How to Kickstart Your Tech Journey
This article is in response to the numerous questions I have received in the last month about how to begin a career in technology.
The first step for someone new to technology is always asking the question, “How can I kickstart my journey in tech?” Ideally, this question should have a simple and clear answer, but that is not the case, as different people in the tech industry have different answers to this question. These responses are the result of their trajectory, their personal experiences, and their path.
Some began in school while studying information technology, computer science, computer engineering, or a related field. These individuals may have different responses to the question.
Recently, we have witnessed an exponential increase in the rate of career transition into the tech space — which is not going to decline anytime soon — such that people without a computer science background are not thriving in the tech space. These set of people also have their own unique answers to the pressing question “How can I kickstart my journey in tech?”.
With this understanding, I will share my perspectives and insights to help you get started on your journey into technology.
The steps I will present as navigation into the tech space are listed below.
- Be curious. Open yourself to possibilities.
- Become aware of your personality
- Determine what skill path best suits your personality
- Decide what you want to learn
- Set meaningful (smaller goals) and decide to commit to them
- Surround yourself with tech
- Get a mentor
- Develop the habit of continuous learning
- Decide to share always
- Always project!
- List your strong reasons
1. Be curious. Open yourself to possibilities.
Starting out in tech is usually more of an internally influenced decision than external. What do I mean? You cannot just wake up one morning and then decide to start a tech journey. Reaching such decision is as a result of the information you have received over time. This can be a subsconscious and conscious process of gaining information.
You may hear people talk about tech, you see tech adverts, you went to a tech event, etc. These are all processes of gaining information that might influence your decision whether to consider a journey into tech or not.
Curiosity is a major factor when it comes to any field of life, being open to possibilities will usher you into newer vistas of life.
You have to be curious about what tech is, you always have to ask questions and keep asking questions then search for answers to your questions.
Asking questions like what is tech, what is technical writing, copywriting, data science, cloud computing, web design, blockchain development, etc will drive you to search for the answers. The answers will may generate genuine interest in any of these fields.
For me, curiosity is always the first step. The next step is to ask yourself “is this really for me?”
This brings us to the next point in our list; become aware of your personality.
2. Become aware of your personality
I am not a philosopher but I love Socrates. In the real of human philospohy “Man know thyself” is the greatest advice of all time.
Yes! Man know thyself. Self knowledge is powerful and paramount in everything we do. In relation to tech, you need to know your personality type and how it fits into the tech space. You may need a personality test for that. There are a lot of tech personality websites online, just google them and take a quiz. You do not really need to agree 100% with the result but surely, the result will reveal some truths about you.
Now after you have hearkened to the greatest philosophical advice of all time — Man know thyself — you have to ask yourself what skill path resonants mostly with you.
3. Determine what skill path best suits your personality
You cannot do everything! Know this and know peace.
You have to start out with one skill that you are genuinely passionate about and then set out to develop competence in that area.
Your personality type will determine the skill path to follow. Are you a creative person? are you mostly intrigued by the beauty of nature? are you fascinated by colours? do you love music and art? if you answer yes to these questions, then you are most likely a creative and should consider exploring the creative content development aspect of tech e.g graphics, video creation, Mixed Reality (Virtual & Augmented Reality), content writing, etc.
If you detest sitting down for hours solving math problems, then that is an indication that the coding path is not for you.
The point is that you should explore your personality and knit it closely to the skill path that interests you.
4. Decide what you want to learn
Now you know what skill path fits your personality. The next thing to do is develop a learning plan and stick to it.
You have the option of going through the self learning route or registering with an organization/training institution to help you get on board by providing the needed guardiance.
The decision on which route to follow lies here “Man know thyself”
Personally, I thrive in self learning, I let my curiosity drive me to research and discovery. If this is unlike you, then you should consider registering with a tech institute.
5. Set meaningful (smaller goals) and decide to commit to them
We are only just moving in circles, if we do not set goals and work towards achieving them.
If you start learning let’s say Data Analytics today, what will you want to achieve at the end of the month? when are you finishing your first project? when are you applying for your first job? Goal setting is fundamental to growth.
6. Surround yourself with tech
Your surroundings can either inspire, frustrate, or keep you stagnant.
I mean your environment when I say surroundings. What you observe and hear, the people you spend your time with, etc. These are factors that have an impact on you in some way.
My advice is to immerse yourself in technology. Read tech articles, listen to tech podcasts, watch tech videos, and spend time with people who are interested in technology. JUST DO TECH IN GENERAL!
Is this to say you shouldn’t do anything else? Absolutely not! Not at all. The goal is to build up enough momentum to keep going. Surrounding yourself with technology accomplishes this and more.
7. Get a mentor
Mentors make life easier!
Blessed is you, if you have a good mentor that is always willing to guild you as you grow. You will surely succeed because he succeeded.
But make sure you are humble enough to learn and diligent enough to commit to the work ahead.
8. Develop the habit of continuous learning
Do you want to become rusty and outdated? Typing that question makes me nervous! You do not want to be stuck on one level for too long. Because technology is constantly changing, you must cultivate the habit of continuous learning.
You cannot survive in the tech industry on yesterday’s knowledge. Every day, you must be willing to add to your knowledge.
Every day, you must be willing to add to your knowledge.
So put on your learning hat and continue to grow.
9. Decide to share always
The reason why tech is the most beautiful and ever progressing field is because of the sharing philosophy that exists in it. This philosophy is the mother of Open Source.
By sharing the things you learn online, you are not ony developing yourself further, you are also developing a sense of accountability, a followership, and the maturity to grow in the midst of an audience without letting the quest for perfection prevent you from trying.
10. Always project!
Yes! You should always project yourself. Seeing the final version of yourself in the present is what projection is. It is imagining how you will feel, what you will accomplish, and how valuable you will become once you have completed the skills you are currently working on.
Will becoming a data analyst, data scientist, cloud computing engineer, software developer, copywriter, and VR/AR Developer boost your confidence and worth?
Always consider yourself a professional in the field you are attempting to break into.
11. List your strong reasons
Nothing can stand in the way of a man with strong convictions. You can accomplish almost anything, if you have strong convictions/reasons.
You must consistently reiterate your convictions in order to begin in this field of technology because your convictions will keep you going on days when you want to give up because the process is taking too long.
As I stated at the outset of this article, everyone has their own unique advice based on their own experiences. The following are my top suggestions for getting started in technology.
Thank you for reading and thank you for starting sooner.
