Subscribe
Menu Icon
Refresh Miami Logo
Search Icon
Sign Up Sign In

At the Tech Talent Summits and Fest, smart job-hunting advice was in abundance. Here’s some of the best.

Nancy Dahlberg
Nancy Dahlberg
PinLinkedIn

By Nancy Dahlberg

If you are a college student in computer science or a professional seeking your first role in tech, whether it is for an internship or full-time job, it’s never too early or too late to get your LinkedIn profile and resume primed to sell your best self, and to  learn from the experts about how to ace your interview and build your personal brand, giving you a leg up in the job world.

Experts gave incredible advice at Tech Talent Summits at Miami Dade College and Florida International University and the Tech Talent Fest held at FIU held this month. The three events were supported by Miami Tech Works, a collaborative initiative funded by a $10 million grant from the US Economic Development Administration that is aimed at growing a sustainable and inclusive tech talent pipeline for our region. Students and community members were also able to attend multiple workshops and discussions, get one-on-one advice on their resume, network with employers, and perhaps even get their professional headshot taken. Hundreds of students and community members turned out for the events.

 If you weren’t able to attend, we’re here to share some of the best insights and tips for you.

PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE: START WITH YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE

Miami Tech Works supported the South Florida Tech Hub and FIU to host the Tech Talent Fest on Nov. 18 on the FIU Campus. Training provider partners were in attendance including Miami Dade College, 4Geeks Academy, Florida Memorial University, OIC of South Florida.

Donna Serdula led a session about optimizing your LinkedIn profile. She is the author of LinkedIn Profile Optimization For Dummies and the founder and president of Vision Board Media, the company behind LinkedIn-Makeover.com that has helped thousands of professionals transform their LinkedIn profiles and personal brands. She’s also the co-founder of ReadySetYou.com.

 Here is some of her advice:

  • Start with a Strong Visual Impact. Your profile picture is your first impression—make it professional, approachable, and clear. Adding a #OpenToWork photo frame can help signal to recruiters that you’re actively seeking opportunities. Don’t forget the background image! Use it to subtly communicate your brand and values. It’s an underutilized space that sets the tone for your profile.
  • Make Your Headline Count. Your LinkedIn headline, follows you everywhere on the platform, so make it impactful. Max out the 220 characters by explaining who you are, what you do, and how you help. Infuse keywords relevant to your industry or role to improve your search visibility. A great tool to craft headlines is her free LinkedIn Headline Generator: LinkedIn Headline Generator.
  • Understand the Value of Open Profile. Open Profile is a feature available to Premium users, indicated by the gold “IN” icon on their profiles. While free users can’t enable Open Profile themselves, they can take advantage of this feature by recognizing that Premium users are often more accessible—anyone can message them, even without a first-degree connection. Keep an eye out for those profiles, as they’re often valuable for networking and reaching hiring managers and recruiters.
  • Tell Your Story Through Your Profile. Your LinkedIn profile isn’t just a resume; it’s your story. A successful profile speaks directly to your target audience in the first person. It includes keywords to boost discoverability, and it is future-oriented brand for where you want to go, not just where you’ve been.
  • Build a Memorable Network. Networking is key to standing out in tech. Be consistent by showing up regularly, both online and in person. Share your authentic experiences and stories to engage your audience. Give more than you take—add value by offering help, advice, or connections.

GET YOUR RESUME IN TIP-TOP SHAPE, TOO

FIU’s Experiential Learning in Technology and the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences along with Career and Talent Development hosted a Tech Talent Summit for currently enrolled FIU students on Nov. 8, and Miami Tech Works was there to support. Among the speakers was Emmanuela Stanislaus of CodePath, who shared tips on building an effective resume for a tech job or internship.

Stanislaus is a Career Liaison for CodePath, a nonprofit that delivers industry-vetted courses and career support in tech centered on the needs of Black, Latino/a, Indigenous, and low-income students. Her presentation was entitled “Interview-Worthy Resumes: CodePath’s Tips for Tech Success.” Here are some of her tips shared at the event:

Stay ahead of Miami Tech

Join 16,000+ founders, investors, and tech professionals.

Check your inbox for a confirmation email.
  • The work experience section is most important. Most recruiters and hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds reviewing a resume and most of their time is spent examining the work experiences section. Make sure that the section highlights your technical abilities and impact knowing that those reviewing it have limited time and are reviewing hundreds of resumes daily.
  • Write better bullets by using the what/how/why formula. Describe what you did and what technology you used, demonstrate how that helped the company or project, and why did it matter
  • Demonstrate the skills required in the jobs or  internship listing. That means means including keywords and technical skills mentioned in the listing – the applicant tracking system (ATS) will pick this up.
  • Get your resume reviewed by a mentor, a friend, a career coach, etc. Get it reviewed often so that you feel confident about your resume and how it reflects your experience.
CodePath’s Dr. Emmanuela Stanislaus, left, with Victoria Angulo and Karletty Medina.

HOW TO SHINE DURING THE TECHNICAL INTERVIEW

So you’ve landed a technical interview, congratuations! Now what? Amber Vanderburg of The Pathwayz Group delivered an interactive session focused on common technical interview questions and formats at a Tech Talent Summit held at Miami Dade College. The event was held on MDC’s North Campus on Nov. 6 and students and participants of Miami Tech Works training providers Miami Dade College, FIU, OIC of South Florida, Florida Memorial University, 4Geeks Academy, Ironhack attended. She also delivered a hands-on workshop and taught students about the importance of receiving feedback and applying those lessons at the Tech Talent Summit at FIU on Nov. 8.

Vanderberg is a keynote speaker, author, and founder of the international learning development company The Pathwayz Group, which has led 800,000+ learners in more than 75 countries in action-focused leadership and team development learning journeys. Here are some of her top tips about the interview process:

  • What is a recruiter looking for in a candidate? Somebody who is humble, hungry, and smart. Humble enough to admit mistakes, listen to feedback, and be coached. Hungry, not in appetite, but in drive. Hungry to improve, to be better, to raise the standard of excellence. And Smart – not only in IQ, but in EQ (emotional intelligence), someone who can do the job and work well with others.
  • How should I format my interview responses? Use the well-known STAR format. Set the stage by describing the scene or situation – where were you, when was this? S-situation… Then, describe the task – what was the challenge, opportunity you faced when you were in that situation. T-Task… Next, describe what you did! Talk about the action steps that you took! This should consume about 60 percent of your response. Talk specifically about what you did, not the team as a whole, to highlight your skills and insights. A-Action… And lastly, describe your results. What was the impact of your actions. R-Results. 
  • Advocate for your transferable skills by using the STAR-AR format.
    Situation/Task: When have I done that skill in the past?  
    Action: What made me successful in the past?  
    Result: Impact of that action  
    Applied Transferable Skill: How will I apply that here? 
    Result: Impact of the Action

LET YOUR PERSONAL BRAND SHINE

La’Shondra Johnson and Genevieve Carvil-Harris of Pitch It gave an energetic and dynamic session centered around effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills at the Tech Talent Summit Nov. 6 at Miami Dade College’s North Campus. In and after  interview, projecting confidence starts with body language, including a firm handshake and eye contact, and continues by asking questions and staying engaged, they said.

Johnson is a public speaking professional and coach, award-winning orator, and founder of Pitch It, a company offering coaching in public speaking and branding through presentations, interview skills, pitching, and more. Johnson shared three of her best tips from their presentation, “Building Your Professional Brand: Before + After Interviews!”:

  • Do your research! Know what problems or weaknesses the company may currently have and then have stories of how you are equipped to solve it. The more evidence you have (testimonials, videos, etc. that they can see, the easier the sell and promotions will be.
  • Network within the company and show off soft skills. Be ready to share your experiences and achievements, emphasizing your suitability for the role you desire. Network with people in similar roles. Make sure you are known and have consistent branding in who you are.
  • Remember the 3 E’s every time you are speaking and networking: Engage, Educate, and Entertain!

READ MORE IN REFRESH MIAMI:

Refresh Miami is a proud partner of Miami Tech Works

Nancy Dahlberg
Latest posts by Nancy Dahlberg (see all)