Tips From a Top Tech Recruiter | How To Land a Tech Job With No Experience? Bootcamps vs. Degrees?

Hi friends! Welcome to my new series: TALK TECH WITH TIFF! Where I am sitting down with industry professionals to hear about their career journeys and current roles.

I created this series to hear from people who are established in the tech industry, so that we can all learn what these individuals do in their day to day job and the types of opportunities that are out there. This is a bi-weekly series that will air on Thursdays.

0:00 Intro
0:50 What does a tech recruiter do?
0:58 What should you include when reaching out to recruiters?
2:49 What makes a good candidate stand out?
4:12 What makes a candid stand out in a bad way?
5:20 Advice for people getting into tech with no experience?
6:05 How many projects should you have in your portfolio?
6:50 What is a typical recruitment process like?
8:45 Having a gap in your resume
9:48 Coding Bootcamps vs Degrees?
13:37 What has changed in the recruitment process?
15:00 How to get into Technical Recruitment?
16:13 What advice would you give your younger-self?

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// My Story

I am currently a software developer who once modeled and thought I wanted to pursue a career in the fashion industry. While I was modeling in Hong Kong, I eventually felt the desire to further my education. I decided to depart the modeling world and move back to Canada, knowing that could be the end of my modeling opportunities. I attended Ryerson University for GCM (Graphic Communications Management), as I thought I might still work in the fashion industry in another capacity. It was in my last year of university, I was introduced to a very basic coding course. I instantly fell in love. From there I knew I wanted to pursue software development but didn't have a clue where to start. I didn't want to go back to university as I just completed a four-year degree. I decided to enroll in a 10-week intensive coding Bootcamp. From there I started working at a small startup learning and growing my technical and soft skills. I then transitioned to a larger company where I am a software developer and technical consultant today.

Tips From a Top Tech Recruiter | How To Land a Tech Job With No Experience

#TopTechRecruiter #HowToLandaTechJob #TiffInTech

[dianathomas]

Employers are missing out on many great minds in tech by emphasising networking and soft skills in the recruitment process. Many people in this field are introverts, tending towards solitary work, shying away from group activities and social chit chat.

[Lemurai]

The interview process makes me grateful that I’m self employed. It’s just the thought that I went through all that in uni just so I can go beg someone for a job, it’s crazy. Any volunteer work, internships I did & clubs I participated in were purely for my own skills development, so I didn’t have to ask for a job after graduation. I wish more would do the same, industry wants drones & wage slaves, not thinkers & innovators.

[hamzashabbir]

Can't say how much we as upcoming graduates need to hear these conversations ❤ Thank you so much tiff for this 🧡

[PoojaDutt]

This information is so vital! Especially as more people are opting for a “non traditional” approach to learning computer science! Excited to watch!

[algeriennesaffaires]

A tech recruiter without programming experience interviewed me but she has no experience about programming, and me being honest not lying and saying i know all technologies, even im full stack and mobile developer with 8 years of experience she decided to not go withe me, and choose the others who lies about technologies but she wasn't able to know they're lying, this is sad

[jermainemyrn]

Isn't being self taught considered "sticking with something" in the highest form of example? I would hire self taught over degree because self taught probably has actual experience.

[Nedwin]

The intro, the opening statement, the video quality, the talk, it's all awesome Tiff!! Really worth waiting. You are definitely the next Youtube tech rock star!!

[claraharmonson]

This video is gold. Recently flopped a virtual panel interview and a recorded interview 🙃 but this makes me feel so much better! Thank you for this!

[gilsonjuniorpro]

I had the opportunity to have Lisa as my recruiter, which was a charming experience. She helped me during my interviews and made me feel comfortable talking with the interviewers.

[gregunn]

Keep up the great work, stoked to see a 🇨🇦 developer like you work out loud and help others learn!

[ashleymudell]

This is so helpful thank you! As someone who chose a "non-traditional" route to tech, I feel like we sacrifice the job placement that college offers.

[josephlee]

I am 45 years old with very little set aside for retirement at this point. I have always been curious about the stock market and have witnessed some people who played the game right and retired early because they used the stock market. When I ask them, most said that they invested very little to start with, but their portfolio grew. I do have a significant amount of capital that is required to start up but I have no idea what strategies and direction I need to approach to help me make decent returns

[anna-iecf]

Thank you so much for this video. It resonated so much with me. I had some serious doubts about having a career change (from healthcare to tech) but this interview was so enlightening. It has reminded me that the path will be long and hard, for sure. But the tougher the journey, the better the “storyline “ as she puts it.. After all, there is no sweeter victory than overcoming what is seemingly impossible at first.
I like your content and the structure of your videos. Concise without being dry. Interesting and genuine at the same time, not clickbaity at all. I’m truly impressed!

[lidstech]

Thank you so much for this one!💚
I just started the job 'hunting' process after bootcamp, and everything here is so helpful to me.

[manoelvitor]

the evolution of your channel is incredible.
congratulations

[eurekam]

Thanks Lisa and Tiff for these really really helpful tips!! And I feel more confident and motivated now. Again, thank you so much!

[steelangelariana]

This new serie is amazing, so many tips, thank you so much Tiff! Love it!

[Tylee]

Am overjoyed that I stumbled by this particular interview/ conversation. I’ve learned a lot in just 16mins. Thank you both very much.

[Enrique-sxdt]

Thank you for this Tiff! I remember 3 months ago when I started my bootcamp you gave me words of encouragement to keep going. Fast forward to today am 2 weeks from graduating and currently in the struggle of job hunting!

[subliminakeys]

I feel more business need to understand what a college degree is for most young people.
They chose something because they needed to, not necessarily because they love it.
They often party and skate through with bare minimum effort and only finish because it costs so much money.
It often has nothing to do with dedication.
a self taught programmer, if they are actually strict about their learning and know how to teach themselves properly, they are way more dedicated, resilient and will be a more profitable hire for most employees .

With that said, there is the opposite scenario for both sides.
Some self taught people just aren't good at it, or they skip a ton of information cause they don't want to learn it.
There's also college students that take it very serious and do side projects at home to actually build skills.

If you only rely on what college teaches you, you are essentially useless to any employer on day 1. Where as if a self taught person was focused and built projects they entire time... They know how to effectively use the languages they pursued and also have skills in modern things that schools don't teach you like react etc...