DEV Community

Cover image for Baby Steps in Tech
Emmanuel Udeze
Emmanuel Udeze

Posted on

Baby Steps in Tech

Transitioning into tech can be overwhelming, from choosing a programming language to getting the right resources, meeting the right mentors, and being in the right communities. Tech is an ever-evolving and robust field with plenty of room for you and me to make a career out of it.

“The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.” -Arthur C. Clarke


This well-curated roadmap will assist you in getting started on your tech journey.

1. Recognize your interest

The advancement of technology offers a vast variety of fields, ranging from healthcare to finance, entertainment, agriculture, cyber security, web development, and many more. Dive into these areas to discover what aligns with your passion, interests, and existing skillset.

Pro-Tip💡: Write down all of your strengths; the more, the better. Next, cross out any abilities that do not align with your long-term objectives and passion. Whatever is left should be your area of concentration. Look up the related tech niche using resources like YouTube and Chapt-gpt.

2. Acquire the necessary skills

It is time to arm yourself with the required skills after you have decided on a professional path to pursue. Although some people prefer in-person instruction, online tutorials and courses are a great place to start. The most important thing is that you have access to learning resources.
Many online courses and tutorials provide an easy-to-follow introduction to programming languages, technical concepts, and learning roadmaps.

Here are a few popular websites to get you started:

  • YouTube: Many scholars have praised YouTube as a digital and mobile-friendly school that provides free courses in a variety of subjects and fields to its users. This is the ideal platform to use if you are looking for something inexpensive.

  • Solo-Learn: Solo Learn provides free programming courses for learning how to write code from beginner to advanced levels, including fun bit-sized exercises, lessons, and a user-friendly coding environment.

  • Udemy: Udemy is a platform that provides learning materials and courses after they have been paid for; the cost of each course ranges from a thousand to a couple thousand dollars (check the rate in your local currency).
    A certificate is issued upon the successful completion of each course. The intriguing part is that Udemy offers coupon codes to provide users with free courses.

  • Google Cloud Skill Boost: Google Cloud Skill Boost is a learning pathway that allows users to select a career path, develop skills, and earn badges for their achievements. Personally, I recommend using this to get more than 700 bite-sized courses and certification.

These are only a few of the many others.

3. Join tech communities:

Finding the right communities can be difficult at first, which is why I am here to help. Social media groups, forums, meetups, and hackathons are all examples of online tech communities. Reaching out to Google search, Slack, and course representatives from different departments at your university will help you locate the closest tech communities, meetups, and social media groups based on your location or place of education.

Pro-Tip💡: Communities are the best place to learn quickly, ask questions and get feedback, network with like-minded individuals, and volunteer.

4. Gain hands-on experience:

While theoretical knowledge is valuable, practical application of what you have learned is essential. Building projects that use your skill set to solve real-world problems is essential to your tech career. Look for ways to put your newfound skills to use, such as working on personal projects or volunteering with open source initiatives. This improves both your comprehension of the material and your ability to collaborate with others.

Pro-Tip💡: Volunteering with open source initiatives allows you to gain valuable experience that can be added to your resume, curriculum vitae (cv), or LinkedIn. Websites like Git-hub and open-source guides are great places to start.

5. Create a portfolio:

A portfolio is a collection of work samples that demonstrate your technical proficiency and experience. It is critical to demonstrate your skills and abilities to potential employers and persuade them that you are a good fit for the job.
Take part in hackathons and boot camps, work on personal projects to demonstrate your grasp of the skills you are learning, and make contributions to open-source initiatives.

6. Networking and connection:

The tech industry thrives on collaboration and building connections. Connect with enthusiasts and professionals on platform like LinkedIn, X(formerly Twitter), attend industry events and meetups around you to gain insight into tech landscape and build relationships.
The connections made can provide valuable guidance, mentorship, and even job opportunities.

7. Applying for jobs with a tech-savvy resume:

Prepare your resume to highlight the tech skills and experiences you may have acquired. Emphasize abilities such as collaboration, problem-solving, and communication.
To make a good impression on prospective employers, practice answering tech interview questions to hone your interviewing skills.

Technology is an ever-changing industry. Stay current on trends, innovations, and technologies by reading publications, attending workshops and meetups, and taking online courses. Always ask questions and seek guidance from mentors and colleagues.


The End 🏁
Remember to follow, post a comment, give a heart, and tell your friends about it. I appreciate you reading, and I hope to see you in the next post.

Top comments (9)

Collapse
 
iconicspidey profile image
Big Spidey🕷️

Nice article

Collapse
 
udeze profile image
Emmanuel Udeze

Thank you for taking time to read

Collapse
 
bajglobal profile image
Ajibode Segun

This is mind blowing and thought provoking. The notes are basic in transiting to tech truly. Thanks sir for this. I will oblige

Collapse
 
udeze profile image
Emmanuel Udeze

Thank you for taking out time to consume this piece sir.
Don't forget to share with the new techies always asking questions in your dm

Collapse
 
fatima222 profile image
Fatima Abubakar

This is so far the best content I have consumed this week. Keep it up Boss, you are doing well 🤗

Collapse
 
udeze profile image
Emmanuel Udeze

Thank you so much Aunty Fatima.
Please, Don't forget to share with those techies always bugging you😜

Collapse
 
kaluschuks profile image
Chukwuemeka Kalu Udeh

Wow, great article

Collapse
 
udeze profile image
Emmanuel Udeze

Thank you for taking your time to go through this sir, don't forget to follow and give a heart.

Collapse
 
busayo_esther_f9e297c9625 profile image
Busayo Esther

This opened my heart and mind to the tech world and what its like...Thank you for this opportunity sir🤭