Technology has changed many areas of life in recent times, and there have been many genuinely remarkable strides made in this field. It is easy to see why many people are interested in a career in technology because it is so widespread, it is exciting, and it can be highly lucrative. Of course, this also means that technology is becoming a competitive field, and it can be hard to stick out from the crowd and find success. Additionally, as such a large industry with many different areas to consider, it can also be hard to know how to get started and how to achieve your goals. Read on for a few tips for starting a career in technology.
- Choose A Career Path
As mentioned, tech is a wide-ranging industry, so it is first a good idea to determine what area interests you so that you can set out a career path. There are many different options to consider here, such as:
- FinTech
- Software development
- Data science
- Cybersecurity
- UX designer
- Computer research analyst
You can then research what is needed in terms of skills, qualifications, and experience to succeed in this role and get to work.
- Set SMART Goals
Once you have a career path established, you will want to set yourself SMART goals so that you can break down this path and stay motivated to succeed. SMART goals are ones which are:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Realistic
- Timely
- Stay Current with The Latest Tech
Technology is continuously evolving and developing, which means that tech, which was used just a few years ago, is now often dated. This means that if you are to succeed in this industry, then you need to stay current, be confident with key technologies, and make tech an essential part of your life. You can do this by:
- Reading books, magazines and blogs
- Joining online communities
- Starting your own blog
- Attending tech-related events
- Signing up to newsletters and following key people/organization on social media
- Create an Online Presence for Yourself
In today’s day and age, it is helpful to have a professional website that acts as an online resume – this is particularly true in the tech industry, which is always about being modern and efficient. This website should outline your background, experience, education, and portfolio and make it easy for any visitor to get in touch with you. You should then promote this website when searching for work and use it as a tool for networking online.
- Gain as Much Experience as Possible
As with most industries, experience is invaluable as this allows you to see what it is like working in this industry and shows to future employers that you will be able to adjust to the environment and fit in with the culture. It can be hard to get your foot in the door without any experience, which means that you may need to consider volunteering, internships or freelance work (which can be an excellent way to build a network and many people prefer to employment).
- Network at Every Chance
Again, as with most industries, having an extensive professional network can help you to get ahead and build a reputation for yourself. As you would imagine with the tech industry, a lot of this networking occurs online. Still, you should also look to network in person as much as possible, too, as this is much more memorable and allows you to create a more reliable connection to those that you meet. Therefore, you should look to attend industry events, job fairs, and anything else which would allow you to engage with those that work in the tech industry.
- Find A Mentor
Leading on from this, if possible, you should also try to find a mentor in your specific field. A mentor is helpful because they can advise you, help you to avoid common mistakes, provide support and even introduce you to key contacts that could help you to advance your career and open up new doors for you.
- Gain the Relevant Qualification
In most cases, you will need a qualification to secure work and to develop the skills and knowledge that are required in your field. One type of qualification which will help you to stand out and secure work in several areas in computer science, which can prepare you for roles in software engineering, data science, and cybersecurity. You can earn a computer science degree online too, which can make it easier to manage along with a job and any other broad responsibilities that you have.
- Be Self-Motivated
Typically, the tech industry is one that requires you to be self-motivated and able to work unsupervised. You will likely have to work as part of a team at times, but often the work will be independent, and this can be challenging for some people. You can improve your work ethic and self-motivation with incentives, setting goals, and creating the right environment and atmosphere for you to be productive.
- Work on Your Soft Skills
While tech may be different from other industries in many ways, you will still require soft skills to secure work and to excel in the workplace. There are many different soft skills that you are likely to require, such as:
- Communication skills
- Teamwork
- Leadership
- Presentational skills
- Critical thinking
- Time management
- Ability to work under pressure
- Be Professional & Presentable
You also need to be professional and presentable to make a good impression. There is a misconception that just because you work in tech does not mean that you need to be professional and take pride in your appearance, but this is not the case, and being professional will always help you to get ahead no matter what industry you are in.
The tech industry is booming, and it is easy to see this continuing in the coming years as tech continues to play such a significant role in modern life. It can be an excellent industry to work in, but you must also know how to succeed, and hopefully, this post will help you to do so.
