Important things to know
The tech industry is one of the most exciting and fast-growing sectors globally, offering countless opportunities in countries like the UK, the US, and Canada. However, breaking into the field as an immigrant, especially when you are transitioning careers, can feel overwhelming.
Many professionals find themselves asking:
“How can I get a job in tech in the UK with no experience?”
“What tech skills are in demand in the US?”
“How can I get a tech internship in the UK/US/Canada without prior experience?”
The good news is that the road to gaining tech experience as an immigrant in the UK, US or even Canada is not only achievable, but it’s also filled with opportunities. And with the right steps, you can gain the experience needed to thrive in the global tech industry.
This guide will walk you through actionable steps to gain tech experience whether you are in the UK, US, or Canada, and the best place to apply for an internship and gain real world experience that gets you hired faster.
Let’s go…
Step 1: Understand the Tech Landscape in the UK, US, and Canada
Regardless of where you are, it's essential to understand the tech landscape in the country you're targeting. Each region has unique opportunities, requirements, benchmark, and visa programs designed to help skilled tech workers thrive. You can accomplish this by:
- Researching Job Markets: Use websites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed to familiarize yourself with the job landscape. These popular sites give you insights into in-demand roles and the skills required to land them.
- Exploring Tech Visa Options: Many countries, including Canada and the UK, offer specialized tech visas for skilled professionals. Understanding these programs early on can simplify your application process and help you find the right opportunities in the UK, US, and Canada.
Step 2: Build In-Demand Tech Skills
Once you understand the tech landscape you are operating in, it is easy for you to know the in-demand skills you need to build to easily land a job.
You can build these skills by:
- Taking Online Courses and Certifications: Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and 10Alytics offer excellent resources for building your tech knowledge. Areas such as Data science/ engineering/analysis, project management, business analysis and cybersecurity are in high demand across the US, Canada, and the UK.
- Staying Current with Industry Trends: This is non-negotiable as things change very quickly in the tech ecosystem. Follow tech blogs, join LinkedIn groups, and attend online webinars, etc. These will help you stay on top of the latest trends and also help you evolve with the change.
Step 3: Gain Practical Tech Experience
Many job seekers have come to realize that merely having knowledge of a particular tech skill is not enough to land their desired role. Now, hiring managers require you to have prior work experience to validate the skills you claim to have.
This experience shows hiring managers that you are capable of delivering value for the company as early as possible and that you are an investment not an added burden on their payroll.
However, you need a job to get the work experience but if the jobs available are not willing to bring you on board because you lack experience, what can you do?
- Internships/ Work Experience Programs: This is one of the best ways to gain hands-on tech experience. Internships give you exposure to real-world business challenges while helping you develop the skills that employers want to see. Amdari offers an internship program that provides the hands-on experience hiring managers seek. Learn more about the program here.
- Freelancing: Freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr provide opportunities to work on real-world tech projects for clients across the globe. Freelancing is an excellent way to build your portfolio while showcasing your ability to work independently.
- Volunteer Projects: Volunteering is a low hanging fruit you can leverage to help build your tech skills. Plus, it’s a great way to network and gain references for future paid roles.
Step 4: Network and Build Meaningful Connections
Here is the thing, you do not know where your next job opportunity will come from; it could come from you applying with your CV, a recruiter reaching out to you on LinkedIn, or members of your network referring you for job openings.
So, the next question is, how strong is your network?
Networking plays a crucial role in finding job opportunities, especially in today’s competitive job market where jobs are rarely advertised.
Building a strong professional network can help you uncover hidden job opportunities and provide valuable insights into the local tech market.
Here is how you can build or expand your network:
- Join Tech Communities: Join groups or online forums that are related to your area of expertise. This provides an opportunity for you to engage with others, exchange ideas, learn about industry trends, and discover job opportunities.
- Attend Webinars and Conferences: Conferences and networking events (both online and in-person) are great for meeting industry professionals and potential employers, expanding your network, and staying informed on the latest trends.
- Leverage LinkedIn: Keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date, post regularly and strategically to position yourself as a subject matter expert.
Step 5: Tailor Your Resume and Job Applications for Global Markets
Once you’ve built your skills and gained work experience, it’s time to craft a resume and cover letter that stand out to hiring managers in the UK, US, and Canada.
- Adapt to Local Expectations: In the US and Canada, resumes are typically concise and focus on achievements, while in the UK, CVs often provide more detail, including a summary of skills. Regardless of the country, just make sure to highlight any eligibility to work in the country.
- Highlight Transferable Skills: Even if your tech work experience is limited, focus on problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills, all highly valued abroad.
- Showcase Remote Work: As more companies abroad embrace remote work, employers appreciate candidates who can work across time zones and manage projects independently.
Step 6: Stay Resilient and Keep Pushing Forward
Breaking into the UK tech ecosystem isn’t easy, but it’s possible. Persistence and resilience are key to overcoming the initial hurdles you’d face and setting yourself up for success.
As you search for your next role, you need to keep the following in mind:
- Rejection is a natural part of any job search. Use it as an opportunity to learn and refine your approach.
- Connecting with mentors who have successfully navigated similar challenges is going to help you in ways that cannot be accurately captured in this post.
- Embrace continuous learning throughout your career progression.
So, now that you know the 6 steps you need to take to help you land your dream role, let’s explore…
How Amdari Can Help You Gain the Work Experience Hiring Managers Expect
Amdari is a platform designed to help aspiring tech professionals acquire real work experience hiring managers expect. We accomplish this through our internship and project-based work experience program.
The program focuses on in-demand fields like:
- Data Analytics
- Data Engineering
- Data Science
- Cybersecurity ( GRC, SOC, Ethical Hacking)
- Project Management
- Business Analytics
- HR Analytics
- Financial Analytics
These are areas identified by the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report as key growth sectors for the next decade.
By gaining practical experience in these fields, you'll be better equipped to land job opportunities abroad, especially in the UK, US, and Canada, where local work experience is often a requirement.
If you would love to find out more about what we offer, click here to book a call with a career coach.
