How to futureproof your tech career with Ruben Harris - Product Hunt Radio Recap

Podcast: Product Hunt Radio

Published: 2020-01-08

Duration: 48 min

Guests: Ruben Harris

Summary

Ruben Harris, CEO of Career Karma, discusses strategies for future-proofing a tech career, emphasizing the importance of transparency, mentorship, and community support.

What Happened

Ruben Harris, CEO of Career Karma, shares his insights on future-proofing a tech career by leveraging community support and accessible training programs. Harris highlights Career Karma's mission to democratize access to job training programs by offering free support and mentorship to aspiring software engineers. He explains that Career Karma's app matches individuals with coding boot camps and provides ongoing support through small groups called squads, as well as access to coaches.

Harris recounts his own journey from investment banking to tech, emphasizing the need for guidance and mentorship. He reveals that Career Karma was designed as the product he and his co-founders wished they had when breaking into the tech industry. The platform aims to make the tech industry more accessible by providing transparency about roles, skills, and training programs.

Discussing the evolution of Career Karma, Harris notes the importance of staying current with industry changes and ensuring transparency in outcomes for training programs. Career Karma has built a directory of over 450 coding boot camps and created resources like the State of the Market Income Share Agreement report to inform users about financial options for training.

Harris encourages hiring managers to widen their talent pool by considering candidates from diverse backgrounds and training programs. He compares the tech industry to the music industry, where success is based on ability rather than background, and emphasizes that most software developers are self-taught.

For individuals looking to level up their skills, Harris advises choosing programs that hold themselves accountable for job placement and suggests connecting with current participants in those programs for the most relevant information. He underscores the importance of discipline, consistency, and community support in achieving career goals.

Harris discusses qualities that make a standout engineer, such as strong communication skills, humility, and passion. He stresses the value of authenticity and the ability to express oneself in a workplace environment. Passion should be demonstrated through work and projects, not just words.

Finally, Harris provides resources for those interested in exploring Career Karma further, including their app, podcast, and YouTube channel. He emphasizes the importance of taking action and seeking support from the Career Karma community to achieve career success.

Key Insights