Advice for the New Tech Learner
Tags: programming, softwaredevelopment, beginners, career
Published: 2023-08-26 19:55:57

I’m a student majoring in computer science in college. I have been passionate about programming and working in tech since High School. In the eleventh grade, I was introduced to programming through a course called Information Communication Technology. The course taught us HTML, C++, Databases, and Computer Organization. My journey started from there with many options available to learn how to work in tech.

But before knowing how we could learn to work in tech, you should ask yourself why you want to work in tech. Many will answer because of the high salary. Many will say that they are passionate. It is a personal preference, but my answer to the question is that technology is exciting and an ocean of knowledge; I am amazed by this field of knowledge and always eager to learn.

**What is the best pathway and resources for learning?**

There are many free resources online, like freecodecamp, the odin project, and many free tutorials on websites and youtube. I advise a young learner to major in computer science or a related field like information technology, software engineering, etc. Do we need to major in a computer-related field? No. Even if we major in a different field of study, we can still work in tech. Still, we need to demonstrate our interest through projects and experience. People without a degree can also work in tech but must demonstrate interest through the same process. It’s best to get a bachelor’s as part of college, as recruiters approach you while you are a college student. Also, with a 4-year degree, one could learn and prepare relaxingly for a tech job as the time is four years with less rush. One of my friends got an Associates degree and had to start as an associate developer due to a lack of experience. I learned that students with bachelors started jobs in roles with high salaries, and the bachelor’s in computer science and computer-related fields were given more weight in comparison to other applicants. A bachelor’s in computer science isn’t necessary, but there is an advantage. Knowing the skills for the job works in your favor in getting a competitive high-salary job. I know people who don’t have a computer field-related degree or a degree and are working in tech. Still, they had to gain experience before starting work in high-salary jobs. One shouldn’t be discouraged or hopeless about a degree; there is always a way.

The four core basic courses in any computer-related major are programming, object-oriented programming, data structures, and algorithms. Databases can be learned as an extra addition. On top of these core courses, other topics or courses are learned based on the specific field of interest or career path.

There are many career paths in the tech field: Software development (Web Development [Frontend, Backend, Full stack], Mobile Application Development, Desktop Application Development, etc.), DevOps, Software Testing (Quality Assurance), Cloud Development, Cyber Security, Network Engineering, Data Analysis, Data Science, Data Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain Development, Game Development, Virtual reality, Business Analysis, Financial Technology Development, etc. The list goes on and on. To know more about each field, one should use Google and youtube search to know individually. Cloud, Network, and helpdesk roles only require little to no experience for a starting role. All other roles in tech require some form of experience. So people gain experience before joining those roles in tech. Different types of websites offer courses for learning. Websites that give college equivalent courses: Coursera, EdX, and OCW. Websites for learning only: Udemy and Plural Sight. Websites for job preparation: LinkedIn Learning, Cybrary, and Udacity.

Coursera and EdX have courses taught by University instructors. OCW are MIT courses. Plural Sight has courses for technology workforce development. LinkedIn Learning is for job-specific skills. Cybrary is for cybersecurity-related learning. Udacity primarily focuses on learning for tech jobs. Udemy is a library of courses; courses can be made by anyone, making Udemy less reliable for tech learning. I suggest using any of the following: Coursera, Plural Sight, Cybrary, or, Udacity. Udacity is the best and most expensive of the ones I mentioned. If only one, then Coursera is good and cheaper. I suggest using Udacity. People may ask if boot-camp training is needed. It can be a great experience, but the skills can be learned through cheaper ways online. Before selecting courses, one should check course reviews and if the course is up-to-date. Some instructors may not have updated their course to the latest knowledge of the course, and because of that, part of what is being learned may not be applicable anymore. If up-to-date courses cannot be found, it’s wiser to follow the documentation of the technology/skill, which can be found free online. Youtube and Google searches can also be a great source for tech/skill learning, as you can find many websites and channels with free resources for learning.

**While Learning**

While learning the required skills, one should build projects, have the projects on GitHub, have a portfolio website, have a resume and LinkedIn Profile, write articles on a blog like Medium and create videos on Youtube to demonstrate what one knows, be active posting about one’s tech related life on Twitter, and answer tech related questions on Reddit, Stack Overflow and Quora. All of this creates an online presence. Networking at tech events, career events, and meetups is also a great advantage. If one wants experience, one could apply for internships, freelance, volunteer, and contribute to open source.

**For Facing Job Interviews**

Startups and small companies test domain-specific skills, while big tech companies like Facebook, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, etc., focus on testing data Structures and algorithms, discrete math, operating system, and system design concepts. A good resource is “Cracking the Coding Interview” and practicing on Leet Code and Hacker Rank. There are also many courses available online for interview preparation. After ten interviews, one can feel confident.

There are guides or courses on almost everything about working in tech online and also in cheap alternatives to anything expensive. Search online for your best fit! I have seen countless people make it to working in tech, even with the worst circumstances. Don’t ever feel overwhelmed; you will make it if you don’t give up.

Best of Luck!