The tech boom of the late 2010s and early 2020s is officially over. Big companies like Google and Facebook are slowing or stopping hiring; smaller techcos are actively laying off staff and slashing their admittedly inflated valuations.
And let’s not even talk about the crypto space. Many experts fear the recent carnage there is just an opening bid.
If you’re exposed to the tech industry, you have every reason to be worried. There’s no cause for panic, though, and there’s much you can do to ride out the downturn with your employment and/or revenue prospects intact.
You’ll need to take your online presence more seriously than you have been, however. This is true whether you run your own company or simply work in the space. This downturn’s survivors will be those who work hard to differentiate themselves from the pack.
Here’s where to start.
- Crunchbase
Crunchbase is a tech-oriented business directory for professionals, firms, and investors. It’s one of the best places for people who work in tech and tech-adjacent fields — including finance and business services — to get their name out into the world.
That’s due in part to Crunchbase’s high visibility in the organic search results. But don’t sleep on Crunchbase’s ease of use either; plenty of high-authority websites aren’t as simple or downright fun to use.
To see what a great Crunchbase listing looks like in the real world, check out the Crunchbase listing for Asiaciti Trust, a trust and corporate services firm with an international presence.
- Angel.co (AngelList)
Second only to Crunchbase, AngelList is the place for tech founders, key employees and investors to meet each other and promote what they’re working on. Notably, AngelList feels like a real community, rather than a transactional platform that doesn’t add up to the sum of its parts. As a member, you’re part of a (relatively) exclusive club of a few thousand people who broadly share your worldview and goals.
- Stack Overflow
Think of Stack Overflow as Quora for developers and architects — a question-and-answer platform and knowledge-building community for serious tech professionals
Needless to say, Stack Overflow isn’t for everyone. If you’re in a tech-adjacent profession or serve in a nontechnical role within the industry, its utility is likely to be limited. But if you’re building something that you can be proud of — or you’d like to join a group of people who are — then its value proposition is clear.
LinkedIn deserves mention solely because it’s the most visible platform for professionals of all sorts, at least in the English-speaking world. It’s not tech-native, of course, but there’s plenty of opportunity for tech professionals, founders, and investors to establish their expert bona fides and collaborate with peers and erstwhile competitors.
- Dice
Dice is arguably the top “tech only” job board. Whether you’re looking for work (or an upgrade) in the industry, want to add to an established team, or need to scale up your early-stage enterprise quickly, Dice has you covered. And like LinkedIn and Crunchbase, its domain authority is a boon even if you’re not currently hiring or looking for work
- Hired
Hired is another tech-focused job board. Compared with Dice, it’s a bit more talent-oriented — you post your CV and credentials and invite potential employers to “compete” for you, according to Hired. Your mileage may vary, as they say, but it’s nice to have suitors.
- CrunchBoard
Not to be confused with Crunchbase, CrunchBoard is TechCrunch’s job board — a dedicated space for employers to post opportunities and tech pros to put themselves out there. Like Hired and Dice, it offers very little downside for people on either side of the interview table.
Help Your Online Presence Help Itself
Building and maintaining an online presence takes a lot of work. As the tech boom cools and you’re forced to put in even longer hours at your day job, you might feel as if you have no time to work on yourself
That would be wrong. Because building and managing your online presence — professionally speaking, at least — is part of your day job. If you’re a founder or equity partner in a tech business, it’s a core function; if you’re an employee, whatever your rank, it’s essential for career (and earning) protection
So find the time to put in the work. The tech climate is likely to get worse before it gets better — you’ll be glad you did.
