Technology
Tech is an exciting industry that is ever-growing and ever-changing. We use technology in almost every aspect of our lives. There is a high demand for creative problem solvers who can innovate, iterate, and find solutions to tough questions that will make technology even more efficient and accessible.
You may think that tech jobs are limited to software engineering, using only programming skills. That is far from the truth. There are roles in tech for people who like using business skills, like a product manager. This person coordinates a team and facilitates the growth of a product from inception to market launch. Data scientists use analytical skills to make informed decisions and improve processes. If you like the intersection of biology and tech, you may consider bioinformatics. Other specialty areas include AI, UI/UX, Natural Language Processing, and Machine Learning.
Tech is a dynamic industry that welcomes people of all skill sets and is worth exploring for all!
Meet your Advisor!
Dale Osef
he/him/his
Assistant Director of STEM and Health Careers
Resources to Prepare
Job & Internship Search
The tech job and internship search can seem complex and daunting. However, it can be well-managed with some organization and a thoughtful approach.
Prioritization is a very important concept in the tech job and internship search. Make a three-tiered prospect list in a Google/Excel Sheet. Include tabs for high-priority, medium-priority, and low-priority (some call these “backup” or “safety”) roles. In each tab, include columns for organization, role, posting link, contact (alumni or other person in your network), your contact’s email and LinkedIn, last point of contact, and the day you applied to the role. Staying organized will help you avoid frustration and confusion when applying to opportunities in tech.
While LinkedIn and Indeed are good tools for finding out who’s hiring, their postings can be oversaturated with applicants. Bookmarking careers websites from organizations on your prospect list is a better strategy. Apply directly through the website, so you don’t have to comb through as many postings on the big jobs boards.
Some other places to see who’s hiring include the simplify jobs and internships Github repos. Looking for startups? Check out the Builtin Network. Most tech hubs (SF, Seattle, NYC, Austin, etc.) will have a Builtin website with startup jobs boards for that area. Take a look at builtinboston, for example. Massbio is one of the largest consortiums for biotech in the nation and it’s centered here in Massachusetts. There is also the Mass Fintech Hub that posts jobs in that industry in the Greater Boston Area. Idealist is a great place to look for tech jobs in the non-profit sector and usajobs will help you find tech jobs in government. Williams also partners with Interstride to identify roles with companies that sponsor visas for international students. Lastly, you can take a look at our airtable base for special tech opportunities that come directly to Williams staff and faculty.
Job & Internship Search
The recruiting timeline in tech is fairly predictable, which can be both a stressor and a relief. Large and medium-sized tech companies usually begin recruiting for summer internships and new grad roles the summer before you can anticipate starting. This primary recruiting season continues through late fall, and offers are usually made by the end of the fall semester. Should you choose this route, you will need to consider polishing your tech resume and completing online assessments (OAs), behavioral interviews, and technical interviews.
Do not fear if you do not find what you are looking for in the fall semester. A secondary recruiting peak for large and medium companies occurs in January and February. Startups typically pick up their hiring in the spring, mainly March-May.
Williams students, empowered by a liberal arts education, are uniquely poised for a rewarding career in the technology industry. Employers are also convinced that new hires from broader educational backgrounds are incredibly valuable. Check out these resources that can help you secure a great position in Tech:
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- Williams's Computer Science Department lists a collection of summer internships.
- @cs_opp on Twitter posts "opportunities for undergraduates in Computer Science, including industry/academia/government internships, scholarships, fellowships, etc.".
- Pathways to Science also has a great directory of available research internships.
- CareerKarma keeps a great list of technical boot camps to build up industry-specific skills (many students without a Computer Science degree can still find tech jobs through these certificates!)
- Massachusetts clean energy center is a good platform for those students interested in clean energy + tech to find employers.
Recruiting Timelines
It is always to your advantage to start applying for positions as early as possible. Make sure to fill out your profile and career interests in Handshake to ensure you receive communication from our office regarding job postings, events, and interviews. We also encourage you to set up alerts in Handshake for the employers you are interested in.
Startup Guides
These curated in-depth guides below will help you get a closer look at each of the most popular fields in the industry. You should be able to find answers to the most common questions, get started with the Industry Primer.
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