The Right Way to Enter Tech: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners and Career Changers

DO NOT SEEK ADVICE IN FACEBOOK GROUPS... 

If you’ve been inside a ‘Tech Career’ Facebook group recently, you know what I’m talking about. It is filled with posts of people saying they are trying to get into tech and have sent 900 applications to no avail. To make matters worse you see seasoned professionals posting on LinkedIn that they have been unemployed for 12 months or more. If George, the 35-year IT Director can’t get a job, how am I, Mr. Or Ms. Nobody expected to enter tech? 

My first piece of advice? Ignore all of the above. It’s not going to be helpful to you. Focus on what you can control. The following is a list of everything I recommend as a seasoned professional and a career changer as well as advice I was given by mentors and friends along the way. 

By the way the best piece of advice is: Listen to what the people you look up to are saying! 

Step 1: Embrace the Non-Lateral Movement 

One of the biggest misconceptions is that you can simply transfer your current career trajectory into tech without major changes. Be okay with the idea that this may not be a lateral move. You will probably start at a lower position and salary than you’re used to, but this is part of laying a solid foundation. Think of it as investing in a long-term, high-reward career. 

Pro Tip: Highlight transferable skills, such as problem-solving, communication, or domain expertise, that can make you stand out despite the initial step down.  

Step 2: Prove Yourself with Real-World Projects 

Tech is a results-driven industry. Employers often prioritize what you can do over your credentials. To gain credibility: 

• Work on free or low-cost projects for nonprofits, local businesses, or friends. 

• Contribute to open-source projects to build a portfolio. 

• Develop a personal project that solves a real problem or showcases your skills. 

These efforts demonstrate your initiative and ability to deliver. 

Fun Fact: Many tech leaders, including GitHub contributors and startup founders, started by solving simple problems in innovative ways. (Translation: Start small—no one’s expecting you to build the next Google… yet.) 

Step 3: Study Hard and Avoid Skimming 

You can’t ‘fake it till you make it’ in technology, you actually need to know what you’re talking about and people do not take kindly to people with big mouths and nothing to say. You need to study hard and often to stay in the game no matter how long you’ve been around. As a newcomer, that mean you’ll need to run for a while. 

• Invest in quality learning resources: books, online courses, and certifications. 

• Dedicate consistent time each day to learning and practicing. 

• Focus on foundational knowledge over a broad spectrum of projects to create a good foundation before specializing. 

Warning: Avoid relying solely on cheat sheets or skipping challenging concepts. Tech values depth over breadth—and yes, they can tell when you’ve “Googled” your way into trouble. You’re not expected to know everything, but you are expected to know what you don’t know. 

Step 4: Strive to Be a Top Performer 

The tech industry often trims the lowest-performing 5% of employees, so aim to be in the top tier of your team. Call me an old dog, I’m older than google and dial-up so that’s fair, but I’m a firm believer that if you want to work in an innovative field like tech, you can’t be the ‘clock-in, clock-out' type of person. 

Motivational Tip: Consistently delivering value and going above expectations. In meetings don’t be part of the problem, be part of the solution. Don’t hog work to try and make yourself valuable, deliver so quickly and well that replacing you would cost productivity. 

Step 5: Network Intentionally 

In tech, your network can be just as important as your skills. Build relationships with experts in related fields and other. Be a valuable contributor by taking part in conversations, posting relevant and insightful content, and engaging in a friendly and professional matter with others. 

Pro Tip: Remember, networking isn’t about schmoozing; it’s about building genuine connections. Show interest in others, learn about them. No one likes a LinkedIn lurker who only shows up when they need a referral or to sell something! Send me a generic message and you’ll end up in my naughty list faster than you can say oups. 

Step 6: Understand the Tech Landscape 

Know the roles, trends, and key technologies in the industry. Don’t just spray paint your resume on every job you see. Find out what roles would align with you, get the skills and certification required. Tailor your resume and Linkedin profile to match it. 

How It Works: A picture of your cat as your profile picture is not helping you... Research job descriptions to identify skills in demand and tailor your learning accordingly. (And yes, it’s okay to ask AI "what does a cloud architect actually do?") 

Step 7: Practice Problem-Solving and Build Resilience 

Tech roles often require creative problem-solving under pressure. Hone your ability to: 

• Break down complex challenges into manageable steps. 

• Adapt quickly when solutions don’t work as planned. 

• Stay resilient in the face of setbacks, whether it's a failed project or a tough coding challenge. 

Fun Fact: Many tech interviews include live problem-solving to test your adaptability. (Think of it as your chance to shine—or at least prove you can sweat stylishly.) Nothing in tech works as it should 100% of the time, and a big part of what we do is understand problems and fix problems. Let’s just say your patience will be greatly developed! 

Step 8: Pursue Certifications Strategically 

Certifications can help validate your knowledge but choose them wisely based on your career goals. Be strategic and work backwards. Once you know where you would like your career to go, build a structured learning path to get there. I recently saw someone complaining on a post that he had tried to apply to work at Microsoft for 26 years without results, yet he did not have a SINGLE Microsoft certification... 

Pro Tip: Align certifications with job descriptions you are targeting. (Yes, that “Certification Collector” badge on LinkedIn is tempting, but relevance beats quantity every time.) 

Step 9: Build a Personal Brand 

Create a professional online presence to showcase your skills and be creative about it! PLEASE STOP WITH THE WHITE AND BLUE! You know what's useful to businesses along with good work ethics and expertise? Creative ideas. If your online presence is as dull as drywall you’re not going to look like someone who can add a whole lot of value to an organization. 

• Update your LinkedIn profile to reflect your tech aspirations. 

• Create an online portfolio to showcase your work. 

• Share your portfolio on GitHub, Behance, or similar platforms. 

Inspirational Note: Your brand should highlight your unique strengths and passion for the field. (And don’t forget— be authentic. If you’re funny, be funny. If you’re playful, show it). 

Step 10: Seek Mentors and Communities 

This isn’t something you should do alone. I mean you can... but it’s your funeral! The fact is that in any industry if you want to succeed at the highest level, you must be a quick learner and one of the best ways to do that is by learning from the wisdom of those that have come before you. They can tell you that the stove is hot without you touching it. 

• Join online forums like Reddit, Stack Overflow, or specialized tech communities. 

• Participate in local meetups or virtual events. 

• LISTEN to the brilliant minds you find, take notes, ask questions and be coachable. 

• Seriously... be coachable... 

Pro Tip: A mentor can accelerate your growth by helping you avoid common pitfalls. (Think of them as your tech GPS, recalculating when you miss a turn.) 

My journey into tech has been absolutely amazing. There is something to learn EVERY SINGLE day. My biggest problem? Finding a computer chair that can keep up with my new obsession. Be smart about how you plan to join the tech world, take it seriously, be willing to challenge yourself every day. 

Now excuse me... Its Friday night and I have a sexy book on Azure Cloud architecture to get to... 

What’s your next step toward breaking into tech? Share your thoughts or questions below!