Hi There!

If this is your first time reading my content, be ready to Learn, Gist and Bala BluBlu😂.

Have you been thinking of transitioning from your current career path to a career in tech and don't know how to get started?

Well, just like the quote from Liz Smith:

"Begin somewhere. You cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do.”

In this article, I will be sharing my experience on how I transitioned from a customer experience role to a web developer and also tips to get you started in any tech path. So, grab your chair let’s gist and learn.

My Story

I have always been fascinated by technology and dreamt of getting into the tech space but I felt it was too late for me, seeing that I did not study computer science and had spent too much time on another career path. Besides, all these Gen-Z’s will not even let an elderly person like me shine small as most of them started learning how to code from the age range of 9-13 and were already pros before getting into universities. so I thought.

I struggled with these feelings/thoughts for almost two years and thinking of it now, I would have been a badass (Agba dev) by now. Ah! Do you see what fear and procrastination can do?😢 .

Thanks for consoling me, God dey!

Anyways, I finally got over my fear and decided to begin but was faced with these questions: how do I begin?” and “where do I begin”.

I spent a lot of time getting started and because I need you to have a smooth and fast ride, I'll be dishing out some wisdom😂. Do you feel me?

I know you want to hear more about my experience, but It’s time to go on a learning trip. So, hop in my Maserati or whatever this car is 🚗.

How to get started

One of the biggest challenges people face in starting a career in tech is that they do not know how to begin and based on my experience, I would be listing out major tips that would help you get started. Listed below are questions to consider and research before you begin.

What path in tech should I go into?

To know what career path would suit you, the first thing to do is to narrow it down by asking yourself this question: What transferable skill do I have?

It is easier to transition into tech with a skill you already possess. For instance, a journalist or creative writer can easily succeed as a technical writer, Human Resource Recruiter would succeed as a technical recruiter and a medical doctor could work as a consultant at HealthTech startups offering home services.

Sometimes, it is also good to start from one path that resonates best with you and then transition or advance into another path. For instance, you know what your favourite food is because you have tried other foods and chosen your preference based on some characteristics like taste, habits and health (hi to my fit farm folks🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♀️). Likewise, you get to know what you'd love best by trying out different paths.

For people who would want to go straight into backend development, I would advise you to start from the frontend then move to the backend and finally choose between both or better still, become a full stack developer.

What are the requirements?

It is advisable to know all the requirements before selecting a path. Like:

• What are the required certifications?

• Is it a coding or non-coding path?

• Are information and resources easily accessible in this path? etc.

Is the skill In demand?

Research on the availability and market average salary. Please, do not allow anyone to shame you for wanting financial stability. It is totally fine to choose a path just because the pay is good. Take a pause and read that again🤑 💸 💰 .

Is the community easily accessible?

Community is a necessity for you to go far and fast in tech. Trust me, you would be needing a lot of resources and support and who better to render these services if not like minds?

What qualifications are needed?

One thing I like the most. scratch that😂, one thing I love the most about tech is that you do not need a fancy piece of paper to let people know how good you are. The best qualification is to have proof of what you can do (projects).

That's a wrap for that question but upon completion of these few steps, I assure you would find it easier on getting started.

Break

Before we continue, let's take a break and learn something random. Check out my ‘Do you know session’ below 👇.

Do you know, Did you know.😂

Although this is weird It is impossible to lick your elbow😃 and look at you trying it out😂😂😂.

Okay, let’s head back.

What to do when I get started.

Now that we are done with how to get started, let's dive into what to do immediately after you get started. Below are tips to help guide you when you begin 👇.

Learning

There are various free and paid resources online that would teach you the skills needed for your chosen path. Listed below are things you could do:

• Register for online training/boot camps. see links to some training organizations. Alt School Africa, Freecodecamp, Coursera etc.

• peer-to-peer learning and

• Finally, get a mentor.

Map

Just like there are different routes in getting to a particular destination, the same applies here, you need to carve out the most friendly, concise and fastest routes that you would be needing in this journey. You can do this by researching and asking people who have gone before you. see the link below for people who would pick up a coding path. Road map.

Extras:

Because I would love to see you thrive, I have added one more tip that would set you apart in this journey. See below👇:

Soft Skills

This is a non-technical skill that is used to improve your technical skills. Along sides your training or journey into tech, it is wise to also work on these other skills. It will separate you from others in the long run and listed below are three things that can help you boost your tech skills as a techy that you are:

Public Speaking:

public speaking would help you gain/boost:

• Attention to detail skills and

• Communication skills.

Technical writing:

For those who don’t like talking or are shy, technical writing would help you gain/improve:

• Comprehension skills.

• Communication skills and

• Storytelling skills.

Teaching and Mentoring:

I know you would say: ‘but I just got started’, but teaching your fellow peers a new concept you learnt will help you even master it more. Teaching will improve:

• Comprehension skills and

• Socials skills

see links for free soft skills training and certification. Jobberman soft skill training.

Final Advice

There is something called imposter syndrome. It is a rampant challenge in the tech world and experiencing it is inevitable. Some of the symptoms include:

• Self-doubt (you feel like you don't belong)

• Anxiety

• Negative self-talk

• Feelings of inadequacy(Sometimes you may feel like the more you know, the less you know).

Whenever I get faced with this, I always use some positive affirmations like:

“Be calming down, you got this and you belong here”.

you should try it too. Works like magic😃.

I hope you've learnt a thing or two.