Over the last couple of months, I have had a lot of people express their interest and ask for advice on how to make an entry/career pivot into tech, as well as tips to ensure success.
In recent times, the term "Tech" seems to be such a buzzword in the career industry with new terminologies such as "Tech Bro" gaining momentum among Milllenials and Gen Z's. Everyone wants to make their foray into the tech world, and understandably so, as content creators/influencers on social media have created this idea that making your way into tech is the guaranteed career move that will get you to earning six figures.
Admittedly, the world is witnessing a massive technological revolution and literally almost every aspect of human life is being powered by technology; think transportation, leisure, entertainment, health & fitness, medicine, research etc. Thus, there is a surge in demand for professionals skilled in creating, building and powering such technologies.
However, this doesn't mean that other professions are becoming extinct. On the contrary, some professions, in my opinion, will never be replaced e.g doctors, lawyers, nurses, care takers, essential workers; rather what will be required is a basic knowledge of applying technology to help enhance the day-to-day operations of their job.
So before you get tempted to think that getting into tech is the ONLY career move that makes sense for you at this point, ask yourself these 3 important questions:
a. Who are you?: By this I mean, how do you define yourself as a professional? If you were to give an elevator pitch in 5 mins, how would you describe yourself and the value you bring as a career person or even an entrepreneur? What are those skills that come naturally to you and are executed with ease such that they form the basis of your professional development? Are you a creative? Are you sales inclined? Do you have an incredible analytical mind? Are you great with numbers? Can you organize data easily? Are you naturally skilled at engineering?
A knowledge of who you are is the first step to identifying what area of tech you can apply yourself. 'Tech' to me literally means "technologically powered". So whether that be Real Estate, Adtech, Fintech, Edutech, Telemedicine, Agrotech, Transportation (think Uber, Lyft), there are multiple career paths within each of them and you have to know WHO you are to be able to properly align yourself with the career that allows you operate at your optimal value.
b. What is your skillset?: Aligning with point 1, there are innate skills & there are learned skills. This question helps you understand which you possess to enable you chart a successful path in tech. If your skills (both innate & learned) are in high demand, you have the luxury of selecting the job(s) that give you maximum financial security. Secondly an appreciation of your skills, knowledge & expertise help create fluidity around your career options and provides room for career growth.
c. What are your passions & interest: What do you like/have an interest in? Answering this question will give you clues around your potential career trajectory in tech. Are you interesting in advertising & promotions? Maybe Adtech could be what you could explore. How about education, are you passionate about that with the necessary knowledge and skills to enhance the industry? Maybe consider Edutech. In summary, knowing your passions/interest can help you identify what skills to build alongside to up-level your career opportunities in tech.
Of course, these questions are in-exhaustive but I personally believe that answering these 3 will give you a foundation for making a successful entry or career pivot into tech. Follow me on Linkedin for more career & personal development tips.
