Whether you're just starting your career or are well into your working life and are looking for a change (or salary boost), it's no secret that tech can be a well-paying industry with numerous career opportunities to explore.
But can you break into this competitive field without any experience? What about earning an entry-level position without a four-year degree? The answers are yes and yes.
A career in tech requires a set of hard skills. While pursuing a bachelor's degree is a great option, there are other routes you can pursue to potentially gain the skills you need faster.
So, how do you get those coveted hard skills and your foot in the (tech) door? We'll explore some options below.
Explore Going Back to School
Compared to a four-year degree, pursuing an online undergraduate certificate can offer a faster, more focused, and affordable approach. It can also be a great option for getting the base skills you need to get started in tech, often with no experience required.
In fact, certificates can offer a fast-tracked path to help you qualify for specific entry-level positions by teaching you a directly applicable skillset. And since certificates are focused strictly on providing the industry-relevant skills you need for entry-level roles, many programs offer curriculum that can be completed in less than a year.
With a variety of specializations from which to choose, it's important to find a program that offers the most directly-related coursework to your chosen field. With options ranging from certificates in cyber security and cloud computing to software design and app development, the world is truly your oyster.
Consider Self-Learning Options
There are unlimited free learning resources to gain a base level of understanding on almost anything. With YouTube courses on everything from coding languages to data analytics as well as countless courses available online, there's no reason you can't get a head start by learning more about your specific topics of interest.
Pursuing these free, on-your-own-time options are great for people who are looking to eventually move out of their current role but don't have a lot of time to commit to learning. These options can help you explore bite-sized chunks here and there.
Those with time to commit to a more structured learning experience and who are looking for a quick turnaround might also consider an online tech bootcamp.
Just Get Your Foot in the Door
A less glamorous (but nonetheless common) way into tech is by taking a job that you do qualify for in the same department in which you want to grow. Your grandparents may have done a lot of things differently in their day, but the school of hard knocks is still a viable option that can pay off in the long run.
By learning on the job, you're giving yourself the opportunity to be paid to learn. Not to mention, you'll be spending your early adult years learning the hard and soft skills you'll use in the day-to-day of your career.
At the End of the Day, It All Comes Down to Options
The truth is, not all careers in tech require a bachelor's degree. In that way, the key is to find a path that gives you the hard skills employers are looking for. When pursuing your goals, know that other alternative educational paths can be attractive and worthwhile options.
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