Job Searching During The Pandemic and Beyond as a Java Developer

COVID19 has not just made our lives extremely different or difficult but has also put our jobs at stake. No matter where in the organizational hierarchy you may rank, job security is not guaranteed. According to CareerExplorer, a platform that helps people find ideal careers, 20% of users have reported losing their jobs due to the outbreak, whereas only 5% from the software industry have lost their jobs. When 48% of all users polled about the insecurity of the jobs, only 31% of software-related job holders mentioned the volatility of their jobs. The difference in the numbers has a story to tell.

According to Matt McHugh, Exelaration Vice President for Mentoring and Growth at NextUp Solutions, which specializes in agile training, software development jobs are on the safe side as the role can be done anywhere. Furthermore, he said that development jobs for technology companies and other companies that provide essential services and goods would see no downfall due to the constant necessity and demand except for businesses that cater to restaurants, hotels, or similar industries.

If you are one of the unlucky developers caught in the wave of unemployment, fear not, you could take action. One, rise to the occasion or two, if you feel you've tried hard enough to look for a job and have not been hired, it's about understanding how to translate your capabilities into something that's current and in demand," says Becky Frankiewicz, president of ManpowerGroup North America. In other words, think skills, not job titles, as you could go horizontally to other corporate sectors than attempting to reach the "bunch of grapes" that is vertically a touch too high.

Rise to the occasion

What is the occasion and how do you rise?

The pandemic may bring about opportunities, for instance, the health department could require an app to keep track of people or there could be a requirement for software to monitor the movement of the people. With remote work being the best way to work during the pandemic, the chances of you landing a gig are higher. This is because companies may think twice about committing to a longer contract due to the precarious economic conditions, therefore, as a developer, you must not look a gift horse in mouth but rather take it with both hands.

According to his citation from Appen Limited's State of AI and Machine Learning Report, Zeus Kerravala, founder and principal analyst at ZK Research said that companies have doubled the investment for AI in 2020 as "Executives see AI as invaluable to their business success" so if you are looking for a career in Java, you'd be better off if you learn AI development.

Readily available resources such as online tutorials, blogs, and articles can be a good starting point. It is time to blend with the trends. Soft skills, coding skills, time management, problem-solving, and other skills significantly increase your chances of hiring. Last but not least, market yourself. Be it on LinkedIn or any other platform, showcase achievements, awards, and other relevant things that reflect your capabilities. By doing this you could draw the attention of companies offering java developer jobs.

Translating your capabilities 

When you know what you know, you know the skills that define you, not job titles.

"If you can beat your plowshares into pruning hooks and pruning hooks into plowshares as per the need of the hour, you can't be denied of a job.

The employment of a nursing student, an army diesel mechanic, and an English teacher into Mastercard's cyber-security technology team through "LaunchCode" a non-profit that educates people to work in technology, is a classic example that bears the burden of proof that titles are just names that cover a set of passion or skills. "You don't necessarily have to have a four-year degree, there's plenty of learning material online, free of charge. We have knowledge requirements, but what really stands out for us is people who bring personal drive and deep curiosity" said the Mastercard Chief People Officer, Michael Fraccaro. This is the time to reimagine what you want to do. Look at what you've done in the past and how it translates into the future.