We all know that the world of technology is a lucrative one, and paving a career into any field can be very lucrative for you in return. And not only that, but the tech sector can be an enriching and interesting one, and whatever you’re doing, you’ll be at the forefront of modern industry.
However, finding the right position for you can be difficult. It’s an ever evolving sector, as noted, and that means it moves fast – anyone within it has to keep up! But being able to do this can be managed in multiple ways. Knowing what you can do, and what you’re willing to do, is the first step into working out where you’ll best fit.
Think About Your Skills
A lot of tech related skills are in demand right now. The digital sector is a complicated one, and more and more business owners are outsourcing the need to code infrastructure and encrypt customer data to those who know best. And that person could be you! But only if you’ve got both the right amount of soft and hard skills.
Sure, you’ve got the knowledge, and the kind of experience that would make you right for the job. But are you a natural communicator as well? Can you put things in layman’s terms? Are you a team player? You’ll have to rely on a lot of different people along the digital chain, and that can be hard for someone who’s used to working remotely, for example.
Take the time now to write down as many different skills you can think of that you possess. Then divide them up into columns, one for hard and hands on skills, and one for soft, more personable skills. Does one column outweigh the other? You need a good balance on both sides!
Consider the Workplace Itself
How do you thrive in a workplace environment? And most of all, what kind of working atmosphere do you really need to pull off the kind of work you’re capable of? These are two very big questions to take into account when considering a job in the tech sector. Sure, a lot of these positions allow you to work flexibly, and even from home, but a lot are in house as well.
And when you’re working in house, you can never be quite sure about the conditions you’ll be under – not until you’re a week in and hating it anyway! For example, getting your masters in cyber security is a huge win for you, but then you get a job where you work a desk 5 days a week for 8 or more hours at a time. And not only that, but depending on your particular niche, and the critical nature of the position, you’re going to be regularly on call outside work hours as well. Now that just won’t suit someone who prioritizes the work/life balance.
So you’ve got to think about what you’ll be doing day in and day out. Interview around at a lot of jobs, and be sure to ask in the interview themselves what a typical working day is for someone in this role. Get a clear picture and you’ll be much happier saying yes to an offer.
How Do You Adapt?
Depending on what you’ve trained in, and the kind of degree you hold, you could be right for many different fields in the tech sector. You could work at either a software or a hardware company, or you could work for a games developer or an app developer. And no matter what position you might hold amongst these, there’s going to be a lot of cross over as well. As such, you need to be the kind of person that can adapt.
For example, you need to be able to pick up on new tech as it comes out; maybe it’s not in your niche, or uses a different code or operating system, but it’s this kind of versatility that makes you such a valuable player within the sector. The more you can do, and the more you understand, the better a hire you will be.
So try to remain interested in your sector, even as you work in it. Read magazines, subscribe to mailing lists that announce new tech, and set up alerts for any buzzwords that relate to your job in particular. The internet can do a lot to help you both find a position and maintain it as the years go on.
One Position Can Lead to Another
The tech sector is incredibly versatile, as we mentioned above, and that means there are a lot of different roles you can play over the course of your career. One thing really can lead to another, and when you have digital skills under your belt, you can be sure you’re working with some of the most transferable skills known to the job market.
So whatever role you start work in may not last forever, and that’s no bad thing. Sure, it may cause you to feel anxious about your job security for the first few months, but rest assured that your skill set is in high demand. Because of this you may be able to transition within your company at any time, or you can make some very competitive demands of other companies in the area.
But why does knowing this help you find the tech career you’re really suited for? It stops you from holding yourself back. Even if you fall into a role that comes with little job satisfaction, you can move on up with little difficulty. And if you make a mistake, there’s no way you can’t come back from it. It’s a way to boost your own professional confidence, and that’s essential for working in a world very few people actually understand.
If you want to work in tech, take some time to decide what career would suit you best. Make sure you keep the above ideas in mind.
