The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an 11-percent growth for computer and technology occupations from 2019 up to 2029. This makes a tech career a good option for anyone still looking for a path to follow in the future.
Anyone who has a tech degree has several niches to enter the industry. These niches include education tech, health-related tech, and cybersecurity. People can also look for work in Silicon Valley, where many tech companies set up their headquarters.
But succeeding in the industry takes a lot of work. Here are some tips that you can consider if you plan to start a career in the tech industry.
Know Yourself
The first thing you need to do is to know yourself. When you know yourself, you’ll have an idea about your strengths and weaknesses outside of your education. You can look for personality assessment tests online and check the type of personality you have.
Taking the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality test allows you to have an idea about your personality. When you know more about your personality, you can use this knowledge to find the tech niche suitable for it. This will increase your success in a tech career.
Focus on Your Specialization
You should also focus on your specialization. The degree you took in college shows your specialization, so you should look for a job in line with it. When you focus on this specialization, you are better equipped to deal with the issues you may encounter while performing your job.
The highest-paid tech job, according to the BLS, is a computer and information research scientist. These professionals design new uses of existing and new computing technology. Coming in at second is a computer network architect. A computer network architect designs and creates data communication networks. In third place are computer programmers, who write and test codes used by computer applications and software.
If your specialization is any of the first three, you can expect a salary that’s among the top in the industry.
Take Assessment Exams
After choosing your specialization, you should take an assessment exam so you’ll have a better chance of landing the job that you want. The assessment exam shows that you are competent in the tech field you want to practice. It also allows you to grow your tech career if you are still starting it.
Among the more popular assessment exams is the one given by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). The organization issues certifications for professionals in the IT industry. Its professional level certifications include Network+, Cloud+, Security+, and Server+.
To increase your chances of passing the exam, you can take a CompTIA Network+ practice test. The test allows you to gauge whether you are ready for the actual exam or not.
Consult Industry Experts
Consulting industry experts is also a good way for you to understand the industry you plan to join. This is particularly true if you are still planning to go to college or just graduated and are looking for a job. You can ask about their experiences in the industry. And if possible, ask them to be your mentor so you’ll know the ins and outs of the industry.
Some colleges also offer these types of mentorships or guidance. So, you can also ask your school about it. They can even provide you with a career path if you have decided to enter the world of tech.
Research
You should not rely too much on your mentor since you also have to do your research. If you plan to succeed, you need to do the work. You can search the internet for advice and the things you need to do to succeed in the industry. Reading the success stories of people who made it big in the industry can provide you with the motivation you need to succeed. You may even find out about the certifications and training you have to attend to increase your chances of success.
Be Responsible for Your Failure
In case you fail, you should not blame the system or somebody else. Instead, you should be responsible for your failure. Doing this allows you to build trust with the people you work with. Accepting responsibility also earns the respect of your colleagues, and they may even look up to you.
Learning from these mistakes is another thing you need to do. When you learn from your mistakes, you will reduce the chances of repeating them in the future.
Starting a career in technology can be challenging. But if you put in the work and listen to good advice, you can increase your chances of success in the industry.
