How to tech

Having been in the tech space for the past 12 years (also including about 5 years of studying at university), I have had the opportunity to explore various areas in this space; from IT support, to web development, to Android development, to data science and working a lot with cloud technologies, one thing remains consistent; technology is ever-evolving and while this doesn’t mean skills you have picked up in the past become obsolete (they are still very valuable), it is crucial to have a mindset to learn. Here are some of the most important attributes I believe are needed to be successful in the tech space:

• Be curious - Having the mindset to keep learning, not necessarily learning the latest technologies and trendy stuff although that is good but gaining a deeper understanding of technologies you already know.

• Be T shaped - In simple terms, be a jack of all trades but also have an area of expertise; In software engineering, there is the concept of being a T-shaped engineer. This is having a broad range of skills (represented by the horizontal stroke in the T) and then also having a deep understanding and expertise in a specific area (represented the vertical stroke in the T).

• Network - Connecting with others in your field within your organization and those outside is a good thing to do and could also bring opportunities your way in the future. Platforms like LinkedIn for example are very good for this.

• Ask questions - Asking the right questions from those in your field or positions you would like to be in is a good way to learn and get closer to achieving your goals of being better at whatever you do in this space. Also ask questions when stuck on problems; there is no harm asking for help and while it is very important spending time figuring things out yourself, it is also good practice to seek help from those more experienced if stuck on a problem for a long time.

• Self belief - Although I have not struggled with this personally, I have heard people talk about imposter syndrome a lot. While it may be normal to feel this way sometimes, believing in yourself and your abilities are important in order to succeed in any area of life and this field is no diffferent.