get started in tech

Introduction

It's no doubt that Technology has revolutionalized our daily life, with more advanced tech gadgets, devices, machines, and robots. The demand for Software Engineers, Designers, Data science, Quality assurance (QA), and Testers is very high.

Every day more technological companies are created, and in each department, the need for tech Talent is high.
According to Dice Salary Report, The average salary for a U.S. tech professional increased from $108,857 in 2021 to $111,348 in 2022. This means that a tech professional makes about $108,857 to $111,348 yearly.

In this article, you will understand different career paths in tech, understand how and where each field is applied, and at the end, you will better understand and choose the path suitable for you.

Different Career paths

There are over 10 career paths which include but are not limited to:

Software Engineers

Software engineers design and develop computer programs and applications. Computer software engineers develop programs and operating systems for computers. They work with system programmers, analysts, and other engineers to design systems, project capabilities, and determine performance interfaces.

Data Scientist

A data scientist is a professional who is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to help organizations make better decisions. Data scientist finds patterns in data and uses them to uncover insights, They often develop predictive models for theorizing information.

Designers

Designers work with engineering and product teams to identify a problem and brainstorm what features and functions could be used to solve it. Design is strategic, as designers are involved in the end-to-end process, from user research to completion. They also structure the layout of a product and how it will appear to end users, making sure the product is easy to use and navigate.

Technical lead

A technical lead – oversees the technical aspects of a software team by making architectural and design decisions, guiding team members in technical matters, and supervising system modifications. They supervise team members to make sure all technical matters are attended to and the expectation of a product is met.

Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance Engineers are responsible for assessing the quality of specifications to ensure timely, relevant, and meaningful feedback. They are involved in planning and implementing strategies for quality management and testing. QA engineers make sure product specifications are adhered to before moving to the said audience or end users. Their goal is for a quality product.

Software Testers

Software testers perform automated and manual tests to ensure that the software operates as designed and bug-free. In today's digital world, every industry, from banking to healthcare, relies on the work of software testers to help create superior products. Every day thousands of tech products are launched the goal for a software tester in an organization is to run all test cases on the product to ensure a good product and error-free before the product meets the market users.

Project Management

Project management is the process of leading the work of a team to achieve all project goals within the given constraints. This information is usually described in project documentation, created at the beginning of the development process. The primary constraints are scope, time, and budget. The goal of a Project manager is to move the development process of a product according to the company’s requirements.

Cybersecurity specialist

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks. These cyberattacks are usually aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information; extorting money from users, or interrupting normal business processes. The main goal of a Cybersecurity expert is to ensure the safety of the company’s assets and integrity, from unknown attackers. They achieve this by continuous monitoring of the systems.

Cloud Architects

A cloud architect is responsible for an organization's cloud computing system. They work with cloud technology to develop cloud adoption plans, determine cloud application design, and create systems for managing, monitoring, and maintaining the cloud system. A Cloud Architect simply setups a cloud infrastructure where a company's cloud information is stored.

Technical Writer

A technical writer is a professional information communicator whose task is to transfer information between two or more parties. They write about technological pieces, which can be about a product user manual or installation guide. They communicate information to users either in written form or media form. They aim to strike the balance between non-tech savvy audiences, and conveying information in a nice and digestible format. In the end, they either instruct, direct, or guide a user to achieve a common goal.

These fields apply to different sectors, each having its uniqueness bringing the values from each field to build an amazing product that drives our daily activities.

How to Choose a career path in Tech

Every day human beings are been born into different families, so as in tech fields. When I got into tech, I asked myself, what is that thing I have passion for? The answer led me to start making more research. Obviously, I have a passion for computers and taking gadgets apart, but in the end, I ventured into Software Engineering. So ask yourself that same question, and the answer will lead you to the right path, ahh yes there is always room to switch fields in between your career.
Example: A Software engineer can always switch to Software tester and a Technical lead can also switch to Project manager, and vice versa.

After choosing a path, what’s next?

Many online and in-person boot camps train individuals in all aspects of tech fields, some are paid while some are free. Additionally, the internet is full of resources to learn any technology for free. While the Boot camps offer a more clear, and more concise way of learning and getting the best in time, the fee payment can be very challenging to pay. Some popular free online resource to learn Software Engineering is https://www.freecodecamp.org/. Moreso https://www.udemy.com/ sell courses for all fields, even to those not related to the tech industry, the beauty of Udemy is that you get to take the course on your schedule. If you decide to take the Bootcamp route which involves paying the full school fee (boot camp fee), a popular one is https://www.altschoolafrica.com/. To learn is easy, but keeping up is challenging, if you ever thought of quitting, just remember why you started and the passion behind it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I will say, Technology has come very far in our daily life, and not choosing a career in tech means you are been left out. Those in tech are been paid well, they have a good working style, either working from home or in an office.

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