How to Get Into Tech: Insider Advice from Industry Professionals

If you're partial to a scientific or technical way of thinking, you might be well-suited for a career in STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The technology portion, in particular, is filled with pathways that require varying skills and experiences.

As rapid technological advances dictate the future of work, you may wonder how you can best prepare yourself for your first role in the field — and the one after that.

Here’s a guide to get you started.

How Do I Start a Tech Career?

The path into tech isn’t a one-way street, but there are certain credentials and experiences that can make you more competitive, including a college degree, certifications, experience and a combination of technical and soft skills.

Earn a College Degree

To break into the tech field, you’ll want to earn a degree. “To be a competitive candidate, a bachelor’s degree is a must,” said Ahlam Alhweiti, an information technology faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most computer and information technology occupations list a bachelor’s degree as the required entry-level education.

What you choose to major in can vary, though. Some bachelor’s degrees you might consider obtaining include:

• Computer information systems (CIS) degree
• Computer science degree
• Cybersecurity degree
• Information technology (IT) degree

If you earn your degree online, you may find greater flexibility than at traditional brick-and-mortar colleges.

For Ashley Figueroa '23, who earned her bachelor's in computer science from SNHU, that flexibility was crucial. She earned her degree while serving her country as a member of the U.S. Navy.

“I did six years in the Navy, and while I was serving, I was able to complete my Bachelor of Science thanks to online learning and tuition assistance — and the benefits of serving your country in the military,” Figueroa said.

She said she earned her degree to prepare for her next chapter after military life.

Build Your Experience

Experience comes in many shapes and forms — from class projects to pet projects. Relevant experiential learning opportunities don’t just help you become a more appealing candidate; they can also help you determine what areas of technology interest you most.

Steve Villone, a seasoned STEM adjunct at SNHU, completed much of his IT and cybersecurity education as he raised his family. He obtained his Master of Science in IT and a CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst) certification while working.

“Aim for learning a broad cross-section of STEM subjects so you will be able to communicate with many other areas,” Villone said. “Then, try to learn one of the subjects in solid detail so you have that expertise in something you like.”

Villone's background is in programming, networking, SQL, cybersecurity and project management, but he said he's currently focusing on cyber.

“Think of learning as having both an umbrella (a broad understanding of many of the STEM areas) and the umbrella handle (one area where you want to focus),” he said. “That will serve you well.”

Opportunities to find your focus while building tech experience may include:

Internships

An internship allows you to gain hands-on experience inside an organization. Not only can this help you develop practical skills, but it can also add valuable experience to your resume and lead to more networking opportunities.

Faryal Humkar, an SNHU career advisor who supports STEM students and alumni, recommends completing one or two internships, if you can.

If you’re already working full-time and going to school, you may wonder when you’ll have time to also complete an internship. Some schools allow you to turn your internship experiences into college credits, which can alleviate some of that stress. At SNHU, for example, you can often earn three credits toward your degree if you complete a set number of hours and a supplementary internship course that helps you connect your experiences to your education.

Humkar said some employers are flexible with their interns, too, meaning you might be able to create a schedule that works for you and your supervisor. You may also have the option to complete a remote internship, meaning you don’t need to travel to an office setting to gain professional experience.

If you’re not having luck landing a posted internship, you might try to create your own. “Almost everyone has a tech department these days, right? Your hospitals, your school district, city, colleges, anywhere — just call and say, ‘Hey, I'm a full-time student. I'd love to do an internship with your department. Can I email you my resume?’” Humkar said.

Volunteer Work

You could also consider volunteering. Over the last few years alone, the organization Develop For Good, which connects tech volunteers with nonprofits, has amassed almost 300 thousand technical hours volunteered. Volunteer work like this and opportunities you find on your own can count toward professional experiences.

Volunteering can help you grow your network, allowing you to make new connections and gain references who can speak to your work. You'll also have an opportunity to showcase your technical and soft skills, build on your experience and supplement your resume.

Develop Your Skills

It should come as no surprise that you'll need to develop a range of technical skills to succeed in tech.

CompTIA breaks some of the most in-demand tech skills into four categories:

• Cybersecurity: Information security, cybersecurity analytics, risk analysis, penetration testing, compliance
• Data and analytics: Database administration, data analysis, data science, data visualization, big data
• Development: Programming languages, web development, quality assurance, machine learning, user experience
• Infrastructure: Linux, technical support, cloud computing, networking

College degree programs cover many of these subjects, allowing you to study and develop your skills. Then, should you land an interview, you can describe how you have gained and applied skills in a bit more depth — especially if you earned an A in the class, Humkar said.

Read more: What Computer Science Skills You Need to Succeed

Enhancing Your Soft Skills

No matter what field you go into, exercising soft skills can be valuable — especially with the advancement of machine learning. Certain soft skills are particularly helpful for a tech career. Alhweiti and Villone stressed the importance of these, in particular:

• Ability to self-learn and take risks
• Accountability, organization and time management
• Compassion, kindness and communication skills
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Persistence and perseverance

You can display your soft skills during job interviews. For instance, the question “Why should I hire you?” can be met with a combination of verbal communication skills, problem-solving skills and more.

Villone also offered the ability to let go as an important skill. This can help you move on in your career and avoid burnout. “Being able to say, ‘I did the best I could for now, and I’m going to put this down for a while,’ … This is not easy,” Villone said. “But it is a skill. It is a powerful skill.”

Read more: Communication in IT: Why Soft Skills Matter

Explore Certifications

Technology micro-credentials are plentiful. A certificate program or certification can help you zero in on a particular area of technology that interests you, and they typically take less time to complete than a degree.

Villone recommends earning one or more basic certifications, such as:

• CompTIA A+
• CompTIA Network+
• CompTIA Security +

A good way to tell what certifications make sense for you is to review job listings for a position you want. “(If) you continue to see CompTIA on job listings, you know you may want to... start working on that certification so that way it'll make you more competitive,” Humkar said.

Some colleges, such as SNHU, may offer discounts for specific certifications, allowing you to save some money while obtaining the industry credential.

Interested in cybersecurity? Keep reading: Best Cybersecurity Certifications for Beginners

Work With a Career Advisor

Your college may have a team of trained professionals to support you as you achieve your professional goals. SNHU, for example, has career advisors you can work with as soon as you’re enrolled, and they will be there for you even after you’ve joined the university’s alumni community.

Humkar, who is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), said that advisors like herself are available to help you explore your goals, build your resume, establish an online professional presence and navigate salary negotiations. They can help you prepare for interviews, too, and share other advice that may help you as you seek to establish and grow your career.

Some schools also have a career team dedicated to helping students interested in completing internships for college credits.

Open Yourself to Lifelong Learning

As technology continues to change and advance, so will the careers that interact with it. If you want to establish and grow your career in technology, you must be willing to keep up with the advancements. Sometimes this means earning new certificates and certifications. It could mean navigating search engines when you need to learn more about a particular subject or troubleshoot an issue you’re having.

Following publications such as TechRepublic, PCMag and vendor blogs can be another good way to stay up-to-date on the latest tech news and insights. You can also find podcasts and tech forums that will support your ongoing education.

Taking initiative in the workplace and going above and beyond can also help you leave a good impression on your internship supervisor or employer. If you’ve completed your assigned tasks or observed a pain point on your team, Humkar suggests volunteering to help. For example, you could say to your manager: “I noticed that ... so-and-so is a little overwhelmed, and I'm done with my work. Can I help them?’ This really shows initiative,” Humkar said.

5 Tech Career Paths to Consider

Coursework, certifications and experiential learning opportunities like internships and volunteer work can all help you determine your interests if you're not quite sure of the exact career you'd like to pursue.

Here are 5 paths you might consider:

Database Architect

Roles for database architects are projected to grow 9% by 2034, BLS reports — that's three times faster than the average 3% projected growth rate for all occupations.* This growth is in part due to a need for database administrators to design, build and secure new systems as businesses move toward AI adoption, according to BLS.

Point of entry: You might begin in database administration while advancing your education and work your way up to a role as database architect.

Information Security Analyst

In this position, you are charged with keeping computer networks and systems protected and quickly responding in the event of a security breach. Information security analyst roles are projected to grow 29% by 2034, making it one of the fastest-growing occupations according to BLS.*

Before starting at SNHU, Gina Cramer '20 was looking for a change in her career. “I got tired of barely getting by, and that's when I decided to do research,” she said.

That's when she decided to go back to school and get into tech. After Cramer earned her bachelor's in cybersecurity from SNHU, she started in a cybersecurity role in 2020. Since then, she's grown into a leadership position and started teaching cybersecurity courses at a community college, too.

Point of entry: You might begin in an associate-level role in cybersecurity with a title like "junior cybersecurity analyst."

IT Project Manager

As an IT project manager, you can see all types of projects through from start to finish.

“If you feel your gifts/abilities are more organizational in nature, consider one of these two fields,” Villone said. “...project manager or ScrumMaster. Consider also that even with newer technologies in AI and cybersecurity, you need good, communicative project managers to ensure success in any of these initiatives.”

If you're considering this path, you may choose to earn a related concentration. For example, SNHU's Bachelor of Science (BS) in IT offers a concentration in Project Management for IT. Or, you could choose the BS in Computer Science with a Project Management concentration.

Point of entry: You might get your start working as a project manager with an entry-level role with a title like "associate project manager" and work your way up to an IT project management role.

Software Developer

As a software developer, you could contribute to creating and maintaining computer programs and applications. “(This) is a great career path if you are majoring in computer science,” Humkar said. “... strong coding skills are needed for this role.”

Positions for software developers are projected to grow 16% by 2034, BLS said, which is significantly faster than the average rate of growth for all roles.*

Point of entry: You might begin with an entry-level role with a title like "junior software developer" and work your way up to a software engineer role.

Web Developer

With an 8% projected growth rate through 2034, roles for web developers are expected to grow at more than twice as fast as the average growth rate for all occupations, BLS said.*

For Nick LeBoeuf '23, the road to becoming a web developer started with a degree in computer science from SNHU, where he won an academic excellence award and served as a lead peer educator. He also completed an internship during his program.

After graduating, LeBoeuf used his education and experience to find a role as a creative engagement designer/developer. “Web development is exactly what I wanted to do in my career,” he said.

Point of entry: You might become a web developer after getting your start in a role with a title like "associate web developer."

Is a Career in Tech Worth It?

As a tech professional, you can make a real difference in the world. Between the evolving nature of the field and the multiple pathways available, a tech career could be worth it if it’s an area that interests you.

Additionally, there’s increasing flexibility in the field to accommodate work/life balance, in Alhweiti’s experience. “Most tech companies allow for working from home and adjusting work hours as needed,” she said. “Also, it’s very rewarding to work in an environment full of talented and innovative individuals — and makes you learn quickly.”

Becoming a technology professional can take time and tenacity. Believe in yourself, leverage resources, develop your skills and keep learning. “Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot do something,” Villone said.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Rebecca LeBoeuf Blanchette '18 '22G is a writer at Southern New Hampshire University, where she fulfills her love of learning daily through conversations with professionals across a range of fields. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Professional Writing at SNHU’s campus in Manchester, New Hampshire, and followed her love of storytelling into the online Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing at SNHU. Connect with her on LinkedIn.