5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE GOING INTO TECH
Introduction
If a survey were to be taken on industries everyone wanted to break into, the tech industry would most likely be one of the top results. With all of the growth and attention that the tech industry is receiving, many people are beginning to either totally shift into tech or acquire tech skills to complement their existing skills.
So, if you’re one of them (us), it is important that you understand how to get started, what to expect, and how to navigate through.
The five tips shared in this article will guide you through that and give you first-hand exposure to how and where to get started.
So let’s go!
1. Start from what you know
Trust me, the beginning stages are usually the hardest when trying to break into the tech industry.
The vast number of resources and tempting opportunities in tech could be a bit misleading and discouraging. But then, a great way to start is always doing a reexamination of what you already have and determine based on that and start with it.
One of the beautiful things about tech is how it leverages what already exists and makes it better. Whether it is creating an app that helps small businesses or working with scattered data to make it clean, it has some real-life skills that it stems from. Find that connection and build from that.
For instance, if you love working with numbers and organizing them to make sense, data analytics could be a great start.
This article (link attached here) helps guide you to available high-end skills. Find one closest to what you have and build from there by making further research and starting your journey in tech!
“The vast number of resources and tempting opportunities in tech could be a bit misleading, but a great way to start is always doing a reexamination of what you already have and determining based on that and working with that.”
Also keep in mind that this is just the beginning, and the tech space allows for growth. So start somewhere, take off first, then grow!
2. Do not try to skip the process(es)
One of the biggest issues we see today with people in the tech industry and those trying to transition is how many people try to jump the process.
My advice is this, Do not do that!
The tech journey is a continuous journey, one you grow into and where you get to learn on the job. Trust me, you have all the time in the world to learn and master all you need, you really just have to understand that a lot of processes are involved and you need to pass through various steps to be like that mentor you admire so much.
For instance, it could take anywhere between 7 months and 18 months to become proficient enough in a tech skill/stack. For some stacks, it may take even longer, depending on the requirements and demands within them. Within this time, the individual is expected to go through a thorough learning process to master the required skills, which may sometimes be ordered in a certain way.
Skipping processes or essential steps is like putting the cart before the horse. It leaves you without a deep understanding of the basics and core concepts. A classic example is how data cleaning is an essential procedure in the data analysis path and proceeds visualization. Moving to visualization without understanding why your data should be clean and how to do that, would leave you with a lot of problems along the line like inconsistent and inaccurate results/outcomes.
Now imagine you really took the time to understand and learn about the pathway in analyzing data, you get it right and have great results. This is what the following processes can do, it guides you and makes you an even more efficient techie.
3. Be prepared to put in the work
Trust me, Tech work is hard work!
This really may come as a shock to some, but tech work is really hard + smart work.
There definitely would be a lot of sleepless nights and moments of discouragement as you start the journey. But as they say, nothing good comes easy, especially in tech. You really must be prepared to put in the work.
You would have to watch a lot of videos, read a lot of resources, and go through a lot of courses, and you must be ready to put yourself in a mental and physical state to do all of that.
You really cannot afford to be caught unaware if you want to get the best out of the tech industry. It is both physically and mentally tasking, and you really would have to make the extra effort to learn and master your skills.
Also, having accountability partners and building a community of learners around you could also be one of the “extra efforts” you put in. Putting in the work doesn’t always have to be alone, and why the “building a community” point discussed, later on, is important. That community can help be a source of encouragement and help in your low moments.
So, put in the work and make the extra effort to make your learning and transition process easier.
4. Work on your networking skills and ensure to build and actively engage in communities.
No man is an Island. This remains one of the truest adages and applies to tech too.
There is a lot to know and learn about technology, as well as possibilities to be exposed to it. You won’t find many of these on the internet, but you will find them in computer communities and among your network.
I began my IT career in mid-2021, and I began researching and reading anything I could discover online. This slowed down my learning and development as I continued to circle in circles, seeking to understand simple principles. But, towards the end of the year, I started participating in online data forums, following conversations and commenting about my tech interests and growth, and I became connected to others in the community.
There is a lot to know and learn about technology, as well as possibilities to be exposed to it. You won’t find many of these on the internet, but you will find them in computer communities and among your network.
The first positive outcome I got was exposure to what I really should be focusing on. As a new bee in tech, there are a million and one resources out there for you to go through, but having direction and focus makes it easier for you.
The second and most profound was that I found buddies and mentors I could easily refer to when I needed clarifications or comments regarding a visualization I made or SQL query I wrote. This boosted my growth and allowed me to understand concepts faster.
This is just an idea of how great your network can go in helping you find your feet in tech.
Your community could also be a source of inspiration and accountability. My personal lesson for this is that you should try to build a network of accountability partners that can encourage you when the fuel runs low, cause there are times it definitely would.
5. Do extensive research and grow with your tech
Doing due diligence before you start would also come in handy.
In reality, research provides the foundation for most of what we’ve discussed. You must conduct considerable research on everything you intend to master or gain expertise in.
You must always look up things that are unclear, and constantly research better ways of handling concepts and projects. This keeps you regularly exposed to and informed about the most recent developments in your sector or fields of interest.
Tech evolves every day, and so should you. Growing and evolving with it largely depends on what you know, and your research helps bridge that gap, exposing you to how to grow and evolve with your tech.
Conclusion
There are no set rules for how to navigate the tech space. However, for me and so many others, the above steps and learning from the experiences of others helped smoothen our transition into the tech industry and we believe this would greatly guide you too.
If you are interested in joining a community, we have one, especially for #Womenintech, where we share opportunities and tips, as well as work as a community to help you to make your transition better.
Link to the community on telegram: https://t.me/+Mn_SKehAUc42M2Y0
Joyce is a Pharmacist and data analyst with an interest in social impact. She is passionate about ensuring more people get interested in tech, especially women and girls and works through the Nsonye project to increase the participation and inclusion of more women and girls in tech.
