Looking for Tech Jobs in Pittsburgh? Here’s How to Get One
By Tech Elevator Pittsburgh Pathway Director, Ellen Davis
People often call Pittsburgh the “Steel City” because of its 300+ steel-related businesses. But the city has been evolving in recent years to become a modernized, tech-focused area. Not only is it one of America’s “most livable” cities, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit, but it’s also been named one of the World’s Smartest Cities by Newsweek.
“Pittsburgh is really a growing city,” says Jennifer O’Brien, campus director of Tech Elevator’s Pittsburgh campus. “The tech industry is especially bustling, with a multitude of companies moving here, setting up hubs, or establishing a remote worker presence in the city. It’s a great place for junior developers to start their careers.”
With positive business activity comes increased labor demand, and many job seekers will be there to answer the call. So how can you give yourself a leg up against stiff competition in Pittsburgh? Keep reading to see how you can land a tech job in Pittsburgh.
How to Land on the Shortlist for Tech Jobs in Pittsburgh
Your first instinct is likely to head back to school and earn a degree in computer science, especially if you don’t have a background in a tech-related field. But, that approach requires four years of valuable time and a large sum of your hard-earned money. And you’re not even guaranteed a job once complete.
You need skills that are in demand now, and you need to develop them quickly. That won’t happen in a traditional, four-year program. But you can achieve this through a coding bootcamp. This fast-tracked, intense program—which typically lasts between 12 and 16 weeks and costs significantly less than a conventional degree—prepares you to become a skilled software developer.
For example, Tech Elevator’s Pittsburgh coding bootcamp is 14 weeks long if you attend full time. Our expert staff members teach and mentor students toward success. They also maintain an extensive network of hiring partners in the local area to bolster post-graduation job seeking. These aspects are what helped us achieve a 95% graduation rate and 87% job placement rate in Pittsburgh.
Top Pittsburgh Tech Companies
What kind of tech companies want coding bootcamp graduates? Check out a few of our hiring partners below.
These companies trust that not only have our students successfully mastered full-stack software development from instructors with deep technical experience, but also that students have honed professionalism, skill articulation, and other career-ready skills in our Pathway Program™.
“We regularly meet with hiring partners to stay up to date on the skills they’re looking for, then incorporate those insights into the program to ensure students are fully prepared to land great tech jobs after graduation,” Jennifer explains.
- BNY Mellon provides investment management and investment services that help individuals and institutions invest, conduct business, and transact in markets all over the world.
- CGI is a multinational information technology consulting and systems integration company.
- Dick’s Sporting Goods is America’s largest sporting goods retailer.
- FedEx is a multinational conglomerate holding company focused on transportation, e-commerce, and business services.
- GNC is a company that specializes in health and nutrition related products, including vitamins, supplements, minerals, herbs, sports nutrition, diet, and energy products.
- Highmark is an integrated delivery network and large individual not-for-profit health insurer.
- Hitachi Rail is a transportation company with a global presence in the field of railway signaling and integrated transport systems for passenger traffic and freight operations.
- PNC Bank offers a wide range of personal banking services including checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans and much more.
- SingleSource Property Solutions provides valuations, property preservation, title and closing, and other services to many of the largest loan origination and servicing entities across the nation.
- SoftWriters is a leading software solution provider servicing pharmacies that provide care to long term post-acute care patients, assisted living residents, specialty pharmacies, and others.
“My recommendation for anyone considering doing a bootcamp is to do your research,” says Lindsay Leigh, a graduate from the Pittsburgh coding bootcamp. “I chose Tech Elevator because of their Pathway Program and their strong job placement rate, and they did not disappoint. The curriculum is amazing too. They jam pack a lot of stuff in those 14 weeks. The process of learning and then implementing what you learn in smaller homework problems—and then compounding it [all] into bigger capstone projects—really helps solidify everything.”
Where to Start: Test Your Aptitude!
Do you have aptitude for software/web development? A coding career can be a good fit for people who enjoy solving problems, building things, and collaborating with others. Take our free Aptitude Test to see if you have what it takes to become a web developer—no coding required.
If you’re interested in learning more about Tech Elevator Pittsburgh, we’d love to meet with you. Schedule a short info session with our Pittsburgh admissions team here.
About Ellen Davis
Ellen is the Pathway Program™ Director at Tech Elevator’s Pittsburgh Campus. She enjoys helping students achieve their goals of a new career in tech. Her experience as a technical recruiter suits her well in connecting graduates to local software companies to land their first big role.