Here's how you can excel in the late career job market as a computer science professional.

There's an old saying: "A jack of all trades is a master of none." Don't just take courses for the sake of checking them off a list. It's more important to be methodical and create a roadmap for your goals. Do you want to be a backend engineer or a cloud engineer? Find a blueprint for that path and select your courses accordingly. When choosing a course, make sure the instructor is concise and makes the best use of your time. Break the course material into manageable parts and tackle them weekly. Aim to spend 15 minutes to an hour on it daily to avoid burnout. If your company offers free learning resources, take advantage of them. If you can, attend conferences or local tech clubs and participate in their workshops.

Being genuine, curious, and intentional in your interactions can open unexpected opportunities. I landed a research position in college simply by asking questions during lunch. I noticed peers involved in research or tutoring and learned a friend of a friend worked in a lab. Our conversation led to an invitation and soon, I was working with him. Some may call it luck, but being in the right place at the right time is also part of networking. Attend conferences, join clubs, and participate in career events to increase these serendipitous encounters. Networking is about meeting new people and exploring opportunities.

The best way to build a personal brand is to start writing and posting online. Write about anything you're passionate about and share your thoughts or insights. The idea is to add value to others so that you become known as the go-to person for specific subjects. If you've attended any workshops, write about them. Share the lessons you learned from your experiences. Whatever you do, write. Another important thing is to build social equity. Join clubs or organizations, get your name out there, and make a track record of quality work. Network with your colleagues on LinkedIn by engaging with their posts and adding your input. By doing these activities, you can develop a solid personal brand.

You'd be amazed at how far being open-minded and flexible can take you. I started my tech career with an unpaid UI/UX designer internship, even though I really wanted a software engineering role. The only offers I got were in construction, sales, and UI/UX, so I went with the UI/UX position, even though I had zero design experience. That unpaid internship, plus switching my major to computer science, led to a research position. Soon after, I got a software engineering internship. My path wasn't straightforward, but I reached my goal by grabbing the opportunities in front of me and making the most of them.