Today, 12+ million people work in technology according to Cyberstates. If you want to join them, taking the right approach is a must. With the proper strategy, you can select a field that piques your interest, offers enough compensation, and otherwise will meet your long-term career needs. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here’s what you need to know. Make sure to visit D Techweb Blog for more tech-related insights, tips, and updates!
Choose the Right Path for You
There are hundreds of specialties within the broader IT profession landscape. Some are only slightly different from their technology career brethren, while others have stark differences when it comes to the required skill set, salaries, education requirements, and more.
Since finding a niche that aligns with your interests and passions is the best approach for career longevity, you need to explore the available specialties. That way, you can decide if focusing on cybersecurity, software development, networking, or another area is best for you.
It’s also helpful to understand what the going salary rates are for your target position. While it’s common for entry-level roles to come in below industry averages, you’ll still learn a lot about what’s fair, as well as where you can expect to end up as you gain experience.
Here are a few average salary examples:
- Software Developer – $110,140
- Network Administrator – $60,981
- Help Desk Technician – $54,591
- Systems Analyst – $85,599
By reviewing the average salary for your preferred position, you can make sure that the financial aspects of pursuing that specialty aligns with your needs.
Get the Required Education
Generally speaking, there are two main educational approaches for starting a career in technology. The most popular one is getting a college education.
Become notes that the majority of IT professionals have a bachelor’s degree, and some go as far as to earn a master’s. While completing the courses, you’ll get introduced to a range of relevant topics, such as network security, data management, cloud computing, and application development. That gives you a strong foundation in the field, as well as specialized skills relating to your major.
If you’re looking for a simpler way to hone your IT skills, getting an online degree might be ideal. You’ll cover the same subjects but get more flexibility than you would with traditional classroom-based learning approaches.
However, if getting a degree isn’t practical for you, there could be an alternative. Bootcamps are becoming increasingly popular. These training options are shorter and highly focused, allowing you to get critical skills in less time. But they are quite intense and require a lot of time each day, so they might not be ideal for everyone.
Launching Your Tech Career
Once you have the proper education and skills, it’s time to launch your tech career. In most cases, when you create your resume, you’ll want to put the “Education” section above your “Work History” if you don’t have on-the-job experience in the field. That way, the hiring manager sees right away that you have a strong foundation.
It can also be smart to add a “Skills” section above the “Education” area. You can use a bullet point list to showcase key capabilities. Use the job description as a guide when deciding which skills to include, ensuring you focus on the capabilities the hiring manager is after.
If you’ll be working from home, you’ll need to set up and equip a home office. This should be a dedicated space like a spare room, the basement, or even an add-on. Be sure to retain all your receipts when you build out your office area, not just for tax deductions but for proof of the upgrades, which can actually increase your home’s value.
Once you land an interview, always practice your answers to typical job interview questions. With practice, you’ll become more comfortable, increasing the odds that you’ll come across as competent and confident.