Have you ever wanted to get a career in tech but you feel unqualified because you have no experience? If this is you, then this blog post is for you.
A lady started her career in tech with just her phone. Today, she is a web designer, graphics designer, and nurse at the same time. Get to learn about her story.
The technology industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world today. Tech jobs are high-paying and the tech industry is thriving. The tech talent is currently in demand and would be in demand in years to come. Tech jobs are considered to be one of the top 10 most in-demand positions today.
Do you need a degree to be a techie
There is no better time to get into tech than now. A lot of people think they need a degree in computer science or any formal tech education to begin a career in tech.
Can I shock you?
That is not true! This is one of the biggest myths when it comes to starting a career in tech. You can break into tech without a certificate and zero experience. As long as you have undergone career clarity and tech is what interests you, you can get in without a certificate.
69% of the successful techies (a technology enthusiast or expert) are self-taught – with no formal tech education.
Stack Overflow Developer Survey
If you do not have any experience in tech and you want to transition into the industry, don’t worry; you are not the first.
Tech is one of the industries you can venture into if you need a skill to learn because you cannot get a job.
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In this article, you will learn how to ground your feet in the technology industry seamlessly.
Take the Following Steps to Launch your Career in Tech With Absolutely No Experience
- Choose your focus
It’s nice that you want to transition into tech but you have to choose an area of focus. Tech is a very diverse field. So what area exactly do you want to focus on?
To begin a career in tech, you should first figure out the area of tech you want. There are so many roles in the industry. What part of the industry do you want to specialize in? There are a lot of career opportunities in tech, so you have to find your niche.
Not all tech fields require coding skills.
Tech jobs come in different shapes and sizes. Some areas of tech that you might want to consider include but are not limited to:
- UI/UX Design
- Web Development
- IT support
- Digital Marketing
- Technical Writing
- Software Engineering
- App Development
- Data Analysis
- Product Management
- Marketing
- Program Management
- Human Resources
- And so many others
Go on Google, look up the different career opportunities available in tech, and decide on the career path you would like to focus on.
- Research
This is the next step after choosing a niche in the industry. You have to carry out a lot of research to understand what requirements are needed to be in that role. Conduct proper research on the certifications and the ideal skills you need to have or learn to take up this career path.
- Build that skill
You now know what skill you need to have. You have to learn and build that skill. It is possible to practically learn anything online and there are so many free resources available online.
We have some on Google and many others on YouTube. There are a lot of videos, articles, and tutorials available at your disposal. Utilize these free resources, and leverage them. Learn as much as you can with these resources. With time, you can pay for advanced courses and get certifications. Self-learning is one of the ways to kick-start your tech career with zero experience.
- Practice
I think this needs to be made as loud as possible. You do not need a certificate to transition into tech but you definitely need practice!
Practice is what would help you build your skillset. The adage that says “Practice makes perfect” is still as relevant as it was in the old times. Don’t just watch videos, tutorials, or read articles. Do something with them! Translate theory into practice. Do not just gather knowledge without utilizing it.
- Network in the industry
The power of networking cannot be overemphasized. You should connect with professionals in the same field you are transitioning into. Follow them back to back.
Go on different social media platforms, especially LinkedIn and Twitter, and Reddit. Check these professionals out and their forums, and read their posts. Grow your social network to tap into opportunities. Attend virtual and physical tech events.
Surround yourself with people who are successful in the career path you want to break into. Meeting like-minded people is a great way to improve your skills. The more you network, your chances of getting seen increase.
- Join a community
As a newbie in tech, you might feel alone and get discouraged while self-learning. While networking, you will certainly stumble on one or two tech communities.
There are a lot of communities designed to help beginners find their feet in tech. Free code camp community and code newbies are some of them. Join any of these communities.
- Build projects
Another way to start a career in tech with no experience is to build projects. Use the skills that you have learned to build projects of your own. You can start by cloning already existing projects. Check for different project challenges online.
If you are learning UI/UX Design, for instance, you can go on Google and type in “UI/UX Design challenge”. Try them out. Make a replica of what you see. Your projects can form your portfolio which shows potential employers what you can do. Tie your learning to projects. Get your hand dirty on projects. This will help you hone your skillset.
- Apply for an internship to get relevant experience
The best way to gain industry experience is through internships. You don’t have to wait till you’re a professional in that tech career path before you can apply for internships. Market the current skills you have.
Go online, and check out internship opportunities on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and even Google. Apply for different internships, paid and unpaid. There is no way you would not get at least one.
An internship will help you apply all the knowledge you have acquired to real-life projects.
- Build an online portfolio
This is one very important step in transitioning to tech. You can build your portfolio from the projects you worked on personally and during your internship.
Potential employers would want to go through your portfolio before hiring you.
- Apply for jobs
At this stage, you have gotten all the necessary skills to source for jobs. So go all out and apply for jobs that suit your preference, with a properly written application letter and your portfolio attached.
Conclusion
The tech field is accommodating and you do not need to have prior knowledge or experience to begin a tech career. All that you need to have is a positive attitude, the desire to grow, and the patience to learn the in and out of your chosen career path.
Transitioning into tech will not be easy but with perseverance and determination, you’re ready to launch your new career. If you follow these tips duly, you’ll be on your way to becoming a professional in your niche.
It might take months or even years but with your commitment, you can become an expert in any tech field.
WRITER: Ayodele Adetola
