Navigating the Tech Odyssey: Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Fulfilling IT Career

At the end of the exercise, select the 2 domains that have 3 or more checks in the skills matrix. Again, the goal here is to identify the domains that you can dive into quickly and not spend hours or days filling out a skills matrix.

Learning Approach

A learning approach refers to the method, strategy or style used to acquire new knowledge and skills. While we understand that learning is a lifelong process, we are going to focus on how to quickly understand the domain and acquire technical skills.

We highly encourage you to watch this Ted Talk on how you can acquire skills in 20 dedicated hours.The first 20 hours -- how to learn anything | Josh Kaufman | TEDxCSU

Great! Now we know how to approach the learning so we can talk about learning from where?

Coursera (Coursera | Degrees, Certificates, & Free Online Courses) and EdX (Build new skills. Advance your career. | edX) are two different platforms where you can audit any courses. These platforms have quality courses.

Here, we present a structured learning approach that can guide you through this process, helping you determine your true interests and acquire the necessary skills. By dedicating focused time and energy, you can make informed decisions about your learning path.

• Dedicate Focused Time:

Allocate 20 hours of dedicated learning to your chosen area, breaking it down to just 45 minutes per day for a month (adjust it according to your schedule). This focused approach allows you to immerse yourself in the subject without feeling overwhelmed. During this period, explore various resources such as online courses, books, or tutorials to gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

• Evaluate Your Interest:

After investing your focused 20 hours, assess your level of interest in the chosen area. Reflect on your experiences and ask yourself if the subject truly captivates you. If you find yourself genuinely intrigued, it's a positive sign to continue your learning journey. However, if the topic fails to capture your interest, don't be disheartened. It's okay to move on and explore another area that piques your curiosity.

• Build a Solid Foundation:

When you've identified your genuine interest, refrain from jumping into advanced courses immediately. Instead, opt for basic courses that lay a strong foundation. These fundamental courses provide essential knowledge and help you feel comfortable with the subject matter. Take your time to absorb the basics thoroughly; this groundwork is crucial for your future learning endeavors.

• Progress Gradually:

Once you feel comfortable with the basics, consider advancing to the next level. Dedicate another 20 hours of focused learning, delving deeper into the subject matter. This progressive approach ensures a steady buildup of knowledge and expertise. With a total of 40 hours invested in learning, you'll find yourself equipped with a substantial understanding of the domain.

• Prepare for Entry-Level Opportunities:

After completing 40 hours of dedicated learning, you're now well-prepared to start applying for entry-level positions in your chosen field. Your comprehensive understanding of the subject matter positions you as a strong candidate for these roles. Craft a compelling resume highlighting your newfound skills and knowledge, and confidently step into the job application process.

Remember, the key lies in dedication, focus, and self-assessment. By investing your time thoughtfully, you can navigate the world of learning with confidence and discover the path that aligns perfectly with your passions and interests.

In our next blog, we will discuss how to improve your resume for entry level job applications..

Happy learning!

info@beaconblade.com

In this blog post, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to make your way into the exciting world of tech. Whether you're a recent graduate or someone looking for a career change, we've got you covered.

From finding your interest domains and acquiring the necessary skills to building a strong foundation, we will cover it all. Join us on this journey as we delve into the secrets of successfully breaking into the tech industry.

In the modern workforce, where aspirations meet reality, many find themselves caught in a loop of despair, echoing sentiments like, “I feel miserable at my job” or “It causes a huge amount of stress with not a lot of money.” The desire for change lingers in the air, coupled with fears of stagnation: “I cannot see myself doing this for the rest of my life,” and the frustration of “I am tired of low paying part-time jobs.”

As technology permeates every aspect of our lives, the allure of the tech industry is undeniable. It's a realm where innovation thrives, opportunities are abundant, and dreams of a better future materialize. Yet, for those yearning to make the leap, the barriers seem overwhelming: “I don’t have any experience to switch careers to IT,” they lament, while grappling with the overwhelming uncertainty of, “I don’t know where to start. I don’t have time.” The prospect of change, of uprooting one’s life for a new career, is undeniably daunting, eliciting the fear encapsulated in, “Changing career at this stage is risky and scary.”

In this post, we explore the challenges faced by those eager to join the booming tech industry. We understand the worries of not having enough experience or feeling lost in the process. But fear not, because we are here to guide you. This paper is your roadmap, showing you the way from feeling stuck to finding a meaningful career in technology.

Where do I start?

This is the phase where everyone gets stuck the most. Before you deep dive into any technical learnings, it is important to ask some questions.

• Where am I in my career?

Consider your skills, experience, previous and current roles. Acknowledge the skills you have acquired and challenges you have overcome.

• What have I achieved so far and what would you like to do?

Acknowledge your achievements and think about your short and long term career goals. Identify areas where you need future growth (technical skills, soft skills, time management). Acknowledging these areas shows self-awareness and a commitment to growth.

• What have you done to make a career change so far?

Identify the steps you have taken to make a career change and acknowledge what has worked and what has not. It is equally important to understand what steps you need to take to make a successful career change and define an approach that aligns with your vision.

Understanding Tech Landscape

For someone who is not into tech, this may not be an easy task to understand different technical domains. Understanding different technical domains empowers individuals to make informed decisions. At this point, one only needs to research and know what the technology domain is about, nothing more. Some of the different areas of technology are:

• Cybersecurity

• Software Development

• Project management

• Networking and Systems

• Graphic Designing

• Data Science

This is not a comprehensive list but it is a good starting point. There are other branches like AI, Blockchain, Robotics, Privacy and more which can be categorized under a broader domain umbrella or often considered a new domain itself. The point is to understand the technology domains so you can decide which area you want to explore and build your career into.

Map the Skills

The best way to know which role or domain in Tech is right for you is by learning and experiencing. There is no magic formula or one size fits all approach to finding the right domain.

Here, We are giving you a framework and skill matrix to find the idea of what Tech domain might be right for you.

• List the skills you think you are good at; List what other people (Friends, coworkers, family) think you are good at

• Get a generic idea about tech jobs/domains

• Find the companies you’d aspire to work for and read the job descriptions to know what kind of skills they need

• Start with populating the matrix for 2 domains that you are interested in and your skills align with it.

Below is a list of Tech Domains and associated tech skills. Please note, this is not an exhaustive list. Based on the previous step, you would have gained some understanding of the domains and associated skills.

Below is the Skill Matrix that you will use to identify the top 2 technical domains of your interest. Map your non technical skills to technical domains. It is understandable that you may not know the technical domain in detail but if you know something about the area, you should select it to map the skills. Remember, the key here is to go through this quickly and find out our interest.

Eg - if you know how to create a home network, you can select networking and systems. If you are good at designing something, you can select Graphic Design.