Due to the inevitable truth of disruption, people are looking for a career path in the tech industry. Most tech careers offer good salaries, and they’re pretty much the future of our economy.
Most industries are getting disrupted by the latest tech trends, which directly influences the future of work. Therefore, it’s not a surprise to see that people from all career backgrounds are switching into tech. But how can someone break into tech without experience in the industry? Here we’ll show you how:
Look for a Tech Equivalent Within Your Current Industry
It’s ok if you want to learn a completely unknown skill and build a career from scratch. But what if you could switch careers without having to start over? This is what non-techies are currently doing to break into tech. They find a tech equivalent within their industry and level up their skills.
For example, people from healthcare can easily learn how to code and get a job in health-tech. People with artistic skills could become web or graphic designers. They already have an eye for aesthetic design, so they’d just have to learn technical skills. Another example could be someone with financial experience who turns into a data scientist. Both fields are closely linked, so people who work in the financial industry are familiar with statistics and data analysis.
Contrary to what many people believe, professionals with diverse career backgrounds are more valuable because they know how to work in different situations. Therefore, if you think that your experience in your previous career is worthless, you’re wrong. It can be very beneficial moving forward.
Get Certified
Once you’ve decided which career suits you best, consider getting certified in that field. You have many options to learn new tech skills. You can pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science, take a coding bootcamp, or learn by yourself from tutorials. Whatever you decide, it’s crucial to learn all skills you require to have a successful career.
If you try to teach yourself software development, you need to put all your effort into standing out from others. But keep in mind that many successful people in tech started as self-learners.
However, if you still want to get a formal education, go for it. Many colleges and schools offer tech education. It will all depend on the career you choose, but if you decide to take a coding bootcamp, great schools provide high-quality tech education, such as Thinkful or Flatiron School.
Bootcamps are a short-term and intensive form of education that could teach you everything you need to know in less time without having to spend too much money. According to Course Report, the average cost of a coding bootcamp is $13,000. Also, keep in mind that most bootcamps offer up-to-date education.
Develop Your Own Project
Now that you’re certified, it’s time to develop your own project. This is the best way to start building some experience in the industry. Remember that you need to have something to show to recruiters, and there’s no better way to showcase your skills than your own projects.
You don’t have to build something too complicated at first if you don’t feel comfortable. As long as it’s functional, it’ll attract recruiters. Web developers, for example, can develop a website. Graphic designers, on the other hand, could create several logos to show on their portfolio. It will depend on your particular career, but the idea is to practice and add projects to your portfolio.
Improve Your Online Visibility
Online presence is crucial when it comes to the tech industry. Not having a place to showcase your talent digitally is like being invisible for recruiters. Therefore, it is essential that you start building your online visibility.
First, you can create your own website where you can post your projects. This could be an excellent way to impress recruiters. Besides, you should also spend some time optimizing and updating your LinkedIn and Indeed profiles. These two are the most popular platforms that recruiters use to find tech talent.
Do Internships
Internships are a great way to start a career in tech. Not only you’ll practice and learn new skills, but you’ll also meet influential people in the industry. This may not be the most enjoyable experience for those who already have an established career, but it’s excellent networking. If you don’t feel like doing an internship, you could also become a gig worker. This will help you gain some experience and meet great people that could help you in your new career.
Conclusion
Switching careers isn’t easy. It’s essential to be patient with your process and enjoy the ride. If you’d like to break into tech, become a life-long learner and improve your online visibility. Don’t forget to practice as much as you can; this way, you’ll improve your skills.
