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5 Best Tech Companies to Work at

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Tech companies are famous for innovation—and not just in terms of the products and services they offer. Many of them also set the standard for attractive work environments.

Wondering which tech companies are currently leading the way in 2022? Glassdoor recently used anonymous employee feedback to determine the top 10 companies to work for.

Here’s a closer look at the five top finishers in the tech space when it comes to the best work environments.

1. NVIDIA

While NVIDIA’s original focus was making graphics processing units for PC’s, it has its eye on becoming a full-stack computing company. It’s also claimed the #1 spot on the Glassdoor rankings thanks to its fun and leading-edge products, amazing benefits, “engineer culture,” and brilliant and caring CEO.

The fact that the company is still evolving, meanwhile, means that there are plenty of growth opportunities for employees, too.

“The work is challenging and meaningful. Compensation and benefits are great, and I love my coworkers,” says one NVIDIA employee.

2. HubSpot

HubSpot is THE company to beat in the CRM platform space. However, it also shines as a workplace thanks to a skilled leadership team, wonderful company values, and a vibrant culture.

“The company works remarkably hard to create an inclusive community where every single person is able to bring their best, whole self to work,” raves a HubSpot employee.

3. Bain & Company

This tech consulting firm has worked with a staggering 63 percent of the Global 500. It’s also earned an equally staggering amount of praise for being a great place to work. In addition to earning a plum spot on Glassdoor’s rankings, Bain & Company has also garnered global recognition for culture, corporate social responsibility, DE&I initiatives, LGBTQ equlity and human rights, and diverse representation.

One satisfied Bain & Company employee asserts, “I’ve been at the company for over 6 months and I can confidently attest that the culture that everyone raves about in these reviews is 100% accurate. Even working remotely, there are a number of events and engagements that foster joy.”

4. eXp Realty

This global online brokerage is known for its cutting-edge technology, which has helped the company create an all-new real estate brokerage model.

It’s not surprising that a company powered by innovation is also pushing the boundaries of what to expect from your workplace, although eXp Realty’s status as a 100 percent virtual company does make its success uniquely noteworthy.

“All agents and employees are given white-glove service! We are truly cared about!” enthuses an eXp Realty employee.

5. Box

Cloud storage company Box was founded with the goal of helping people easily access information and collaborate. It’s also helped its own employees enjoy better, fuller work lives thanks to an above-and-beyond commitment to culture and people.

“The continued emphasis and focus on taking care of the employees so we can deliver an amazing product and enjoy the work that we do is phenomenal,” praises a satisfied Box employee.

5 Reasons to Learn to Code

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In today’s high-tech world, coding is the language that drives almost everything. People use computers to do anything from turning their lights on to parking their cars — that all requires someone who took the time to learn code. So why should you learn to code? 

1. Coding Is About Problem-Solving

Coding teaches you the art of looking at the big picture and then breaking it down into smaller, more manageable bites. This skill set would translate into most areas of your life, which can be full of problems. You could apply it to your finances, for example. Instead of looking at debt as one large number, coding could teach you to break it down and manage each piece as a separate unit. 

2. Coding Can Improve Your Productivity

Learning to code can also change the way you think about things. It teaches you to spot ways to multitask, for example. That may mean you can save time during your day. It will also give you the skill set to automate tasks you use software for, such as spreadsheets. You will be able to spot ways to combine elements and write a script or formula to make it work. 

3. Coding May Give You Job Security

Understanding even basic code could make you the go-to person at work. It also tells your employer that you are smart and resourceful. They will see you are willing to learn new things and might be interested in new opportunities. They might be able to pay you more and internalize some previously outsourced tasks such as webpage administration. 

4. Coding Can Turn Your Ideas Into Apps

You could be the next Steve Jobs, but you’ll never know if you can’t write code. You could turn a great idea into an app that brings in revenue or helps others. By being able to build the app yourself, you also save money and don’t have to share your idea with anyone else. 

5. Because It Is Fun

Coding is art for some. It takes creativity and imagination. It is something you can do in front of the TV the same way your mom used to knit. 

Coding is addictive once you get into it. It is a challenge that people spend years trying to master, and there are always new things to learn. 

Coding teaches you how things work, and that is something you can use in every aspect of your life. 

 

How to Become a Cybersecurity Expert

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Cybersecurity is on many people’s minds these days. It is also one of the fastest-growing industries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in this field are growing at a much faster pace than average. What does it take to become a cybersecurity expert? 

Get an Entry-Level Job

You have to decide how you will develop the knowledge and skills to master cybersecurity. Work experience is crucial and often the key to meeting the requirements of critical advanced certifications that will mean better opportunities in this industry. 

Since cybersecurity companies are facing a labor shortage, now is an excellent time to try for that entry-level position that will train you and pay you at the same time. You will need to go to the job interview with plenty of knowledge, though. If you are not in a place where you can go back to school, then self-study using the internet. This may give you just enough information to get your foot in the door.

Get a Certificate

Some starter certifications you can take will give you enough to get an entry-level job. Many have no experience prerequisites, too, so you can take them even if you don’t work in the tech industry. 

Some examples of starter certificates include:

  • Microsoft Technology Associate Security Fundamentals – For just a little over one hundred dollars, you can learn core security principles and some other basic security concepts. To earn the certificate, you must pass an exam. 
  • ISACA CSX Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate – CSX is recognized for some of its advanced certifications, but they also offer a fundamentals course. There are no prerequisites for this course, but you must pass a 2-hour exam to get the certificate. It costs less than two hundred dollars. 
  • CompTIA Security+ – The Security+ course helps you establish core knowledge regarding cybersecurity. The course has the approval of the U.S. Department of Defense, possibly making you eligible for an entry-level government job. That bonus means the course costs a little more. You’ll pay 381 dollars to take the exam. 

All three of these are self-paced self-study courses. Once you think you know the information, you take an exam. If you pass, you earn the certification. You could also opt to go to college for a two or four-year degree in information systems or network security.

 

Get a Specialty

Cybersecurity is a broad term that includes many types of expertise. For example, you could be the person who designs secure networks or stays up to date on trends in hacking. You could also test the various connections looking for intruders. 

Each path is significant, but they can be different, too. You get to the expert level faster if you pick one instead of trying to learn everything at once. 

 

 

Four Things You Should Know About Road Bicycles Before Your First Purchase

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Do you enjoy the great outdoors? Or, are you like most of us and feel guilty that you don’t get out quite enough?

 

In either case, finding fun outdoor activities is a must, and something that a lot of people are discovering is that cycling is fun, challenging, and great for fitness and boosting energy. If you’re starting to break into cycling, you might be thinking about getting your own shiny, fancy road bike.

 

It can be a great investment that leads to tons of fun and better health, but buying a road bike is not a simple task. There’s a lot to know, and if you’re truly new to this form of cycling, then there are a few things you’re going to want to know first.

 

The Posture Is Different

 

The first thing you really need to know about a road bike is that it is designed for a completely different type of cycling. Kids’ bikes and mountain bikes are designed for an upright posture. Road bikes are different. The bike pushes your posture forward (into what is often called an athletic posture), and the feeling is very different.

 

This posture is supposed to make you more aerodynamic, and it helps you generate more power as you pedal.

 

What matters most for someone who is new to road bikes is that this posture is going to force you to relearn how to ride a bike — to an extent. If you’ve never used a road bike before, try it out and practice before committing to any purchases.

 

The Tires Are Narrow

 

Road bikes have narrow wheels and tires on purpose. The thinner tires compress less, which means they create less friction and enable you to go faster. But, reducing friction in this way comes with consequences.

 

The first consequence is that thinner tires are also harder to balance. While you’re changing your posture and struggling with that balance, you get an extra challenge from the thinner tires.

 

The other consequence is that the thinner tires are a lot less durable. They really are designed for roads (bike paths and sidewalks are also fine). They can’t offroad at all. The wheels bend more easily than mountain bike wheels, and smaller amounts of damage can ruin thin tires.

 

There Is No Suspension

 

Mountain bikes have a suspension system that helps to absorb impacts and make the ride more comfortable. After all, mountain trails can be rough.

 

Road bikes are designed specifically for the relatively smooth surface of a paved road. Since suspensions have weight, road bike designers long ago came to the consensus that they are completely unnecessary, so it’s tough to find a road bike with a suspension system.

 

If you’re not used to it, the extra jolts in the ride can make things uncomfortable at first.

 

They Are Advanced Machines

 

The most intimidating aspect of buying a road bike for the first time is navigating all of the options. You can choose different designs, styles, materials, features, and price ranges, and each choice comes with consequences.

 

To get the right bike for you, you can dedicate the next six months to studying everything about road bikes. Or, you can get some help. Every bike shop in the country has someone working there who absolutely loves riding. They want to help you find the right bike, so let them help.

 

While you’re letting them help, remember that sorting through your options is going to take time and patience. Don’t rush into anything. Try out different styles and designs. When you can really feel the difference from one bike to the next, then you can pick your favorite — as long as it’s inside of your budget.

 

The Three-Step Process to Fix Any Car Problem

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Car trouble is the worst. Cars are complicated, and dealing with problems often feels insurmountable.

 

But, it turns out that a lot of troubleshooting is simpler than it seems and can be reduced to just three steps. These three steps can’t fix absolutely anything, but if your car won’t start or if the engine isn’t running right, you can figure out most problems with the steps below.

 

Check the Spark

 

The first thing a combustion engine needs to run is spark. If you have a spark problem, it usually shows up in one of two ways. Either you’re going to a consistent shimmy while the engine is running (because one or more spark plugs aren’t firing correctly), or the engine won’t start at all.

 

In both cases, the problem is tied to electricity. So, there are a few tests you can run to really pin down the flow of electricity through your engine.

 

To do these tests, you’ll need a multimeter. You can get one from any hardware store or even Walmart, and they are not expensive.

 

The first thing you want to check is the battery. Simply check the voltage across the battery. It needs to read at least 12V, with 13 to 14 being a better sign of a healthy battery. If it’s less than 12V, the car won’t start (for most models).

 

If the battery is ok, the car should start. If it doesn’t, you very likely don’t have a spark problem and should skip to the next section. So, fire up the engine, and check the battery again while it’s running. Again, it should read at least 12V, and typically 14V is a sign that everything is healthy. This is showing you that there are no major electrical problems across the whole engine.

 

If the car starts but you’re getting shimmies, then you want to test the spark plugs. That’s a little more involved, so here’s a nice video tutorial to show you how to do it (it’s only a six-minute video).

 

Check the Air

 

The second thing your engine needs to run is air. That’s where the oxygen comes from for the combustion in your engine.

 

The thing about air is that it’s pretty easy to find, and there’s air in your engine right now. What that means is that airflow problems pretty much won’t prevent the engine from starting. Instead, airflow problems usually cause jerking, hesitant acceleration, and stalling.

 

Now, to test the airflow, you need something that can read flow rates and pressures. Fortunately, that tool is built into your vehicle already. It’s called the Mass Airflow (MAF) Sensor, and you’re actually going to test it with your multimeter too. If it’s working, then it will report any airflow problems to the vehicle’s computer, and you can read those with an OBDII scanner (or take it to any auto parts store to have it read for free).

 

How do you test the MAS Sensor? Here’s another short video.

 

Check the Fuel

 

Lastly, your vehicle needs fuel. If it won’t start, and the battery is fine, then the engine isn’t getting fuel (in the majority of cases). It could be that the tank is empty. It could be that the fuel filter is clogged. It’s possible that your fuel pump is dead. If you can find the culprit from those three, you know what to fix.

 

If the vehicle starts but stalls or has power or responsiveness problems (and the airflow is fine), then you could have a fuel flow issue. That’s also testable, but you’ll need a pressure gauge to do it. The good news is that you can borrow one from Autozone (they will require a deposit) and other auto parts stores.

 

When you have your gauge, you can follow this tutorial to test the fuel.

 

And, that’s it! Those are the three primary steps to diagnose an engine that won’t start or doesn’t run well.

 

Staying the Course: 5 Hacks to Keep Going When Learning to Code

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The vast world of code can feel daunting at first glance. Then, as you dive into the learning process, things only seem to get worse from there. The problem is that there’s a huge learning curve to get over, threatening to end your coding dreams before you even truly get started. Fortunately, you can ensure you stay the course by using these five hacks to keep going when learning to code.

Clearly Define Your Learning Goals

When first starting to learn how to code, you need a plan. You cannot jump in and learn all the different programming languages at once nor do you need to know them all. Instead, you should reflect on your end goal, and then choose your focus language to start.

If you want to get into web development, for example, focus on Java. Want to make apps instead? Then, Python is the better way to go. Either one will help you develop your foundational skills, making it easier to learn new languages in the future.

Focus on One Tutorial at a Time

Coding tutorials abound online, giving you tons of opportunities to learn without shelling out the big bucks. While it’s nice to have options, the sheer overload of tutorials can prove detrimental to your journey. Decision paralysis often kicks in when presented with too many options, after all.

So, reflect on your goals, pick just one tutorial from the bunch, and focus on it – and it alone – until it’s done. Then, repeat that process until you’ve made your way through enough tutorials to start creating your own projects.

Think It Out with Your Rubber Ducky

Even with the most helpful tutorials on your side, you’re bound to get stuck on a seemingly unsolvable problem. When that happens, you need to bust out your rubber ducky for a nice, relaxing debugging session.

Rubber ducky debugging starts with you telling your newfound friend about your code and what it’s supposed to do. Then, go through your code line by line to explain the process in more detail. By the end, you’ll find where you went wrong, and your ducky can feel good about being such a big help.

Give Yourself Brain Breaks Often

Your brain can only maintain focus for so long before it starts to go on the fritz. To avoid that, you need to take regular brain breaks just like the old days in elementary school. Spending just five to ten minutes doing something else can refresh your mind and ready you for more coding madness.

So, break out the puzzle games, draw a picture, or even just gaze off into the distance. If you can work exercise into the mix, you’ll be even better off. A short walk around the block never fails to feel rejuvenating, especially if a friend can join you.  

Show Off Your Accomplishments

Learning how to code can feel like an endless journey toward more and more difficult problems. To break up the process, you need to show off your accomplishments and get accolades coming your way.

The recognition you receive for your efforts can prove highly motivating, restoring your love for your coding journey. So, sing your own praises far and wide, and then get back to it by selecting your next tutorial.

By fluidly moving through these steps, you can push yourself through the difficult moments as you learn how to code. It’s also helpful to remember that the learning process will get easier as you wrap your mind around each programming language. 

How to Self-Assess Your Coding Journey

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While learning how to code, the last thing you want to do is delude yourself. You need to be able to make an honest assessment of your skills, after all. Or you could end up majorly embarrassed upon overstating your abilities to the wrong person. Since that’s definitely not what you want, it’s best to learn how to accurately self-assess your coding journey from the start. Here’s how.

Use HackerRank to Solve Problems

Start by assessing your algorithmic skills using HackerRank by InterviewStreet. This innovative platform rolls out the programming challenges, so you can find out exactly where you’re at in your learning journey.

The system starts by sending out ACM-style problems for you to solve. You’ll then move on to AI, machine learning, and so much more, depending on your skill level. All along the way, the system will provide an objective score and even issue badges for your hard work.

Try to move through as many tests as you can over one weekend to get a baseline score. Then, repeat this process whenever you feel like you’ve gained enough new skills to warrant a retry.

Build a Complete Product with UI

After finishing your weekend of coding tests, move on to creating your very own product with UI. You can focus on creating an app, website, or gaming product. Just be sure to focus on getting it up and running properly – and coded well enough for a non-technical person to understand and use.

Start by planning out your concept on paper. Then, sketch out how you want it to look and function. After that, decide which programming language you want to use to get the job done. From there, you just have to start coding to create the product from start to finish.

Just be sure to keep your rubber ducky handy in case you need help debugging your code. Your ducky will prove invaluable whenever you need to get around challenges standing in your way of a finished product.

Complete a Self-Evaluation on Paper

If you’re satisfied with your results from the prior two steps, go ahead and start completing a self-evaluation assessment on paper. To do that, write out all your skills, certificates, and other achievements, including all products made to completion. Don’t forget to add any relevant job experience as well, so you can get a full look at your coding journey to date.

Once you finish doing that, you’ll have a clear map of your coding journey to review. Think about where you might have gaps in your skills or experience. Compare your journey to the greats in your field.

Where can you improve? Upon answering that question, you’ll have a clear path forward to follow. Repeat this process every time you create a new product, finish a full set of tutorials, or hit any other learning milestones.

By the end of these steps, you’ll have a pretty good idea on where you’re at in your coding journey. With that info in mind, you can decide what you need to learn more about, and then get started on doing more tutorials. 

How to Get into Game Development

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Do you have an amazing idea for a video game? Or do you just want to build a career around making fun games for the world to enjoy? Either way, you’re going to have to work hard to break into game development. The competition is fierce in this industry, after all, so you need to create a plan and follow it to have a chance at entering the fray. Ready to get started? Here’s how to get into game development and start building the career of your dreams.

Build Your Foundational Skills

You will need to build your foundational skills to have any chance of pursuing a career in game development. So, reflect on what types of games you want to make, and then get started in learning programming languages.

You can do tutorials and certificate programs on your own time. Or go all out by earning a bachelor’s degree in game design, programming, or computer science. Either way, you’ll want to dedicate several years to building a strong skillset and mastering at least one programming language.

Create Your Own Gaming Blog

While working on your skills, keep your ear to the ground to stay in tune with what’s happening in the game development industry. Don’t just read countless blogs on the subject though. Create your own gaming blog.

With that move, you can industry news, talk about your own coding journey, and even share info on any indie games you help create. Your gaming blog will grow with you, helping further your career while helping keep you well-informed about industry changes.

Work as a Game Tester on the Side

As you steadily build game development skills, seek out a job as a game tester. Although you’ll have to start at entry level, this position will put you in the right place to start climbing the ladder.

Since game design studios often hire internally, you can easily move from the QA team to development as your skills improve. Just make sure to share your career intentions with your coworkers, the company owner, and everyone in between.

Network at Major Conferences

Although working as a game tester will help you start to build your professional network, additional networking opportunities are a must if you want to move up fast. So, start saving up to attend major game development conferences, like E3, Blizzcon, and the Tokyo Game Show.

Don’t forget to attend smaller conferences in your own area as well. At every conference you attend, aim to build connections with three to five new people – and catch up with people you’ve met at past events.

Join Up to Create Indie Games

Creating your own indie game can help you quickly catch the attention of all the right people in the game development industry. You can also use the game as a key piece for your portfolio as you apply to jobs.

But working on an indie game on your own can prove daunting at best. So, to streamline the process, see if you can team up with several other people and create the game together.  

Upon making it to the end of this list, you’ll have the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to enter the game development world. Your newfound professional network and completed indie game will help you make waves, too. Before you know it, you’ll be working on your first professional game, and then getting ready for its much-anticipated release. 

Getting Started With Home Recording

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Home recording is a rewarding way to spend free time and let your creativity flow. If you get good enough at home recording, you may even be able to make a career out of your hobby.

Some hobbies have a steep learning curve, and home recording can be one of those hobbies. Investing in the right equipment, reading about home recording and allowing your creativity to flow can make getting started with home recording much easier. Here’s what to know. 

Know Your Budget

Your home recording studio will require an initial investment from you, because you’ll need to purchase equipment and set up space at home. Most people need to invest at least $300 in their studio, if they’re starting from scratch. This includes basic equipment and a microphone.

Costs vary depending on what you’re planning on purchasing. Shop around, and if you’re on a tight budget, you may need to purchase your recording equipment over a long period of time, which could delay your progress.

This cost does not include the price of a good computer. People who engage in home recording rely on good computers. Recording can make big files that require a powerful computer to manipulate. Just having a basic computer at home isn’t good enough – you’ll need a computer that’s designed to process and store large files. As you’re making your budget, you may need to add in some money for a new computer. Shop around to get the best, most affordable deal. 

Set Up Your Studio

Once you’ve got the money set aside, it’s time to make purchases.  

A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is a type of software that allows people who record at home to record audio and mix their music from their personal workstation. There are a variety of DAW products available for home recording buffs. You’ll learn more about the best DAW products by doing research and by networking with people who enjoy this hobby for themselves.  

Other purchases you’ll need to make include:

  • Audio interface
  • Monitor speakers
  • Headphones
  • Microphphone (including cable and stand)
  • Popshield

If you’re serious about home recording, you may also want to purchase acoustic treatments that help soundproof the room where you’ll be working.  

Record Your First Track

Once you’ve purchased and set up your equipment, you’re ready to record your first track. Some tips:

Name the track before you start recording. Come up with a naming convention to make it easier to store and organize your digital files.

Set the recording levels. The loudest parts of your track should fall around -10 dbfs (decibels relative to full scale). 

Avoid heavy-duty mixing in the beginning. Mixing tracks adds a level of complication that can leave many beginners feeling lost. Basic mixing is hard enough, so keep your mixing to a minimum at first. 

Home recording takes a lot of time to learn and get good at, so your first tracks may not live up to your own expectations. Keep practicing, and you’ll get better with time.

5 Tips You Need If You Can’t Afford to Pay Your IRS Taxes

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If you can’t afford to pay your IRS taxes, you should reach out to your accountant for help. A certified public accountant (CPA) or another tax pro can help you explore the different options and negotiate with the IRS for a payment plan. While we can’t give you tax advice, we can help if you’re wondering what to expect if you can’t afford to pay. Here’s what you need to know. 

1. You should still file your return. 

Even if you think that you can’t afford to pay your taxes, you should still file your return. For personal income tax returns, the fees for not filing are much higher than the fees for paying late. This also applies to most business tax returns.

By filing, you let the tax agency know that you’re aware of the tax obligations. Then, you can contact them about making arrangements for the bill. If you don’t file, you will incur higher penalties and potentially even face tax evasion penalties. 

2. You can often set up a payment plan. 

The IRS and most state tax agencies allow you to set up payment plans on your tax debts. If you owe less than $10,000, you can set up a payment plan with the IRS online. You don’t have to provide much information to get accepted.

If you owe more, you may need to contact the IRS directly or provide more financial details with your application, but the IRS accepts payment plans on bills that are tens of thousands or even a hundred thousand dollars. With most payment plans, you can take several years to pay off the balance. 

3. You may be able to get out of tax debt for less than you owe.

If you really cannot afford to pay your tax bill, you may be able to settle it. Through the offer-in-compromise program, the IRS lets people settle tax debts for less than they owe. To qualify, you generally have to pay the most you possibly can.

You may need to sell assets or take loans against them. If the IRS agrees with your offer, you usually have to pay it in a lump sum, but in some cases, you can take a few months to pay the offer. 

4. You can typically stop IRS collection actions if you can’t afford to pay. 

The IRS can be harsh, and the agency has a lot of powers to collect unpaid taxes. However, the IRS is also reasonable. You can apply for hardship if you truly can’t afford to pay the tax bill.

If you qualify, the IRS will stop collection actions against you. Then, the agency will review the situation every few years. If you can afford to pay in the future, you may have to, but if the statute of limitations passes on the debt, it may just basically disappear. 

5. You should work with a tax professional. 

Dealing with the IRS and state tax agencies can be challenging. The rules are complicated. There are a lot of deadlines, and you may have to provide detailed financial information.

An accountant can help you decide which programs are best for your situation. They can help you decipher the paperwork and set up the best arrangements for your situation. An accountant can also ensure that you don’t incur more penalties or fall more behind than you need to.