Podcast
Tech Job Search Strategy: Portfolio Projects, Resume Tips and Networking
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Tech Job Search Strategy: Portfolio Projects, Resume Tips and Networking
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Episode Overview
How do you turn portfolio projects, a sharper resume, and targeted networking into a successful tech job search? In this episode Sarah Mestiri — Data Scientist and Certified Career & Interview Coach with 6+ years in tech across startups, international firms and financial services (FIS) — walks through a practical job search strategy for career changers and return-to-work professionals. Sarah outlines a four-pillar framework (goals, networking, CV, strategy) and shows how to define your ideal role, choose a.
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Chapter Summary
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- 0:00 - Podcast Introduction
- 2:51 - Guest Introduction & Coaching Mission
- 4:00 - Career Path: Computer Science, Full-Stack to Data Science
- 5:39 - AdTech Experience & Thriving Career Moms Project
- 6:45 - Becoming a Career Coach: Community, Mentorship, First Mentees
- 9:27 - Client Profiles: Career Changers and Return-to-Work Support
- 10:59 - Four-Pillar Job Search Framework: Goals, Networking, CV, Strategy
- 14:30 - Defining Your Ideal Role: Tasks, Skills, and Future Vision
- 15:07 - Job Research: Role Analysis and Informational Interviews
- 17:52 - Choosing a Specialization: ML Engineering, Data Engineering, MLOps
- 20:01 - Narrowing Focus: Aligning Skills, Interests, and Market Demand
- 26:28 - Courses vs Projects: Validate Skills Through Practical Work
- 29:35 - Target Company Selection: Build a Top-5 Company List
- 31:40 - Networking Value: Weak Ties, Referrals, and Opportunity Sources
- 32:17 - Informational Interview Best Practices: Outreach and Preparation
- 34:18 - Crafting Outreach Messages: Personalization and Short Asks
- 36:10 - Key Informational Interview Questions: Day-to-Day & Success Factors
- 37:52 - Building Mutual Value: Offer Help and Maintain Relationships
- 41:17 - Networking Action Plan: Weekly Outreach and Re-engagement
- 45:05 - Resume Strategy: Prioritizing Projects, Skills, and Storytelling
- 47:32 - Self-Research Methods: Company Analysis and Skill Matching
- 49:18 - Strength & Interest Assessments: Gallup, HIGH5, MyNextMove
- 50:08 - Part-Time Work Strategy: Timing, Negotiation, and Flexibility
- 53:30 - Age and Career Change: Emphasize Results and Transferable Skills
- 55:58 - Applying During Courses: Share Learnings and Build Visibility
- 1:00:26 - Recommended Resources: Tests, Books, Podcasts, MyNextMove