What you need to know before getting into the Tech World as a Newbie

Hi hi!! I trust this meets you well.

I know you might seem a little bit confused about where to start and at the same time eager to dive into any field in the tech industry (software engineering/programming to be precise) most especially because you feel or know it is one of the vast and lucrative career paths anywhere in the world.

I know you must have also probably heard that ‘Software Engineering’ is most likely the only field paying well and the most difficult. Well, that might not necessarily be true.

But I would really love you to go along with me on this journey, making you see that there are different roles you can play in the tech industry asides being a software engineer, that you can get into the tech space with the right tools, resources, and mindset and finally what you are most likely going to feel when you are fully in.

Just a quick intro about myself… I am a Front-End engineer/UI designer who most times seemingly google out how to do stuff. I love to design and I also love to code. I am a facilitator and a mentor for SheCodeAfrica and a shy human.

So let me get started with the first on the list;

Different Roles you can play in the Tech Industry

It is no doubt that technology has proven to be the fast-paced and highest growing career field in the world at the moment. But that does not mean software engineering is the only field therein, you can venture into. Below are the lists of field you can dive in, in the tech industry asides from being a software Engineer:

Product Designer
Data Analyst/Scientist
Technical Writer/ Content Developer
Developer Relation
Community Manager
Business Developer

Although some of the above-mentioned fields require you to know a little bit of coding like being a data scientist, cause you are going to be making use of some programming language like python and R. And so, all you need to do as a newbie into Tech is to find out about these fields, ask friends or people that are already fully ventured in it and then from there you can decide which one you really want to go for. Software engineering is not for everyone and should not be the only field you “must” do.

Getting into the Tech space with the Right Tools and Resources

As a newbie, once you have concluded and made up your mind about which tech field you want to dive into, research about the tools and resources that can benefit you along that path. I really can’t stress this enough, “you have to research!!!”. Now, I believe it is much easier online to get or learn anything you wish to learn. Some tools and resources you can find helpful

Attend Bootcamps: Bootcamps offers you accelerated learn in a few months rather than years.
Apply for Online courses: the likes of Udemy and Udacity can be of great help.
Join a Community
Teach and Work for yourself: You’ve got to do a lot of practice on your own
Get you a mentor in that field if need be.
Keep Learning

What you are most likely going to feel when you are In

Trust me, everyone at one point in time must have had some horrible feeling when it comes to working in a tech field. well, I think, it doesn't just happen in this career path alone. At one point, you will most likely feel like giving up, at another point, you are most likely going to feel you aren’t better or can’t get better. You are most likely going to have Imposter Syndrome. It is okay to feel this way. What you need to do: Speak to someone about it, never stop learning, Never ever underestimate yourself or your work, always believe you can be better!

Thank you!!!