Main image of article The Ultimate Guide to Every Stage of a Successful Tech Career

Whether you’re just starting out in tech or settling into a senior role, you need good advice. What’s the best way to negotiate for a raise or promotion? How can hybrid and remote work boost your career? Is there an ideal method of setting long-term goals?

These questions (and many others) are the focus of the latest edition of Dice’s Ultimate Guide to a Successful Tech Career. No matter what your role, skills, or specialization, there’s a good chance you’ll find things in this e-book you can use to accomplish your short- and long-term goals.

The key sections include: 

Entering the tech industry hinges on building up technology knowledge. To that end, technology professionals have four options: college, bootcamps, self-learning and internships. 

Landing your first role is centered on the all-important cover letter and resume, building a strong online presence, networking, interviewing, onboarding and more. 

The early stages of a tech career are complex but rewarding. Making the most of this phase can be accomplished by embracing short-term goal setting, understanding the value of continuing education and certifications, finding a mentor and more. This section also explores issues around maximizing salary, risk-taking and creativity and preparing for the next career move. 

Once they’ve launched their tech career, the next stage is to solidify it. As tech professionals ascend from entry-level to mid-level and management positions, they’ll find that soft skills such as communication become as vital as technical skills. This section delves into work structure, long-term goal setting and advice for how to make the jump from a manager to a leader.

Despite some economic jitters, the tech unemployment rate stands at 2.1 percent. “We can infer from the data that aggregate demand for tech talent remains strong enough to offset any pockets of weakness,” Tim Herbert, chief research officer at CompTIA, wrote in a statement accompanying the organization’s monthly employment data. While that’s encouraging news, keep in mind that the best opportunities come to those who keep their skills up-to-date—and who can leverage their experience in job interviews and quarterly reviews.