal projects during your break (even if they were not professional), include them in your resume under a section titled “Projects” or “Relevant Experience.”
Professional Development Section: Highlight any courses or certifications completed during your break to show continuous learning.
Interview Approach:
Be Honest but Brief: When asked about the gap, provide a concise explanation without going into excessive detail. Focus on what you learned during that time and how it has prepared you for re-entering the workforce.
Emphasize Readiness and Enthusiasm: Convey your eagerness to return to work and how you’ve kept up with industry changes. Share specific examples of new skills you’ve acquired or projects you’ve completed.
3. Recommended Resources and Programs
Here are some valuable resources tailored for someone looking to re-enter the software engineering field:
LinkedIn Learning: Offers numerous courses specifically designed for software engineers looking to update their skills.
Codecademy & freeCodeCamp: These platforms provide hands-on coding experience through interactive lessons which can be beneficial for brushing up on programming languages.
Tech Meetups & Conferences: Websites like Meetup.com list local tech events where you can network with professionals in the field while learning about current trends.
Mentorship Programs: Organizations like Women Who Code or Code2040 offer mentorship opportunities that could provide guidance as you transition back into the industry.
Job Boards Focused on Returning Professionals: Websites like Path Forward specialize in connecting companies with professionals returning from career breaks.
By following these steps—updating your skills, addressing gaps thoughtfully, and utilizing available resources—you’ll position yourself strongly for re-entry into the software engineering field. Remember that many employers value diverse experiences and perspectives; leverage yours as an asset!
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used
Coursera
A leading online learning platform offering courses from top universities and companies worldwide focused on technology-related subjects.
LinkedIn Learning
An educational platform providing video courses taught by industry experts across various fields including software development.
Women Who Code
A global nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring women to excel in technology careers through networking opportunities, mentorships, and skill-building resources.
GOD BLESS!
JC.
How to Re-enter the Software Engineering Industry After a Career Break
Re-entering the software engineering industry after a career break can be a challenging yet rewarding journey. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this transition successfully.
1. Update Your Skills and Knowledge
The tech industry evolves rapidly, so it’s crucial to refresh your skills and knowledge. Here are some strategies:
Online Courses and Certifications: Platforms like Coursera, Udacity, and edX offer courses in the latest technologies such as cloud computing, machine learning, and web development frameworks (e.g., React, Angular). Consider obtaining certifications from recognized organizations (like AWS Certified Developer or Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate) that can enhance your resume.
Attend Workshops and Bootcamps: Many coding bootcamps offer intensive training programs designed for individuals looking to upskill quickly. Look for local or online options that focus on current technologies relevant to your area of expertise.
Self-Directed Learning: Utilize resources such as GitHub repositories, technical blogs, and YouTube tutorials to learn at your own pace. Building personal projects can also demonstrate your skills effectively.
Networking with Professionals: Join local tech meetups or online communities (like Stack Overflow or LinkedIn groups) where you can connect with other professionals. Engaging in discussions about recent trends will help you stay informed.
2. Addressing Your Career Gap
When it comes to addressing your career gap on your resume and during interviews, honesty combined with a positive spin is key:
Resume Strategy:
Functional Resume Format: Instead of a chronological format, consider using a functional resume that emphasizes your skills over the timeline of employment.
Include Relevant Projects: If you’ve worked on any personal projects during your break (even if they were not professional), include them in your resume under a section titled “Projects” or “Relevant Experience.”
Professional Development Section: Highlight any courses or certifications completed during your break to show continuous learning.
Interview Approach:
Be Honest but Brief: When asked about the gap, provide a concise explanation without going into excessive detail. Focus on what you learned during that time and how it has prepared you for re-entering the workforce.
Emphasize Readiness and Enthusiasm: Convey your eagerness to return to work and how you’ve kept up with industry changes. Share specific examples of new skills you’ve acquired or projects you’ve completed.
3. Recommended Resources and Programs
Here are some valuable resources tailored for someone looking to re-enter the software engineering field:
LinkedIn Learning: Offers numerous courses specifically designed for software engineers looking to update their skills.
Codecademy & freeCodeCamp: These platforms provide hands-on coding experience through interactive lessons which can be beneficial for brushing up on programming languages.
Tech Meetups & Conferences: Websites like Meetup.com list local tech events where you can network with professionals in the field while learning about current trends.
Mentorship Programs: Organizations like Women Who Code or Code2040 offer mentorship opportunities that could provide guidance as you transition back into the industry.
Job Boards Focused on Returning Professionals: Websites like Path Forward specialize in connecting companies with professionals returning from career breaks.
By following these steps—updating your skills, addressing gaps thoughtfully, and utilizing available resources—you’ll position yourself strongly for re-entry into the software engineering field. Remember that many employers value diverse experiences and perspectives; leverage yours as an asset!
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used
Coursera
A leading online learning platform offering courses from top universities and companies worldwide focused on technology-related subjects.
LinkedIn Learning
An educational platform providing video courses taught by industry experts across various fields including software development.
Women Who Code
A global nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring women to excel in technology careers through networking opportunities, mentorships, and skill-building resources.
GOD BLESS!
JC.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
614
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Brian,
Re-entering the Software Engineering Industry
It's great to hear you're eager to dive back into software development. While taking a career break can be daunting, with the right approach, you can successfully re-enter the industry.
Updating Your Skills and Knowledge
The tech world moves rapidly.
To bridge the gap, focus on these areas:
Identify Core Skills: Review your previous roles to pinpoint your core competencies. These will be your foundation.
Learn New Technologies: Research the latest trends and technologies in your field. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and edX offer a vast array of courses.
Practice Regularly: Build projects to solidify your understanding of new concepts. Contribute to open-source projects or create personal projects.
Stay Updated with Industry Trends: Follow tech blogs, attend webinars, and join online communities to stay informed about industry developments.
Addressing the Career Gap
Honesty is key when addressing your career gap:
Be Proactive: Briefly mention the break in your resume, focusing on the positive aspects of your time away.
Highlight Transferable Skills: Emphasize how skills developed during your break (e.g., project management, problem-solving) are relevant to software development.
Showcase Your Passion: Demonstrate your enthusiasm for returning to the industry and your eagerness to learn new things.
Prepare a Strong Narrative: Have a clear and concise explanation for the career break, ready for interviews.
Resources and Programs
Consider these options to aid your re-entry:
Coding Bootcamps: Intensive programs can provide a structured learning environment and networking opportunities.
Mentorship Programs: Connect with experienced professionals who can offer guidance and support.
Networking Events: Attend industry events to reconnect with former colleagues and meet new people.
Online Communities: Participate in forums and groups to engage with other developers and share knowledge.
Remember: Your previous experience is valuable. Focus on showcasing your transferable skills and demonstrating your eagerness to learn and grow. With dedication and perseverance, you can successfully re-establish your career in software engineering.
Best wishes!
Re-entering the Software Engineering Industry
It's great to hear you're eager to dive back into software development. While taking a career break can be daunting, with the right approach, you can successfully re-enter the industry.
Updating Your Skills and Knowledge
The tech world moves rapidly.
To bridge the gap, focus on these areas:
Identify Core Skills: Review your previous roles to pinpoint your core competencies. These will be your foundation.
Learn New Technologies: Research the latest trends and technologies in your field. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and edX offer a vast array of courses.
Practice Regularly: Build projects to solidify your understanding of new concepts. Contribute to open-source projects or create personal projects.
Stay Updated with Industry Trends: Follow tech blogs, attend webinars, and join online communities to stay informed about industry developments.
Addressing the Career Gap
Honesty is key when addressing your career gap:
Be Proactive: Briefly mention the break in your resume, focusing on the positive aspects of your time away.
Highlight Transferable Skills: Emphasize how skills developed during your break (e.g., project management, problem-solving) are relevant to software development.
Showcase Your Passion: Demonstrate your enthusiasm for returning to the industry and your eagerness to learn new things.
Prepare a Strong Narrative: Have a clear and concise explanation for the career break, ready for interviews.
Resources and Programs
Consider these options to aid your re-entry:
Coding Bootcamps: Intensive programs can provide a structured learning environment and networking opportunities.
Mentorship Programs: Connect with experienced professionals who can offer guidance and support.
Networking Events: Attend industry events to reconnect with former colleagues and meet new people.
Online Communities: Participate in forums and groups to engage with other developers and share knowledge.
Remember: Your previous experience is valuable. Focus on showcasing your transferable skills and demonstrating your eagerness to learn and grow. With dedication and perseverance, you can successfully re-establish your career in software engineering.
Best wishes!
Khrystyna Pohodina
Software Engineer
2
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Khrystyna’s Answer
Hi Brian!
This might be one of the most challenging times to return to the engineering industry. People often don't share how much time they actually spent interviewing before receiving an offer. So, don't get discouraged if it takes longer to find a job, as there is significant competition in the market right now. Plan for the long run. Build your foundation by practicing leetcode problems, behavioral questions, and design questions daily. This is the only way to nail an interview in IT. Other things like your CV, LinkedIn profile, and social connections will help you get interviews on your calendar.
Regarding your break, it's important to highlight any engineering activities you engaged in during your free time, whether it was helping a friend with a startup or working on a personal project. Avoid making it seem like you only had leisure time, as this won't work in your favor. How you communicate your gap-time is crucial. It's normal to have career gaps for rest, family circumstances, or trying new things. Just don't assume that finding a job will be as easy as it was the last time you looked.
And good luck, you will definitely need it too!
This might be one of the most challenging times to return to the engineering industry. People often don't share how much time they actually spent interviewing before receiving an offer. So, don't get discouraged if it takes longer to find a job, as there is significant competition in the market right now. Plan for the long run. Build your foundation by practicing leetcode problems, behavioral questions, and design questions daily. This is the only way to nail an interview in IT. Other things like your CV, LinkedIn profile, and social connections will help you get interviews on your calendar.
Regarding your break, it's important to highlight any engineering activities you engaged in during your free time, whether it was helping a friend with a startup or working on a personal project. Avoid making it seem like you only had leisure time, as this won't work in your favor. How you communicate your gap-time is crucial. It's normal to have career gaps for rest, family circumstances, or trying new things. Just don't assume that finding a job will be as easy as it was the last time you looked.
And good luck, you will definitely need it too!
Rajesh Kumar Subbiah
Manager
39
Answers
Florham Park, New Jersey
Updated
Rajesh Kumar’s Answer
Re-entering the software engineering industry after a career break can be challenging but definitely achievable with the right strategy. Here are some steps and resources to help you make a smooth transition:
1. Update Your Skills and Knowledge
Stay Current with Industry Trends
Read Blogs and Articles: Websites like Medium, Dev.to, and Hacker News can help you stay updated on the latest trends and technologies.
Follow Influencers: Follow tech influencers and experts on LinkedIn and Twitter to keep up with the latest discussions and insights.
Take Online Courses and Certifications
Coursera: Offers courses from top universities. Consider specializations or professional certificates in web and application development.
edX: Similar to Coursera, with courses from institutions like MIT and Harvard.
Udacity: Nanodegree programs in various fields like Full Stack Development, Machine Learning, etc.
Udemy: Offers a wide range of courses, often at affordable prices.
Pluralsight: Known for its extensive tech courses and skill assessments.
Hands-On Practice
GitHub: Work on personal projects and contribute to open-source projects. This can also serve as a portfolio to show potential employers.
LeetCode, HackerRank, Codewars: Practice coding problems to brush up on your algorithm and data structure skills.
Explore New Technologies
Frameworks and Languages: Consider learning new frameworks (e.g., React, Angular for frontend; Node.js, Django for backend) and languages (e.g., Python, TypeScript).
Tools and Platforms: Familiarize yourself with modern development tools and platforms (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, Azure).
2. Addressing the Career Gap
Resume
Skill-Based Resume: Focus on your skills and achievements rather than a chronological format.
Projects and Courses: Highlight any projects or courses you completed during your break.
Volunteer Work: If you did any volunteer work or freelancing, include it to show you stayed engaged.
Cover Letter
Be Honest: Briefly explain your career break and emphasize your eagerness and preparedness to return.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Focus on your previous experience and recent efforts to update your skills.
Interviews
Preparation: Be ready to discuss your career break honestly and confidently. Focus on how you’ve stayed current and prepared for your return.
Emphasize Growth: Highlight any personal growth or skills you developed during your break, such as time management, problem-solving, or any new technical skills.
3. Resources and Programs
Returnship Programs
Some companies offer returnship programs designed for professionals re-entering the workforce:
Amazon Returnship Program
Goldman Sachs Returnship
IBM Tech Re-Entry Program
Intuit Again
Path Forward: Partners with various companies to offer returnship opportunities.
Networking and Community Involvement
Meetups: Join local or virtual meetups in your area of interest.
LinkedIn: Use LinkedIn to reconnect with former colleagues and expand your network.
Tech Conferences: Attend conferences and webinars to learn and network.
Mentorship and Coaching:
Mentorship Programs: Seek out mentorship programs such as MentorCruise or through professional organizations.
Career Coaching: Consider a career coach who specializes in tech industry re-entry.
By taking these steps, you can effectively update your skills, address your career gap, and confidently re-enter the software engineering industry. Best of luck on your journey back into tech!
1. Update Your Skills and Knowledge
Stay Current with Industry Trends
Read Blogs and Articles: Websites like Medium, Dev.to, and Hacker News can help you stay updated on the latest trends and technologies.
Follow Influencers: Follow tech influencers and experts on LinkedIn and Twitter to keep up with the latest discussions and insights.
Take Online Courses and Certifications
Coursera: Offers courses from top universities. Consider specializations or professional certificates in web and application development.
edX: Similar to Coursera, with courses from institutions like MIT and Harvard.
Udacity: Nanodegree programs in various fields like Full Stack Development, Machine Learning, etc.
Udemy: Offers a wide range of courses, often at affordable prices.
Pluralsight: Known for its extensive tech courses and skill assessments.
Hands-On Practice
GitHub: Work on personal projects and contribute to open-source projects. This can also serve as a portfolio to show potential employers.
LeetCode, HackerRank, Codewars: Practice coding problems to brush up on your algorithm and data structure skills.
Explore New Technologies
Frameworks and Languages: Consider learning new frameworks (e.g., React, Angular for frontend; Node.js, Django for backend) and languages (e.g., Python, TypeScript).
Tools and Platforms: Familiarize yourself with modern development tools and platforms (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, Azure).
2. Addressing the Career Gap
Resume
Skill-Based Resume: Focus on your skills and achievements rather than a chronological format.
Projects and Courses: Highlight any projects or courses you completed during your break.
Volunteer Work: If you did any volunteer work or freelancing, include it to show you stayed engaged.
Cover Letter
Be Honest: Briefly explain your career break and emphasize your eagerness and preparedness to return.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Focus on your previous experience and recent efforts to update your skills.
Interviews
Preparation: Be ready to discuss your career break honestly and confidently. Focus on how you’ve stayed current and prepared for your return.
Emphasize Growth: Highlight any personal growth or skills you developed during your break, such as time management, problem-solving, or any new technical skills.
3. Resources and Programs
Returnship Programs
Some companies offer returnship programs designed for professionals re-entering the workforce:
Amazon Returnship Program
Goldman Sachs Returnship
IBM Tech Re-Entry Program
Intuit Again
Path Forward: Partners with various companies to offer returnship opportunities.
Networking and Community Involvement
Meetups: Join local or virtual meetups in your area of interest.
LinkedIn: Use LinkedIn to reconnect with former colleagues and expand your network.
Tech Conferences: Attend conferences and webinars to learn and network.
Mentorship and Coaching:
Mentorship Programs: Seek out mentorship programs such as MentorCruise or through professional organizations.
Career Coaching: Consider a career coach who specializes in tech industry re-entry.
By taking these steps, you can effectively update your skills, address your career gap, and confidently re-enter the software engineering industry. Best of luck on your journey back into tech!
Aman Kumar
Software engineer
161
Answers
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Updated
Aman’s Answer
Hi Brian,
Welcome back to the journey of software development! Re-entering the industry after a break can indeed feel daunting, but with the right approach, you can align yourself with current industry standards quite effectively.
First, I recommend focusing on refreshing and updating your skills. The tech landscape changes rapidly, so pick a few key technologies or languages that are in demand. Websites like Codecademy or freeCodeCamp offer interactive courses that can help you quickly get up to speed with modern web and application development techniques. If you're interested in specializing, platforms such as Coursera or Udemy have comprehensive courses on popular frameworks like React, Angular, or Node.js, which employers are often looking for.
Additionally, contributing to open-source projects on GitHub is a fantastic way to get hands-on experience again and build a portfolio that showcases your skills to potential employers. Join communities on Reddit or Stack Overflow where you can ask questions and engage with current trends in technology.
When it comes to your resume, be honest about your break but focus on how you remained engaged with technology. If you took any online courses or worked on personal projects, list those. You can frame it as a period of growth and self-development, rather than just a career interruption. During interviews, prepare a concise narrative about your break; mention the skills or insights you gained that will now benefit your contributions to a new team.
Lastly, consider networking. Attend local meetups in Orlando or tech conferences where you can meet industry professionals. This is a great way to get your foot back in the door as many jobs come through personal connections. Best of luck, Brian! You got this!
Welcome back to the journey of software development! Re-entering the industry after a break can indeed feel daunting, but with the right approach, you can align yourself with current industry standards quite effectively.
First, I recommend focusing on refreshing and updating your skills. The tech landscape changes rapidly, so pick a few key technologies or languages that are in demand. Websites like Codecademy or freeCodeCamp offer interactive courses that can help you quickly get up to speed with modern web and application development techniques. If you're interested in specializing, platforms such as Coursera or Udemy have comprehensive courses on popular frameworks like React, Angular, or Node.js, which employers are often looking for.
Additionally, contributing to open-source projects on GitHub is a fantastic way to get hands-on experience again and build a portfolio that showcases your skills to potential employers. Join communities on Reddit or Stack Overflow where you can ask questions and engage with current trends in technology.
When it comes to your resume, be honest about your break but focus on how you remained engaged with technology. If you took any online courses or worked on personal projects, list those. You can frame it as a period of growth and self-development, rather than just a career interruption. During interviews, prepare a concise narrative about your break; mention the skills or insights you gained that will now benefit your contributions to a new team.
Lastly, consider networking. Attend local meetups in Orlando or tech conferences where you can meet industry professionals. This is a great way to get your foot back in the door as many jobs come through personal connections. Best of luck, Brian! You got this!