Okay, tell me, where do you basically start from when you are finally resuming something which you’ve left mid-way some time ago? The obvious answer might be from where we left off, right? Well, I follow a different approach. Let me share what it is and why I choose to do it this way.
Let me start with a scenario I actually went through a couple of months back when I started thinking about my first career switch. After going through a dozen job descriptions from the current market, I got myself ready with a list of items that I needed to be prepared for.
Assessing the Starting Point
When you restart, it’s tempting to pick up exactly where you left off. But what if the landscape has changed? What if the requirements have evolved or new opportunities have emerged? That’s why I believe the first step in restarting is reassessing your starting point.
For instance, in my case, I noticed that the tech industry had advanced rapidly since I had last explored new roles. Skills that were cutting-edge a few years ago were now prerequisites, and emerging technologies were becoming the new norm. So, applying or following the same pattern or approach is most likely not to be effective or not give you the expected results.
Evaluate What Has Changed
To restart effectively, I needed to understand the current trends and demands of the market. I took the following steps:
- Research the Current Landscape: I spent time exploring the latest technologies, tools, and frameworks that were gaining traction. This included reading industry blogs, attending webinars, and engaging in tech communities.
- Identify Skill Gaps: I compared my existing skill set against the requirements listed in the job descriptions I was interested in. This helped me identify the gaps in my knowledge and skills.
- Understand Industry Expectations: I reached out to professionals in my network who were already working in the roles I aspired to. Their insights were invaluable in understanding what employers were looking for in potential candidates.
Refreshing the Fundamentals
Once I had a clear picture of the current state, I realized that jumping straight back into advanced topics without a solid foundation could be overwhelming. So, my next step was to refresh the fundamentals.
- Revisit Core Concepts: I revisited the basics of coding, algorithms, and system design. This helped me build a strong base to tackle more complex challenges.
- Upskill: I filled my knowledge gaps by making use of the ocean of open-source resources available. Numerous blogs and YouTube videos became my go-to resources. I have never regretted the time I spent finding the right resources in the open-source knowledge pool and all the gems I discovered along the way.
- Practice Coding: To sharpen my skills, I regularly practiced coding on online platforms. You’ve heard this right: it's not the intensity but consistency that matters—consistency over intensity. Those who have done this know well that consistency works magic. This also prepared me for the technical interviews that lay ahead.
Building on a Strong Foundation
With the fundamentals refreshed and the knowledge gaps filled, I moved on to building on this strong foundation. This phase involved diving into more advanced topics and hands-on projects.
- Work on Personal Projects: I started building personal projects that aligned with the technologies and roles I was aiming for. This practical experience was crucial in solidifying my understanding and showcasing my capabilities to potential employers.