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The top 4 skills to boost your chance of getting a tech job straight out of college

The top 4 skills to boost your chance of getting a tech job straight out of college

Want to know the skills that will make your resumé stand out amongst the rest?

Check out the skills that will help you impress employers and how to learn them fast.

Do you ever worry about landing a job after college or unsure of the skills that will get you noticed by employers?

Anxiety around taking your first steps on the career ladder is a common one. That’s why we’ve compiled four of the top skills that will get your resumé noticed.

Start building these skills now to feel prepared and confident when it comes time to write your next job application!

1. Coding

If you’re looking for a job where you can make a lot of money, learning to code is a fantastic skill to have under your belt.

In fact, half of high-paying jobs now require coding as an essential skill, so if you know how to code, be sure to mention it in your resumé!

How to learn coding

If you’re new to coding or programming and don’t know where to start, there are many coding courses you can do from home in your own time.

You can also learn to code in CyberStart’s Moon base, where you’ll use a popular coding language called Python.

Discover the programmes that give you free access to CyberStart here.

2. Adaptability

You may think soft skills like adaptability seem unimpressive compared to technical skills, but they shouldn’t be underestimated. Companies are looking at your soft skills more than ever!

Adaptability will catch many employers’ attention for a few reasons:

  • First, employers find that new college graduates often lack the skills they’re looking for, and instead would prefer to train you from scratch. Being open to learning new skills or re-training yourself in areas you may already have experience in will be a huge advantage.
  • Second, many job roles provide new challenges daily. Being able to wear different hats and adapt quickly to new tasks will always win favour with your employer.

So, instead of thinking that your technical skills will always set you apart, don’t forget to include soft skills in your resumé, and always give examples to demonstrate them.

Learn more about fast tracking your career by visiting www.cyber-fasttrack.org

3. Analytical skills

Sorry math haters, working with numbers is a big plus on many employers’ lists!

You won’t be expected to solve the mysteries of the universe using complex algorithms (although if that’s you’re plan we’re really impressed), but having some confidence with numbers is a requirement on many job listings.

Depending on the role you’re going for, analytical skills may be required for tasks like compiling data, budgeting, analysing trends, programming and more.

Knowing your numbers pays off, so keep strengthening those analytical muscles!

4. Problem-solving

Problem-solving is a great life skill in general but can be especially useful in the tech and cyber security fields. In the cyber security field, problem-solving can help you find solutions to complex issues, fix security flaws and work out the steps needed to ethically hack into systems.

By 2025, the cyber security sector is expected to have 7 million unfilled jobs, so if you’re looking for an industry with plenty of jobs available, cyber security is one of the best routes to go down.

And with most industries functioning at least somewhat online, cyber security roles are needed across almost every sector, giving you an inlet into thousands of different fields.

How to strengthen your problem-solving skills

One of the most effective ways to strengthen your problem-solving skills is by working through practical challenges. Thankfully, there are lots of resources online where you can learn to become a problem-solving master.

A quick internet search will give you many websites where you can solve puzzles and strengthen your problem-solving skills, but since you’re already here, give CyberStart’s mind-stretching challenges a go for free!

It’s an amazing opportunity to develop your problem-solving skills, and even introduce you to a possible future career.” - Aiden, CyberStart player

Start building desirable skills with CyberStart. See if you’re eligible for one of CyberStart’s free programmes to access all 200+ challenges and expert resources, or register for a free account to access 12 free challenges in Intern base.

All of these programmes are entirely free, and feature CyberStart!

CyberStart America

What is it?

A fun programme developed to help you discover your talent, advance your skills and win scholarships in cyber security.

Who's it for?

13-18 year old high school students in the US only.

Awesome! How can I find out more?
www.cyberstartamerica.org

Cyber FastTrack

What is it?

The fastest and most cost-effective route to a career in cyber security via free training and exclusive scholarship opportunities.

Who's it for?

College students in the US only.

Great! How can I find out more?
www.cyber-fasttrack.org

CyberStart Canada

What is it?

A free programme teaching cyber security to high school students in Canada through CyberStart's immersive learning platform.

Who's it for?

Students between the ages of 13-18 nationwide.

Nice! How can I find out more?
www.cyberstartcanada.com