Enter IT Without a DegreeMay 5, 2020May 5, 2020 - by Diana - Leave a Comment A lot of tech career paths are accessible to people who have not completed their majors in computer-related disciplines. Hirers consider the effectiveness and a skillset of a candidate to be more important than the presence of a certain diploma. So, passing appropriate courses and being certified might be enough to secure a desired IT position. In case you are thinking about a fresh start in IT, enrolling in a tech program at university may not be compulsory. Let’s start by unveiling the truth about a career in IT. A lot of tech career paths are accessible to people who have not completed their majors in computer-related disciplines. Hirers consider the effectiveness and a skillset of a candidate to be more important than the presence of a certain diploma. So, passing appropriate courses and being certified might be enough to secure a desired IT position. In case you are thinking about a fresh start in IT, enrolling in a tech program at university may not be compulsory. Let’s start by unveiling the truth about a career in IT. Stereotypes: Having a proper computer-related education is a must to start in IT; Having a math-related education is a must for an IT beginner; The knowledge necessary to succeed in a tech position is given in universities only;Academic background is the most important factor in IT hiring process. Reality: Whenever you look up job postings for IT functions, which involve creating computer systems and programs or managing security and efficiency, what is common is many of those specify a pre-college educational level as a requirement. A great number of companies do not need to see proof of completed higher education to hire a candidate. Instead, what companies expect is their potential employee to be experienced in the area or certified accordingly, which would mean that a person is capable of performing the required tasks. Statistics for Tech Specialists with No Traditional Education In the US, 26% of those having a job in IT did not graduate from higher-education institutions.49% out of more than 2 million job advertisements didn’t specify an undergraduate level of education as a compulsory prerequisite for hiring a candidate. 3 years ago, main tech jobs, which did not consider a 4-year degree to be obligatory for job-seekers, set their salaries at approximately $80’000 per annum. Enter IT with Pre-Existing Capabilities Tech career is not exclusively for introverts who are brilliant at mathematics. This is a cliché which is usually not what happens in reality. What you are already capable of is what can open the door to IT for you.In most tech positions you are not expected to be fluent in mathematics. What you need instead is to have the right attitude to constantly improve for the well-being of a company and the technological products it creates. What is more commonly an important requirement of a tech career is communication skills. Collaboration with people is vital in IT because a great deal of work is done in teams. Moreover, in the tech world it is traditional to consult with colleagues to find the best possible ways to deal with challenges arising in IT. Therefore, if you’re not good at communications, you may find a career in IT hard. Interpersonal skills, creative mindset, being attentive to details and able to find effective solutions are transferable skills that can serve as an advantage when you’re aimed at shifting to IT professionally. Communication, creativity, problem-solving and attention-to-detail – all skills you may already have – give you an edge if you’re switching careers into IT. As discussed earlier, teamwork is essential to tech industry, so if you are already good at it, it will make finding a job a little easier. Having a creative mind is extremely important in system development positions. Employees in these roles have to consistently be full of possible product concepts and ways to improve. Some jobs require you to find solutions to the challenges the modern world casts on IT. Being able to find effective solutions is critical to IT professionals. If you possess this skill naturally, you are more likely to succeed in technologies. Being a scrupulous worker is very useful in the fields of security management and tech maintenance. The skills described above are only a portion of those that can help you increase your marketability on the job market. Suggestions from the Professionals We interviewed tech professionals who have already succeeded in IT without academic background and asked them about the ways you can increase your chances to secure a tech position. The first interviewee is the top manager of a company specialized in drones, Frank J. Segarra, who switched to IT after having worked for the military. His advice to those with no 4-year education is the following: Gather information on the subject. Communicate with like-minded people who already have experience in the field you dream of building a career in. I recommend that you learn from the resources available online and offline and from the network of knowledgeable professionals. Next, we share the suggestions of Tracy Pound who has built a UK-based IT learning business: Don’t be scared! Tech industry is prone to constant alterations and shifts, so showing how quickly and effectively you can adapt in the modern world can put you in a position of strength for hiring managers. In my own experience, I managed to build two IT companies and consult several other firms across sectors without a conventional education because of the skillset I have. What can give you an edge is your mindset and initiative. Compulsory Qualifications to Start a Tech Career Having No Degree First, you need to decide which IT area is the most desirable for you. Have a look at the list of tech jobs that might interest you and the qualifications you’ll need for a successful start: Specialist in Software Development To create online applications and platforms, you’ll need to be fluent in various coding languages depending on the task. To start with, explore the online options available for free. Then, you can apply for short courses where you’ll be able to quickly improve your skills and become a certified expert. You should look for alternative that suits you and your ambitions best. Specialist in Tech Support For this job, you’ll need to show your potential employer how their business-specific IT issues can be resolved by you. You should be able to assess the condition of a company’s technology, identify problems and find appropriate solutions. There are many online and offline courses that can be a great start for your technician career. IT Security Professional For this role, you’ll need to solve issues and provide maintenance and protection against possible threats for all the tech components of a business. To be fit for this career option, you should have some beginner’s experience in a tech job and complete relevant training. It is important to note that your achievements and skills you’ve learned in your previous workplaces make a difference to employers. Therefore, when you apply for tech jobs, emphasize everything that can turn you into a desirable candidate. System Administrator For this role, you’ll need to solve issues and provide maintenance and protection against possible threats for all the tech components of a business. To be fit for this career option, you should have some beginner’s experience in a tech job and complete relevant training. It is important to note that your achievements and skills you’ve learned in your previous workplaces make a difference to employers. Therefore, when you apply for tech jobs, emphasize everything that can turn you into a desirable candidate. How About Tech Education? If your dream job obliges you to have an academic background in a tech-related discipline, there are plenty of study modes and programs nowadays including part-time and online learning. There is a wide range of programs that allow you to structure your studying experience based on your preferences and needs in terms of time and workload. It is most convenient for those who need to continue working in their current positions while planning to shift into IT. What you need to keep in mind is that higher education, full-time or online, requires financial resources and, sometimes, is not obligatory to build a career in tech. Our following article will be focused on 10 Highly Appreciated Skills in IT.
