DEV Community: Abraham Enyo-one Musa

How to start your tech career in 2021

Abraham Enyo-one Musa — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 22:21:10 +0000

Hi there, I talked about some top tech careers you need to consider this year in my last post. You can read the article by clicking on this link.

After publishing the post a week ago, I thought it would be nice to write an article on how to start a tech career. Because it's one thing to know the top tech careers and another thing entirely to know how to get started.

If you don't have much experience or you're looking to transition from a dead-end job to a career in tech, this article is for you. I'll share some specific action points that can help you transition to a tech career in 2021.

Let's get right into this.

Essential Tips for Starting a Tech Career

Set your Goal and Maintain your Focus

When starting a new career, you need to be laser-focused by deciding what you really want to do and the career option you wish to pursue. There are tons of tech career paths out there. If you're not sure about what you want to focus on, chances are that you'll get lost trying to figure out what to do, courses to take and projects to embark upon.

Whether you want to be an AI engineer, a security analyst, a quality assurance engineer, you name it; I advise that you research carefully on the different career options you have your eye on, and decide what you actually want based on your interests. The previous article I wrote is a perfect place to get started. Once you're sure about your dream tech career options, it becomes easy to get really focused and deprioritize anything that's not on your list. Afterwards, you wouldn't want to be a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none.

One good thing about tech is that you can specialize in one area and then diversify into another over time. For instance, you could start off as a network or support admin and then rapidly advance into cybersecurity. A credit underwriter today could become a DevOps engineer tomorrow. There are just so many tech options, and I believe that once you remain focused and consistently gain relevant knowledge, it becomes almost impossible to get lost.

Get Certified

This is perhaps one of the fastest ways to break into IT. Although a typical tech degree can take anything from 1-4 years, you can study and earn relevant industry certifications in just a few weeks. For instance, some entry-level certifications like CompTIA A+, ITIL, Security+, and Network+ can lay the foundation for cybersecurity and networking roles later on.

By acquiring the industry certifications relevant to your chosen tech career, you're also hinting potential employers that you have the skills they're looking for. In a way, this knowledge alone can actually make up for lack of experience. When applying for some tech roles, the right certifications will give you a competitive edge over other applicants with no certifications and limited experience.

How do I get certified? You might want to ask.

You can choose to take an online course, hands-on tutorials, adopt the in-person methods and then take the certification exams. Because you just want to start a tech career, I'll advise you to take courses taught by experts with practical experience. That way, you can ask questions and get a detailed understanding of what you're learning. Another option is to leverage hands-on tutorials where you'll be allowed to familiarize yourself with tools and tech stacks used in the typical tech industry.

Caveat: I don't think it's a nice idea for newbies to skip learning and just take the certification exams only to get certified. If you eventually get a job, it's the knowledge and not the certificate that'll help you accomplish tasks.

Network with the Right People

One thing I discovered about tech professionals is that most of them love to help, mentor or advise others - as long as you're able to show them how serious you're. If you know anyone in your network or have friends who're connected to these professionals, you can humbly reach out to them or request for an introduction. Even if you don't have anyone in your network, you can connect with as many tech professionals as possible on LinkedIn.

Don't be timid about asking questions about their career, education, skills or things they wish they had some years ago. Truth is, every tech professional today was once a beginner looking for guidance, and I'm sure they'd want to hear and help you out. After discussing with about three to four subject-matter experts, you'll soon find out that they all had some sort of similarities or things they did while starting off. With the right amount of guidance, focus and self-motivation, every tech career becomes achievable.

Another great benefit of networking with the right people is that it gives you a head start over the competition and inspires a career passion that lasts the rest of your life.

Most employers now prefer to fill a job role by hiring someone based on recommendations, without interviewing a bunch of total strangers. By connecting with the right people, you might be lucky to get an opportunity you never knew about.

Find the Right Internship

I understand how frustrating it can be to learn and keep studying without getting a job where you can practically apply what you've been learning. I firmly believe that one way to dive into a tech career is to consider applying for internship opportunities at various companies. An internship is any formal or official program that provides the practical experience in the career field you wish to pursue - tech inclusively.

One good thing about internships is that they allow you to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical skills and applications developed in professional settings. Over time, you can include the experience gained in your resume or even land a full-time tech role upon completing an internship with a company. Whichever way it turns out, securing an internship position is a WIN-WIN, and you can use the opportunity to test your potential career.

Go the Extra Mile and don't Settle for Less

Even though the tech world is broad and versatile, it's good to always start off your career with the mindset that you're competing for job opportunities on a global scale. That way, you'd always be motivated to consistently work hard and seek growthby doing more than what the average person can ever think of.

When you're applying to a tech job with about a thousand other potential candidates, what do you think will set you apart? Why should you be given the opportunities? What unique skill sets or knowledge do you have that others don't possess?

The moment you adopt this mindset, you say goodbye to mediocrity and embrace other good virtues of success like hard work, consistency, focus, diligence, amongst others. If you engage in a conversation with anyone doing very well in tech today, you'll notice that they all had to go the extra mile, aim for more incredible things and never settle for less. A successful tech career is built upon the foundation of consistent growth, focus and hard work.

I like the way Steve Jobs captures my thoughts in this post:

Your work is going to occupy the majority of your life. The only way to be contended is to do what you actually believe to be great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do and if you haven't found your passion yet, keep looking and never settle for less. Just as it works with every matter of the heart, you'll know when you find it.

Wrapping up

Starting a tech career doesn't have a one-size-fits-all approach. Always remember that there are several options, and you can always approach a new tech career in several ways. The path to becoming a great tech professional could begin with the simple steps you take today.

I believe that this year is waiting on you to make the leap and the only way to tap into the opportunities in tech is by getting started. I'll conclude this article with the famous quote often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, the father of time management, "he who fails to plan is planning to fail". Success doesn't happen overnight, neither does it happen by accident. I wish you all the best.

Getting into IT? Top Tech Careers for 2021

Abraham Enyo-one Musa — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 15:03:19 +0000

Many people are still trying to recover from the previous year's losses, majorly caused by the pandemic. There's no denying that people lost their jobs. Many businesses failed, and an increasing percentage of people either had health crises or lost their loved ones to the cold hands of death.

As you already know, we're four days into 2021, and I believe that this is a good time to re-strategize and plan better for this new year. Every new season comes with new windows of opportunities. You wouldn't want anyone to pass you by probably because you didn't plan well or weren't prepared.

Your career is one of the key areas of your life that you need to plan for and take very seriously in 2021. Without a defined career path or career plan, it might be challenging to reach new heights, or gain skills that'll make you a valuable commodity in the business world. Besides, the world of careers and work is inextricably linked to the fundamental business of survival in all sense: family responsibility, legacy, social acceptance and financial stability.

If your career isn't related to tech, then it's high time you start considering a tech-related career. The world is already digital, technology demands are growing exponentially, and there's hardly any field you'll see today that doesn't have a touch of tech. If there's any field that'll never become obsolete, it's technology.

In this post, I'll show you some interesting tech careers that you need to consider in 2021. Perhaps you want to reinvigorate your career, or you've got your heart set on a tech career, this article will provide the much-needed inspiration you need to get started.

Why should I consider a Career in Tech?

Undoubtedly, the tech job market is one of the most lucrative you can ever find. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of tech jobs will probably grow 11% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations.

As we progress into the future, tech careers would become abundant, many companies would itch to hire more tech talents, and there would be lots of roles to be filled. Here are some reasons you need to pursue a career in technology.

Tech Jobs are Flexible

As remote working technologies advances, the majority of tech jobs are becoming flexible. With the help of video conferencing, cloud storage, easy accessibility to the internet, many tech companies no longer see the need for their employees to be at the office every day. Modern organizations have also rolled out flexible working schedules, allowing employees to work at the hours that best suit their schedules.

What this means is that you can choose to work at night or even take some hours off to attend to some urgent tasks - as long as you deliver results as and when due. The most exciting part of this flexibility is that some global companies have gone fully remote, entirely forsaking the regular 9-5 or office schedule.

Tech Jobs are here to stay

Soon, every role or industry will become heavily reliant on advanced technology (i.e. if they're not already). If you're looking for great prospects or secure work, a tech career could be the way to go. By pursuing a tech career, you'll be more rightly positioned, and adaptable to future changes.

One good thing about technology is that it's continually developing and changing to improve our lives and also help us achieve more with less. When you decide to pursue a tech career, you can choose from lots of options, including software engineering, data science, cybersecurity e.t.c.

Tech is a Global Opportunity

I love the tech niche because of the tons of global opportunities in the industry. Technology offers the chance to work on international projects, travel, and contribute to an internationally recognised and reputable organisation.

There are not so many industries in the world that are continuing to expand and thrive globally. If you've always wanted a career filled with lots of travel, consider working in tech.

I usually feel inspired and happy anytime I see tech professionals take some time off to go for international vacations, visit beautiful places and catch some cruise. It's the happening thing. Lol.

Without gainsaying, technology is an important field. If you want to become a marketable asset, then you need to pursue a career in technology. It’s an ever-developing, challenging and growing field and there are lots of things you can do as a tech professional. In the next section, I'll talk about some top tech careers for 2021.

Hot Tech Career Options

Technology is getting hotter, rapidly changing, and some specialisations are in higher demand than others. With the tons of career options available today, it's very easy for one to get lost trying to figure out a way. If you're looking for a tech career or you want to change career, here are some in-demand skills and high-hanging fruits you should consider, ordered in no particular format.

Data Scientist

Businesses and organisations are collecting an incredible amount of data every day. Due to the pandemic in 2020, organisations now increasingly acknowledge that they're sitting on treasure troves of data they can leverage for business growth and advancement. This is where data scientists come into play. In a business setting, a data scientist's roles and responsibilities include exploring disconnected and disparate data sources, predicting potential trends, finding better ways to analyse different data (structured, semi-structured and unstructured) and providing insights that drive business growth.

Harvard Business Review deems data science as the sexiest job of the 21st century. It's a continually developing and fast-growing career field. Without a pinch of doubt, it's also one of the highest paying jobs across sectors and industries. In this recent survey by Analytics Insights, it's estimated that there'll be 3,037,809 data science openings this year alone. One good thing about data science is that it's multidisciplinary and as a data scientist, you can work in different sectors such as healthcare, banking and finance, education e.t.c.

Software Engineer

By all measures, software engineering is one of the broadest and hottest careers to get into today. If you think about it critically, almost every industry in the world uses software, and most of the applications or infrastructures we interact with every day are handiworks of software engineers. Software engineers create several types of solutions such as web and desktop applications, games, mobile apps, network systems, operating systems, robots e.t.c.

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of software development opportunities is predicted to grow 24% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. This reveals that the demand for software engineers would continue to be on the rise for the foreseeable future. Just like it's for data scientists, there are several sectors you can work as a software engineer.

Cloud Computing Engineer

Cloud computing jobs are currently on the rise because many companies are transitioning from on-premise server infrastructure to cloud solutions. The pandemic validated the value propositions of cloud, and millions of companies have either adopted or looking to adopt cloud services. As the cloud adoption rate increases and companies plan to speed up their digital transformation plans, the need to hire experts who can implement the necessary infrastructure, mitigate processes and perform cloud-related tasks also increases. Starting a cloud computing career is a smart and calculated way to attract some of the best global opportunities in the market and future-proof your career.

According to Forrester Research, the cloud computing market is projected to grow by 35% this year, compared to 2020. Cloud computing engineers are usually titled under several roles, including cloud developers, sysops engineers, and solution architects. Sometimes, the responsibilities and roles might differ. But, cloud computing engineers are usually responsible for planning, monitoring and managing an organisation's cloud system, such as Slack, Microsoft 365, Google Cloud, to name a few. The most in-demand cloud platforms are maintained by Google (Google Cloud Platform), Microsoft (Azure) and Amazon (Amazon Web Service).

Cybersecurity Analyst

As more organisations adopt and move their systems to cloud, security is becoming an essential element for running a successful business, especially for organisations that deal with sensitive data or collect customer information. Also known as an information analyst, a cybersecurity analyst protects information systems, sensitive information and user data from cyber threats. They leverage various strategies and tools to ensure that data is safe and modern enterprises use effective protective systems while adhering to government standards and regulations.

In this post, the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics' Information Security Analyst's Outlook stated that cybersecurity jobs are among the most needed and fastest-growing career areas globally. By their estimation, demand for cybersecurity analysts will grow 31% from now till 2029. This growth rate is 7X faster than the 4% national average growth rate. They also estimate cybersecurity skills to deliver a $15,008 boost this year. The good thing is that there's a shortage of cybersecurity analysts and a market you can fill.

DevOps Engineer

The exponential rise of software-defined services, the need for lower costs, faster delivery and flexibility has pushed DevOps jobs into the tech-hiring spotlights. DevOps is a combination of tools, cultural practices, and philosophies related to operations and development that allows an organisation to gain competitive advantage by innovating faster, adapting to changing markets, and efficiently achieving their business goals. DevOps engineers are the bridge between engineering and coding. They collaborate across different departments and teams to improve various IT systems and eventually increase a company's productivity.

DevOps experts have transformed how enterprises meet the increasing demands of their customers. They're responsible for speeding up development cycles and processes while maintaining high accuracy. Majority of the time, DevOps engineers spend their time analysing and developing solutions to global challenges. Because of increasing the need to make applications more efficient, DevOps is such an exciting field that'll continue to be on the rise for the foreseeable future. In this report, Burning Glass Technologies estimates that the demand for DevOps engineers will grow by 50% over the next five years to meet the job demand.

Summarising

The primary purpose of this post is to help you understand why a tech career is essential and expose you to some top tech careers in 2021. Even with emerging technological disruptions and the rapid market changes, I'm sure that you can build a foundational technology that keeps individuals - and businesses moving forward and ready for the future by pursuing any of the tech careers mentioned in this article.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you find this post both useful and interesting. Please feel free to comment and discuss your expectations on the top tech careers for 2021.