There has never been a slow month for tech employees or independent consultants, from cloud computing, mobile apps development, the Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity specialists, computer software developers, and data analysts. Numerous tech career opportunities pop up every day as new sectors and industries emerge. Needless to say, the IT needs for these sectors are dynamic and inherently different from each other.
While much study shows how employers regard the source of potential employee skill sets as technology evolves, no one has looked at how employers value the basic addition of those skill sets. According to most research, focusing on granular skills is valuable and instructive; but it fails to fully address recruiting goals.
In our brief blog today, we seek to answer the following questions. Are companies more interested in academic degrees or certificates? Can a college diploma secure you an entry-level position in tech jobs? How crucial is job experience when searching for entry-level tech jobs? Let’s find out.
Tech jobs pay well, and the industry has much potential for success, but that does not mean there is a need for a great deal of experience or degree to get started.
Is It Possible to Start a Decent Career in the Tech Industry as an Entry-Level Employee?
Entry-level tech jobs might feel like a humble beginning or a step backward for someone changing fields. But that’s not always the case with the technology industry. Even an entry-level tech job is a significant milestone considering the salary and wages, benefits, work-life balance, to mention a few.
Even entry-level tech jobs that do not require prior expertise tend to offer attractive packages right from the onset. Entry-level tech jobs are also suitable for obtaining the tech experience you need for a successful tech career in the days to come.
The tech industry is not purely a preserve for coders and designers. There is a wide variety of entry-level jobs in the technology sector, and you don’t have to be a master designer or a coding specialist.
What Are the Skills Required for Entry-level Tech Jobs?
When looking for entry-level tech jobs, I bet you have come across job advertisements that demand three to five years of experience in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree, an Associate’s degree, or even a Master’s degree. You must have wondered, “How on earth is having years of experience a requirement for an entry-level job?”
The truth is, job specifications and qualifications are essentially a wish list for the ideal applicant. They are not the absolute minimum of credentials that the individual recruited will possess.
So, next time you see a job advertisement that says you need 3-5 years of experience or a thorough knowledge of a list of programming languages, evaluate whether you are capable of doing the job as a whole, rather than whether you have those abilities or experience at the moment.
After all, you can always acquire on-the-job training along the way. All in all, you will want to make sure you showcase your strengths and how they help you stand out as the ideal candidate. Start acquiring the skills you know you will need for your desired role in the tech industry.
For instance, there are high chances (for employment) for a candidate who walks into a job interview and says, “I have a basic understanding of how to code, though I’m currently enrolled in a course on CSS and HTML to expand those skills.”
While most people believe all software engineers hold a computer science degree, the truth is that most programmers are self-taught. Even experts with a computer degree rely on ongoing professional development to keep their skills up to date; tech jobs demand self-motivation more than formal education since technology is evolving day in day out.
Here are five of the best entry-level tech jobs that you can look forward to in 2022.
1. Computer Technician
A computer technician offers network and computer assistance within companies and small businesses. Third-party computer support providers may also hire them. As a computer technician, you will install, manage, and debug software and hardware and respond to customer and staff computer-related questions.
You will also be responsible for setting up new computer systems, ensuring that your organization’s internet security is up to date and working correctly, assisting with new employee onboarding, and teaching non-tech workers how to use computers and software.
Consider studying topics like network design, logic structures, security management, server administration, and computer maintenance if you want to work as a computer technician.
2. Technical Support Expert
A technical support expert works with end-users to provide hardware, software, and technical support and assistance. Slow performance, connectivity problems, inefficient applications, and inability to access data are the most common issues that a technical support expert is supposed to tackle.
They frequently help customers through the process of installing and launching software for the first time on their PCs. They also offer concrete advice on remedying the problem, distributing technical documentation to end-users and customers, and referring complex issues to a senior professional.
The required education for a technical support specialist job varies depending on the position. Many businesses may demand a high school diploma or GED and have completed a computer training program.
If you get employed as a technical support expert, you will get on-the-job training. Training may take days, weeks, or months depending on the size of the company, its complexity, and the scale of business they do.
3. Data Analyst
Data analysts are in charge of organizing and analyzing vast volumes of information so that end users can easily comprehend it. Businesses make critical decisions based on this evaluated data.
Other responsibilities that you are expected to take up include:
- Performing statistical tests to gather business procedures.
- Identifying significant trends that can affect business decisions.
- Regularly monitoring data for industry changes.
- Collaborating with team members to improve statistical testing procedures.
Because data analysts are expected to have good mathematical abilities, further training in maths and on-the-job training may be required.
4. Software and Application Developer
A software and application developer analyzes data to establish the software’s needs and specifications. During this procedure, they may collaborate with other computer experts. They then meticulously create the app, recording each step of the way for future reference.
They code the program and test it using strict procedures and routines after the design is complete to ensure it runs smoothly and efficiently. Sometimes developers modify existing software and applications to boost speed or perform a new task.
While employers prefer applicants with a bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree (typically a two-year program) can assist you in obtaining entry-level positions in tech as an app developer. Skills taught in software and application development programs include Software design, cost-benefit analysis, product documentation, testing, integration and data migration, and core programming implementations.
Some programmers enroll in boot camps to learn about specialized programming languages, databases, design, and frameworks. Boot camps are demanding training programs that span one to six months.
5. Cyber Security Analyst
A cybersecurity analyst evaluates a company’s digital security risks and provides solutions for possible threats. The analyst is usually part of a team that ensures that a corporation is protected against external threats.
If you got an entry-level position as a cybersecurity analyst, your duties and responsibilities would include the following, assessing the security of any networks or digital devices connected to the networks, implementing responses to threats to reduce the risk of attacks, developing safe use protocols for employees to follow, and reacting to any attempted breaches to minimize damage.
You will also need to get on-the-job training if you are hired. Such training allows the employer to explain their particular demands and rules. In addition, because you will be working as part of a team, the training will enable you to form an effective tech unit.
How Do You Acquire the Skills Required for Entry-level Tech Jobs?
If you need to acquire fast hands-on training to equip you with the ideal skills-set to get an entry-level job in the tech industry, then look no further. At Southern Career Institute, we have been training, molding, and mentoring professionals for six decades in Texas and surrounding areas. We are your one-stop shop for online training for all your skill requirements.
Our mantra is simple, short, and on point, to provide you with employer-tailored tech programs to land you your dream job, both online and in person. For more information on entry-level jobs in the tech sector and the relevant skill-set required, feel free to Contact Us today, and we will be more than willing to assist.
This article was published on: 01/18/22 2:25 AM
* SCI does not guarantee employment or a starting salary upon graduation, completion, or withdrawal from SCI. As an accredited post-secondary institution, SCI has various federal financial assistance programs available for students who qualify and are enrolled in SCI programs. This does not apply to seminar students.
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