The tech industry is booming. In fact, it has grown so much that available skills and talent have not kept up. There could be 85 million tech jobs unfulfilled by 2030 due to a shortage in tech skills, which means that there is plenty of opportunity for people to start getting into tech. Demand is high but supply is low, which means there are great salaries to be had and the chance to negotiate excellent working terms too. Anyone who's looking for the right tech jobs first needs to make sure that they know what it takes to grow a successful career in tech. Getting that first role may be the toughest part, but once you've found your first tech job, you can build a long-lasting and well-paid career.

Consider Different Areas of Tech

If you're thinking about a career in tech, start by understanding the different areas of technology that you could work in. There are different types of tech careers that you might consider, which require different skills and can offer various benefits and drawbacks.

Some areas to consider include information technology (IT), data, software development, web development, and cybersecurity. If you're not sure what type of tech job might be for you, just start exploring. Take a look at some job and career profiles to understand what jobs are available, what they involve day-to-day, what you could earn, and what your career trajectory could look like.

Think About Your Goals

Before you decide which tech career is right for you, you should consider your goals. What do you want from a career in tech? Are you looking for the highest salaries? Do you want to earn as much as possible without having a huge number of responsibilities? Is there a particular area of tech that you're interested in? Are you interested in finding remote work, rather than having to work in an office? Defining your goals will help you to nail down exactly what it is that you want to do by helping you to organize your priorities.

Get the Right Skills for the Job

Once you've decided what sort of tech career you're looking for, you can start making sure that you have the right skills to get hired in tech. Even if you haven't made a solid decision yet, picking up some basic skills can help you to see what you enjoy and what you're good at.

Many people start off with a tech-related bachelor's degree. It could be in Computer Science or something similar. If you have a degree in an unrelated subject, you could also explore a master's degree that will give you the tech skills you need. However, you don't have to have a college education to get into tech. Tech companies are moving away from requiring degrees, and are often happy with employees who can demonstrate the right skills and experience.

So how do you get the skills you need without going to college? Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to start learning. One option is to explore available online courses, of which there are many. You can complete a course over months or years in your spare time and have a certification at the end that proves your knowledge. You can also find many short courses and resources to teach you individual skills and abilities over time.

 

Demonstrate Your Experience

While you're learning, you also want to be able to show that you have the right skills. You might build a portfolio of work using something like Github, or perhaps find some work experience so that you can get some real-world experience. Another option is to try some freelance work and stretch your skills on some small projects.

Finding an internship is a great way to get some experience in your chosen area of tech. It also gives you a good idea of what the role really involves, so you can make a more informed decision about whether it's right for you. Internships should be paid, which allows you to work full-time while still learning some key skills for your career in tech. Even interns can earn fairly good salaries in tech, and you might even have a chance to get another job with the company.

Understand What Tech Companies Want

It's important to know what tech companies are looking for in their employees. There's high demand, which means some employers are reassessing what they ask for. However, they're still going to want to see some key skills and a demonstration of your ability to do the job. It's not all about the hard tech skills that you have, though. Employers are also looking for other things, such as motivated and passionate people who are fast learners. Soft skills are just as important, and you need to be able to communicate and work in a team.

Know Where to Look for the Right Jobs

So where exactly do you find top tech jobs? There are plenty of places for you to look, whether you're looking for an entry-level role or you're ready to further your career.

You might start by looking at job listing sites. These can be the places you're most familiar with, which can make it easier to understand what's on offer. LinkedIn is a useful place to look too, being both a social media platform and a place to list open positions. It's also a good idea to look at recruitment agencies and sign up with them directly. It could mean you hear about new roles before other people do, which gives you a headstart.

It's helpful to have contacts in the industry too. They can let you know if they hear about anything suitable, which is how a lot of roles get filled before they're even really advertised on job sites and the like. Make sure you get involved with the tech community so you can make some good contacts.

Anyone can build a successful tech career if they want to. Start by exploring the options you have and determining what skills you need.