Tech Dive

Welcome back to The Tech Dive! It has been a while since the last blog as I spent the last few months of 2024 studying for two Microsoft certifications. I am now back in the blog space and thought my experience of studying for, and passing, two certifications in short succession would make an interesting first blog back. Introduction So what are Microsoft certifications? In a nutshell, they are qualifications offered by Microsoft that show that the holder is proficient in certain Microsoft technologies and technical skills. There are many different certifications and certification pathways (groups of similar certifications) for all different skill points. Microsoft certifications are a great way to evidence your technical skills to your current or potential future employers. In fact many employers will fund the cost of Microsoft certifications for employees! It is definitely worth investigating this with your employer; you could save on the entry cost of between £60 and + £200. This bl...

Firstly a little disclaimer - this month's blog is an updated version of an old blog post I published on my LinkedIn - summer holidays really stole my time this month!

So you want to switch careers and enter the tech sector? Who wouldn’t! A career where you can be constantly learning, be on the cutting edge of new developments and it’s famous flexibility making it an ideal for those with family commitments (or who just like a modern, flexible career). However, is this dream career switch just that - a dream? Or is it something that is realistically achievable for those who are already working in demanding careers? This month’s blog post will explore exactly that… keep reading. What a career switcher has to offer Let’s start with the positives - as a career switcher you will have so much to offer a potential new employer in the tech sector. Here are just a few points: Transferable Skills Yo’ve likely heard this many times, but the skills you have gained in your previous career make you an asset to potential employers in the tech sector. Unlike graduate hires, career switchers can demonstrate, examples of excellent communication, times they have manage...

So you have taken the plunge and have signed up to your first hackathon or tech challenge! This blog post will provide you with the tips you need to make your first hackathon run as smoothly as possible, and will *hopefully* help lead you to a win! What is a hackathon? A hackathon is an event where developers, and other technical professionals, work together on a project over a relatively small timeframe. The specifics vary from hackathon to hackathon: Some last 24 hours, others two months. Some are team based whilst others are individual. Some allow prep time and others do not allow any prior preparation. Taking part in a hackathon is a great way to develop your technical and soft skills and build a portfolio of projects to show off in the future. Hackathons are also a great way to practice working collaboratively, which is an essential skill for any developer. So on to the tips… Before the hackathon Read over the rules and requirements of the hackathon properly.  Some hackathons...