So many people have done justice to this topic, and we have said a lot about and on pivoting to tech. This article is for that one person who needs an extra push in the right direction and simpler terms.
What is Tech?
Knowing what tech is makes it easier to know and create a niche for yourself.
We can describe tech as an industry sector, it can also be said to be a process, a product, a set of tools, and can also likewise be said to be skills and knowledge, and finally, I would add a range of occupations.
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Know Your X, Y, and Z
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In high school and university mathematics, had us do world problems where we were asked to find X, or find Y or Z. So applying that to every aspect of our lives can be helpful.
I hear your brain asking what is X. X in this case is you.
The first step in tech is finding you? Who are you? If you are from non-science or technical background, what kind of skill do you have that can be transferred into tech? Are you a manager? Do you work with certain tech apps like QuickBooks, Jira, or confluence? What about your field of study? And is there a tech career close to it? e.g., Business administration tech relative is project management and Business Process Analyst.
Let's put it this way. X is simply doing a SWOT (Strength, weakness, opportunities, threat) of yourself.
What are your strengths? Your transferrable skills. What's that skill you were trained for, or you can do without researching?
It's important you know that skill because that's what going to help you in your transition journey.
SWOT ANALYSIS to know the areas to fit into the tech
What is your weakness? Do you find it easy to give up when you're faced with a challenge? It is important to know that. If talking is a weakness you can turn it into a strength by becoming a tech trainer. Do you overanalyze things, or keep finding the why or causation? Maybe you might be good at analytics.
What are your opportunities? You already know your strength and your weakness. Now, what are the tech spaces you can either turn your weakness into strengths or use your strengths? Finding that tech area or space is your silver lining at the end of a tunnel in your career transition.
What are your threats? These are people in that your chosen career path. I don't refer to them as threats. I turn them into mentors, I stalk their Twitter and their LinkedIn and find the courses they do, and I do them. I emulate the way they write, and how they teach. I learn from them!
So, if X is YOU, then what is Y? Y is Why tech? Why do you want to transition into tech? What's your reason? Is it the money? If it is, what happens if you don't make money? Are you willing to wait for the silver lining?
Questions like how many hours are you going to invest into tech need to be answered? Because you have to invest time into that pivot and skill acquisition. Changes that you will make need to be answered.
What about time? how much time are you willing to invest into that pivot, needs to be answered. If you're on Twitter, you can use any of these hashtags to ask questions and I'm willing to help you out #sheistechie #mwithDuchess #dtechieduchess #TechwithDuchess
We now know X; Y so let's find Z. Z is How? Call it a roadmap, a mood board. But for real how do you want to learn tech? Self-taught? For me, I learn by reading and emulating people. Do you want to watch videos? Is your learning path paid to learn like boot camps or free courses? you need to know all this.
Your tech goal has to be SMART. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound
Remember that your how have to be SMART (specific. measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound).
Your tech goals need to be specific. What do you want to learn and why? What do you want to use the learned skill for? career advancement, change of industry, and more money just to name a few. Which industry do you want to apply those skills too?
Your tech goals need to be measurable. So, this is where people have to see your growth. You're learning java? start building your GitHub where you commit your codes. Learning analytics? Start your tableau public, post on Linkedin and Twitter, and even your GitHub.
Do you want to be a technical writer? Write that blog, write an article on LinkedIn, write a Twitter post, or write on medium. That way you're documenting your journey. Let people see your babe steps. Write a blog about your tech journey. So that at some point you can measure and say, 'this is where I used to be, but this is where I am now.
Your tech goals need to be achievable. Everyone wants to be a Mark Zuckerberg or Jeff Bezos or even a Bill Gates but wait!!! start with baby steps and keep going. One of these days, you would get to the silver lining. Protect yourself from the noise. You're not making the big money? That is okay. Just keep grinding.
Your tech goals need to be relevant. Close your eyes and envision where you want to be in tech. Open your eyes and write it down. Let the courses you're signing up for be aligned with where you are heading to. In my tech career, I've worked in risk management, done technical writing, been a technical trainer, system support specialist, help desk support specialist, system analyst, project manager, product manager, and even a GIS specialist.
But all this prepared me for product management. Now I'm very conscious of my product management career path and ensure that everything I do now aligns with where I want to be.
Your tech goals have to be time-bound. I'm a big believer in writing what my short-term goals are and trying to follow through. Set time for study and time to finish up that course and certify in that field. Very important that you work with the time and add a bit of time constraint.
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Some Area in Tech To Pivot To
I'm an ambassador of soft tech. so this article is going to be a bit biased. I heard someone say aloud what is soft tech. Soft tech to me is any area of tech which doesn't require coding or programming language.
In my word, soft tech is tech management, which may include but is not restricted to Product Management, Product Management, Business Process Management, and Program Management. I refer to them as the 4Ps of tech. I even started a slack and discord community for it.
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Photo Credit MyTechBestfriend
We've learned about our strengths and weakness, even opportunities and threats. we also know our goals.
Look at this diagram and ask yourself where you can apply the skills you have and if you need to gain more skills to help you, then what courses do you have to do to get you into any of those areas.
While the topic of “working in tech” is consuming social media because of all of its benefits, it’s important to recognize that to work in tech you do not need to work in a technical role.
For example, you can be a software engineer (technical role) working at a startup focused on women’s fertility. On the other hand, you can be an HR coordinator at Meta (a tech company). AND you can also be in a technical role (SE) in a tech company (Meta).
It’s important to make these differences. Don’t feel pressured to pursue a technical career because of the social media hype if YOU don’t feel it aligns with you.
How I Stay Motivated
I keep sharing these tips listed here because this has helped me become a better techie. I mentioned stalking people's Twitter and LinkedIn. In 2018, when I needed to rebrand as a tech person, I did👇:
I rebranded my Twitter to showcase where I was heading to. I wanted to be known as a lady in tech before a social commenter or a content curator. So I started following top Twitter tech handles. Because you are what you consume. Nigerians say, 'follow who knows road'. That's the fastest way to learn. we are always on social media, and ensuring that you benefit from social media is key.
I mentioned before that I research fields and I follow the top people who the algorithm brings up. That's what I do with LinkedIn. I describe LinkedIn as the social media where would-be employers and employees court and do the mating dancing. I'm a product manager and a good one if I may say so, so I search product management and look at the top profiles that LinkedIn brings up. Then I model my page to look like theirs and try to always update my certifications and gain more knowledge.
Google is your best friend. I Google everything and read up on anything I see in my field. You should too. Then try to write what you've learned in your own words. It helps you to learn and become an expert in your field.The next tip on my list is that I network. I reach out to people, I ask myself what's the worst that can happen? Either a no or a yes is what I get. I'm sending you a cold email or dm on Twitter or Instagram or even LinkedIn.
Another thing I advise people to do is which works for me; I attend twitter spaces. I haven't been to the clubhouse in a year but twitter spaces? I love it!! gives you room to meet and interact with great tech minds. And on Twitter space, you can ask questions.
Finally, ask questions. I tell people no question is stupid. Ask people what you've found confusing and that you need clarifications on. You are confused about what path in tech to take? Ask questions!!! Want to know the difference between Azure Cloud and Google Cloud? Ask questions.
Too Long Didn't Read TLDR;
If you enjoyed this, you can shoot me a DM. If you have questions, I'm available to answer. Send me an email, connect with me on everything tech on Twitter, read my views and social commentary, and don't forget to you can connect on Instagram
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