Beginner's Guide to Getting Started in Tech
A lot of people want to get into tech but don’t know where to start.
They hear about software engineering, data science, and UX design but feel overwhelmed by the options.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. So if you’ve ever wondered how to move from being a tech consumer to a tech creator, this blog post is for you.
What is Tech Really About?
Tech is everywhere. You don’t need to be a programmer to see its impact. Here are some ways people use tech daily:
- Healthcare: Platforms like Healthtracka let you take medical tests at home and get results online
- Online Shopping: Marketplaces make it easy to buy almost anything without leaving your house
- Learning & Education: Free courses and resources mean you can learn a new skill whenever you want
- Makeup & Beauty: Virtual makeup tools recommend the perfect shade for your skin tone
- Content Creation: AI tools like Copy.ai help generate blog posts, captions, and product descriptions
- Investing & Finance: Apps let you invest in Nigerian and U.S. stocks with just a few taps
Tech is not just about coding. It is about solving problems, improving efficiency, and creating opportunities.
What Careers Exist in Tech?
The good news is that you do not have to be a coder to have a career in tech. Here are two broad categories of jobs you can explore.
Technical Careers (Coding Required)
If you want to build websites, apps, or AI models, you might enjoy roles like:
- Software Engineer
- Web Developer
- Mobile App Developer
- Data Scientist
- DevOps Engineer
- Machine Learning Engineer
- Cybersecurity Engineer
These jobs usually require learning programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, or SQL.
Non-Technical Careers (Minimal or No Coding)
If you enjoy strategy, design, or communication, you might be a better fit for roles like:
- UX/UI Designer
- Product Manager
- Community Manager
- SEO Specialist
- Digital Marketer
- Business Analyst
- Technical Writer
- Customer Success Manager
These roles still involve working with technology, but they focus more on creativity, problem-solving, and strategy than coding.
How to Get Started in Tech
If you are interested in a career in tech, here are some practical steps to help you get started.
1. Research Different Tech Fields
Spend time learning about different career paths to see which one excites you the most.
2. Take Free Courses
Websites like FreeCodeCamp, Coursera, Udacity, and Udemy offer free and affordable courses to build foundational knowledge.
3. Join a Tech Community
Surrounding yourself with others in tech helps with motivation and learning. Look for local meetups, Discord groups, or LinkedIn communities. You can ask people or find them through a Google search.
4. Read Blogs, Articles, and Research Papers
Follow tech blogs, newsletters, and books to stay updated with industry trends.
5. Pick a Programming Language or Tool
If you are looking to pursue a technical career, choose a language that matches your field. Python is great for data science, JavaScript is great for web development.
6. Follow Tech Influencers
Engage with tech professionals on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube to learn from their experiences.
7. Build Projects and Create a Portfolio
Practical experience is key. Start small, contribute to open-source projects, and showcase your work on GitHub or a personal website.
8. Share Your Work Online
Public learning, sharing what you are working on, builds credibility and attracts job opportunities.
9. Get a Mentor
A mentor can help answer questions and guide you through the learning process.
10. Master the Art of Googling
Knowing how to find answers online is one of the most underrated skills in tech.
11. Attend Tech Conferences and Events
These events expose you to new ideas, networking opportunities, and potential job openings.
Resources to Help You Get Started
If you want to explore further, here are some useful resources:
- Diversify Tech, A platform for underrepresented groups in tech
- FreeCodeCamp, Free coding courses and tutorials
- Roadmap.sh, Career roadmaps for various tech fields
- AI Career Guide, A beginner-friendly guide to artificial intelligence careers
- CS50 by Harvard, One of the best introductions to computer science
- The Odin Project, Full-stack web development curriculum
- Khan Academy, Free computer science and coding lessons
- MIT OpenCourseWare, Free MIT courses, including computer science and AI
- Stanford Online, Free computer science and AI courses
- Google's Python Class, Free Python training by Google
- IBM SkillsBuild, Free courses in cloud computing, AI, and cybersecurity
- Scrimba, Interactive frontend development lessons
- Codecademy, Hands-on coding courses
- Coursera, University-level courses in tech (some are free)
- Udemy, Affordable tech courses (watch for discounts)
- Pluralsight, Paid courses for tech professionals
- Zero to Mastery, Structured learning paths for developers
- LinkedIn Learning, Tech courses with certification
- Google Career Certificates, Certifications in IT, data analytics, and project management
- Microsoft Learn, Free courses on Microsoft technologies
- AWS Training & Certification, Cloud computing training
- AI Career Guide, Step-by-step guide for AI and machine learning careers
- Zero to Mastery Career Paths, Structured tech career paths
- Break Into Tech, Roadmaps for transitioning into tech
- Machine Learning Roadmap, Guide to learning ML
- Google Developer Groups (GDG), Local meetups for developers
- Major League Hacking (MLH), Hackathons and coding competitions
- Dev.to, Community for developers to share and learn
- Hashnode, Blogging platform for developers
- CodeNewbie, A community for coding beginners
- Open Source & Coding PracticeBuild projects and improve coding skills by contributing to open-source.
- Google Summer of Code, Paid internships for students to contribute to open-source projects
- Outreachy, Internships for underrepresented groups in tech
- GitHub, Host projects and contribute to open-source
- GitLab, Alternative to GitHub with CI/CD integration
- LeetCode, Coding challenges for technical interviews
- HackerRank, Practice coding problems
- CodeWars, Fun coding challenges
- Project Euler, Math and programming challenges
- UX/UI Design & No-Code ToolsFor those interested in design and building without code.
- Tech News, Blogs & NewslettersStay updated with the latest trends and insights.
- Hacker News, The latest in tech and startups
- Smashing Magazine, UX/UI design and web development insights
- CSS Tricks, A go-to resource for frontend development
- Data Science Central, Articles on data science and AI
- The Pragmatic Engineer, Software engineering insights
- Pointer, Tech newsletter for developers
- The Verge, Tech news and reviews
- Tech Job Boards & FreelancingWhere to find jobs, internships, and freelancing opportunities.
- LinkedIn Jobs, Great for networking and job hunting
- Toptal, Freelance platform for experienced developers
- Upwork, Freelancing opportunities in tech
- Fiverr, Gig-based freelancing
Final Thoughts
Tech is full of opportunities. Whether you want to code, design, write, or market, there is a place for you. The key is to start small, be consistent, and stay curious.
If you have been thinking about getting into tech, what is stopping you? Let me know in the comments.
This post is based on a presentation I created in 2023. I'll update it as I go. Special thanks to Debbie 🐝 for reminding me of the presentation's existence.
