Be Ready to Play the Long-Term Game

It’s 2024, and the tech market for engineers still looks very competitive, more engineers in the market, layoffs continued, amongst other

Some, having spent the last few months learning are looking to get their first job, while others are looking to land a new role having been affected by layoffs, others are looking to switch into new roles but it is looking daunting, yet still, some others are looking to just switch their career into tech and the way the market looks, they are unsure its a good decision considering the news and report.

One Thing is common to all — The tendency to give up soon and not to show up consistently. But am here to tell you that we all must realise that This period and season demand The willingness to play the long-term game on the field. What does this mean

• Be very good with your tech stack at the foundational level: Yes. I understand there are a lot of things to learn but it is important to know that the basics are the building blocks of any great shiny tool you see today. You should be willing to do the boring stuff over and over to gain mastery. You must be able to explain the why behind what you write. For example, I go back to learning the basics twice a year ( meaning, I devote 2 months in 1 year to go back to the basics). This is in a bid to reinforce my understanding and every time I do this, I gain a new insight into what I already way in a better and more enriching way. The goal is not to memorise everything but rather to comprehend the fundamentals and use resources like Google to fill in knowledge gaps as you progress.
• Create Impressive Projects: Ensure that your projects are visually appealing and fully branded. Instead of creating replicas, develop unique solutions with added features that enhance existing platforms. For instance, if you are building a Spotify clone, refrain from using the same name. Give your app a distinct identity and introduce improvements away from the norm- come up with a real problem from a challenge you had while using an app. Collaborate with fellow engineers and designers who are also seeking new opportunities. By combining your skills, you can create remarkable designs and implement them into your projects. This collaborative effort will result in impressive work that showcases your abilities in a great and presentable way.
• Cleanly document your project: Ensure that your project documentation is clear and comprehensive. Write a detailed case study that provides insight into your project’s architecture, design patterns, and use of third-party libraries. You can add this in the readme file of your project in your GitHub repository. Include video walkthroughs, Screenshots, file interactions, setup instructions to run on Xcode, and an overview of the app’s features along with instructions for testing each functionality. Your code should meet the standards for production-grade software, covering aspects such as accessibility, testability, scalability, and maintainability. For further inspiration, you can refer to my GitHub profile: https://github.com/ayodejiayankola
• The Job Search Journey — Take It Patiently: Success in the job search is a marathon, not a sprint. Each stage of the hiring process has its challenges, and your goal should be continual improvement as you progress through them. It starts with sending out resumes and receiving positive responses, but that is just the beginning. Next comes a meeting with HR, where you need to showcase your strengths, demonstrate excitement for the company and its culture, and effectively sell yourself. Asking thoughtful questions about the company’s goals and values can help demonstrate your interest and fit. If you impress in this stage, you will likely move on to technical challenges. These can take various forms depending on the company. It might be coding assessments where you need to practice problems and master data structures and algorithms. On the other hand, it could involve mobile-related assessments, where you demonstrate your technical skills and align your work with the company’s mobile development stack. Lastly, there could be assessments with technical leads, requiring you to delve deeply into your expertise and have in-depth technical discussions around your submission and how you think through problem-solving afterwards culture fit. As you prepare for interviews, keep these stages in mind. Focus on improving the specific skills needed for each stage and adapt your approach as you progress. Remember, it is a marathon, so prioritise continuous improvement rather than rushing through the process.

You might not do great in your first interview, but even if you stumble, keep learning, growing, and trying again until someone sees your potential and gives you a chance.

For some, it might take 6 months, while for others 9 months and yet others more than 1 year but you should be willing to PLAY THE LONG TERM GAME.

Your time will come soon. A new opportunity will show up

If you want to chat about ideas, get help with your iOS coding, find good courses as a beginner in iOS in order not to be struck in the tutorial loop, or plan your path into iOS software development, I can help. Just reach out!

You can book a session with me on ADPLIST through https://adplist.org/mentors/ayodeji-ayankola?session=31352-mentorship-session

Am here to provide support in ways I can