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What is the tech industry like? What technical / soft skills are needed in the field? How can I prepare myself in such a oversaturated field??
I'm an sophomore majoring in computer science and data science. I basic knowledge in python, java, web development, sql, and swift.
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16 answers
Updated
Aniket’s Answer
Great job choosing a high-demand major! You're already on your way to a successful tech career. Remember, the tech world is always evolving. In my two decades of experience, I've worked with mainframes, client-server systems, and now cloud-based apps. Here's my advice for staying ahead:
1. Keep your skills up-to-date! Stay informed about the newest tech developments and be able to discuss them confidently.
2. Focus on understanding technology concepts, not just specific skills. Grasping the basics of programming, database design, or infrastructure management makes it easier to adapt to different technologies, like switching between .NET and Java, SQL and Oracle, or Azure and AWS.
3. Learn to communicate effectively with business owners. Often, they're more concerned with solving problems than the technology itself. Understand their challenges, and use your tech skills to help them without getting lost in technical jargon.
1. Keep your skills up-to-date! Stay informed about the newest tech developments and be able to discuss them confidently.
2. Focus on understanding technology concepts, not just specific skills. Grasping the basics of programming, database design, or infrastructure management makes it easier to adapt to different technologies, like switching between .NET and Java, SQL and Oracle, or Azure and AWS.
3. Learn to communicate effectively with business owners. Often, they're more concerned with solving problems than the technology itself. Understand their challenges, and use your tech skills to help them without getting lost in technical jargon.
Thank you for sharing your perspective.
Zion
Updated
Stephen’s Answer
In my opinion once you have the specific tech skills, you'll want to work on strengthening your communication and relationship building skills. It will prove invaluable as you interact with different personality types and teams when you end up joining a company to work at. Being able to talk 'tech' and 'business' will make you more valuable than just a person that has the tech side down pat. Good luck!
Thank you for taking the time to help.
Zion
Updated
Carl’s Answer
Hello Zion! Building on what others have shared, I encourage you to grasp the connection between technology and business. Possessing the technical know-how to tackle complicated issues is fantastic. But, it's also crucial to comprehend how a particular problem influences a company's financial success. Being able to convey how your solution will positively impact the business concern will greatly benefit your career.
Wow tysm carl !!
Zion
Updated
Paul’s Answer
Hey Zion!
The world of technology is a thrilling and ever-changing landscape filled with boundless possibilities. To thrive in this arena, it's vital to concentrate on some essential technical and interpersonal abilities.
Technical abilities: Begin by mastering the fundamentals of computer programming. Consider exploring user-friendly languages like Python or JavaScript. Make a habit of coding frequently and take on small projects to sharpen your skills. Additionally, acquaint yourself with prevalent software tools and platforms in the industry. As you might be aware, Generative AI is becoming increasingly popular and will soon be as ubiquitous as smartphones! Acquiring Python skills will be incredibly beneficial in the AI-driven future!
Interpersonal abilities: Alongside technical prowess, soft skills are equally important. Effective communication is crucial, so work on refining your verbal and written abilities. Learn to cooperate with others, as collaboration is a significant aspect of tech projects. Enhance your problem-solving skills by honing your analytical thinking and critical reasoning capabilities.
To ready yourself for this competitive domain, consider these practical steps:
Pursue your interests: Identify what aspects of the tech world excite you, be it artificial intelligence, web development, or cybersecurity. Concentrate on that area and immerse yourself in learning and experimenting. Remember, coding isn't the sole responsibility of professionals in this field. The tech industry is incredibly diverse, requiring a wide array of skills, from deep technology expertise to marketing, people management, accounting, and finance.
Establish a robust foundation: Utilize online tutorials and courses to develop a comprehensive understanding of the basics. Numerous free resources, such as Codecademy, Coursera, and Khan Academy, are at your disposal. Make the most of them!
Undertake projects: Apply your skills by working on personal projects. Create websites, develop small apps, or contribute to open-source initiatives. These projects will not only enrich your portfolio but also demonstrate your commitment and problem-solving prowess.
Connect and engage with communities: Network with like-minded individuals in the tech world. Attend tech meetups, participate in online forums, and join hackathons. Networking can open doors to valuable opportunities and mentorship.
Internships and volunteering: Seek internships or volunteer positions at tech firms or startups. This hands-on experience will provide real-world insights and help you comprehend the inner workings of the industry.
Keep in mind, while the tech industry may appear saturated, there's always space for enthusiastic and devoted individuals. Maintain a positive attitude, persevere through obstacles, and never abandon your aspirations. With unwavering effort, ongoing learning, and a focus on your passion, you can forge a prosperous career in the world of technology. Best of luck!
The world of technology is a thrilling and ever-changing landscape filled with boundless possibilities. To thrive in this arena, it's vital to concentrate on some essential technical and interpersonal abilities.
Technical abilities: Begin by mastering the fundamentals of computer programming. Consider exploring user-friendly languages like Python or JavaScript. Make a habit of coding frequently and take on small projects to sharpen your skills. Additionally, acquaint yourself with prevalent software tools and platforms in the industry. As you might be aware, Generative AI is becoming increasingly popular and will soon be as ubiquitous as smartphones! Acquiring Python skills will be incredibly beneficial in the AI-driven future!
Interpersonal abilities: Alongside technical prowess, soft skills are equally important. Effective communication is crucial, so work on refining your verbal and written abilities. Learn to cooperate with others, as collaboration is a significant aspect of tech projects. Enhance your problem-solving skills by honing your analytical thinking and critical reasoning capabilities.
To ready yourself for this competitive domain, consider these practical steps:
Pursue your interests: Identify what aspects of the tech world excite you, be it artificial intelligence, web development, or cybersecurity. Concentrate on that area and immerse yourself in learning and experimenting. Remember, coding isn't the sole responsibility of professionals in this field. The tech industry is incredibly diverse, requiring a wide array of skills, from deep technology expertise to marketing, people management, accounting, and finance.
Establish a robust foundation: Utilize online tutorials and courses to develop a comprehensive understanding of the basics. Numerous free resources, such as Codecademy, Coursera, and Khan Academy, are at your disposal. Make the most of them!
Undertake projects: Apply your skills by working on personal projects. Create websites, develop small apps, or contribute to open-source initiatives. These projects will not only enrich your portfolio but also demonstrate your commitment and problem-solving prowess.
Connect and engage with communities: Network with like-minded individuals in the tech world. Attend tech meetups, participate in online forums, and join hackathons. Networking can open doors to valuable opportunities and mentorship.
Internships and volunteering: Seek internships or volunteer positions at tech firms or startups. This hands-on experience will provide real-world insights and help you comprehend the inner workings of the industry.
Keep in mind, while the tech industry may appear saturated, there's always space for enthusiastic and devoted individuals. Maintain a positive attitude, persevere through obstacles, and never abandon your aspirations. With unwavering effort, ongoing learning, and a focus on your passion, you can forge a prosperous career in the world of technology. Best of luck!
Thank you so much, Paul!
Your advice is very informative and helpful!
I will definitely use the resources!
Zion
Updated
Rishabh’s Answer
Apart from the answers already mentioned with regards to technical skills, my only advice would be on soft skills - being clear and concise with communication is essential in almost any field. Being able to understand the context of the people you are working with - whether they are designers, product owners, QA testers, developers - and then using that context to adapt your message and delivery is important to create an impact in your work.
Rishabh, thank you!
Zion
Updated
Julie’s Answer
Hello Zion! You'll notice that many individuals with a strong analytical or engineering background tend to concentrate more on the mathematical aspects of their roles, often overlooking the importance of soft skills. However, the ability to effectively communicate your findings or explain the results of a comprehensive analysis is just as crucial as conducting the analysis itself.
Moreover, most in-house stakeholders prefer a well-structured report that emphasizes the most significant aspects of your findings - the actionable insights and the subsequent steps to take.
To enhance your soft skills, start by focusing on writing high-level memos and improving your presentation abilities. These skills will perfectly complement your already proficient coding abilities, making you a more well-rounded professional.
Moreover, most in-house stakeholders prefer a well-structured report that emphasizes the most significant aspects of your findings - the actionable insights and the subsequent steps to take.
To enhance your soft skills, start by focusing on writing high-level memos and improving your presentation abilities. These skills will perfectly complement your already proficient coding abilities, making you a more well-rounded professional.
Thank you so much, Julie!
Zion
Updated
Justin’s Answer
In the tech field, being able to communicate and learn effectively is crucial. Sometimes, you'll need to explain technical concepts to people who aren't familiar with technology. This can be challenging, but it's a chance to better understand the client's business and possibly develop automated methods for sharing information. It's also essential to ask for help when needed. While it's great to be able to solve problems independently, there's nothing wrong with seeking assistance, as long as you learn from the experience. If you continually ask for help on the same issue, your team may view you negatively. However, if you learn from it, they'll see that you're striving to improve and work more efficiently. The sooner you become comfortable asking for help, the faster you'll learn and be able to complete tasks effectively.
To prepare for a career in tech, it's important to decide early on what you want to specialize in, such as machine learning or data science. Focus your efforts on practicing that specific area and staying updated on industry trends. For example, if you're a data scientist, learning about the latest React upgrade or iOS development might not be as useful as mastering Python, SQL, and other data science tools.
To prepare for a career in tech, it's important to decide early on what you want to specialize in, such as machine learning or data science. Focus your efforts on practicing that specific area and staying updated on industry trends. For example, if you're a data scientist, learning about the latest React upgrade or iOS development might not be as useful as mastering Python, SQL, and other data science tools.
This was super helpful, thank you!
Zion
Updated
Krati’s Answer
7 essential soft skills for thriving tech professionals:
1. Effective communication and teamwork abilities
2. Proficient time management techniques
3. Building strong networking connections
4. Cultivating empathy and understanding
5. Developing sharp critical thinking capabilities
6. Embracing a proactive mindset
7. Fostering self-awareness and personal growth
1. Effective communication and teamwork abilities
2. Proficient time management techniques
3. Building strong networking connections
4. Cultivating empathy and understanding
5. Developing sharp critical thinking capabilities
6. Embracing a proactive mindset
7. Fostering self-awareness and personal growth
Thank you for your time! 🙏
Zion
Updated
Jeremy’s Answer
Hi Zion,
First thing I would say is that the field is far from being crowded.
Technical skills is a hard one to answer because tech is so broad. Find something in tech that sparks your interest. For me, I found a love for Cloud (Microsoft Azure to be exact) infrastructure. Then I discovered something called ARM templates that deploys infrastructure in Azure with code. Then I discovered DevOps and automation pipelines.
The point is, find what fuels your passion for tech. Always be learning and allow the niche in tech find you.
Soft skills is something that is always needed. Focus on being punctual. Work on keeping track of everything you've been assigned. Come up with a good note taking system so you dont forget things. Lastly, work on building trust with people.
First thing I would say is that the field is far from being crowded.
Technical skills is a hard one to answer because tech is so broad. Find something in tech that sparks your interest. For me, I found a love for Cloud (Microsoft Azure to be exact) infrastructure. Then I discovered something called ARM templates that deploys infrastructure in Azure with code. Then I discovered DevOps and automation pipelines.
The point is, find what fuels your passion for tech. Always be learning and allow the niche in tech find you.
Soft skills is something that is always needed. Focus on being punctual. Work on keeping track of everything you've been assigned. Come up with a good note taking system so you dont forget things. Lastly, work on building trust with people.
Thank you very much Jeremy!
Your advice is very helpful!!
Zion
Updated
Christina’s Answer
The technology field isn't oversaturated. What usually happens is that the jobs want people who have more than a beginner level knowledge, so it becomes hard to find your first role. Once you land that role, stay in that role 2-3 years. After that, if you are good, it becomes easier to find the next role.
To be able to jump the beginner line, I'd say focus on finding jobs that you are interested in now. Review the job description for similar technologies. Focus on learning those technical skills to an upper intermediate level. Limit yourself to the top 4 skills listed across the listings. Learn the difference and tradeoffs between those languages. For example, using python to write code versus writing pythonic code. (See realpython.com) If you choose data science, there's a difference between creating a project in Kaggle and understanding the computational and business ramifications. (See the OSDC, Scipy, pycon conference videos on YouTube.) Being able to discuss these things in interviews will jump you to the top of the pack. Find an opensource project to join or join the discord or slack groups for products such as dbt, dvc, paechyderm, prefect.io etc. This way you start building a network with technical managers you may be able to skip the line all together.
If you don't like math or software development, look into data engineering or analytics engineering.
To be able to jump the beginner line, I'd say focus on finding jobs that you are interested in now. Review the job description for similar technologies. Focus on learning those technical skills to an upper intermediate level. Limit yourself to the top 4 skills listed across the listings. Learn the difference and tradeoffs between those languages. For example, using python to write code versus writing pythonic code. (See realpython.com) If you choose data science, there's a difference between creating a project in Kaggle and understanding the computational and business ramifications. (See the OSDC, Scipy, pycon conference videos on YouTube.) Being able to discuss these things in interviews will jump you to the top of the pack. Find an opensource project to join or join the discord or slack groups for products such as dbt, dvc, paechyderm, prefect.io etc. This way you start building a network with technical managers you may be able to skip the line all together.
If you don't like math or software development, look into data engineering or analytics engineering.
Thank you for sharing your perspective.
Zion
Updated
Joey’s Answer
The tech industry is always evolving and therefore it is important to continuously grow in your technical/soft skills. This could be obtaining tech certifications, participating in coding bootcamps, and identifying which sect of the tech industry most interests you. I am a ServiceNow developer and absolutely love what I do. This makes continuous learning easy because it is what I am passionate about.
Identify a college that specializes in the sect of the tech industry you are most passionate about to ensure you are prepared for your career once you have obtained your degree. Begin identifying a company that aligns with you passion and research how you can obtain an internship with them so that you can get hands on experience in the market right out of college.
Identify a college that specializes in the sect of the tech industry you are most passionate about to ensure you are prepared for your career once you have obtained your degree. Begin identifying a company that aligns with you passion and research how you can obtain an internship with them so that you can get hands on experience in the market right out of college.
Thank you for the advice Joey!
Glad you found something you love to do :)
Zion
Updated
Martin’s Answer
Hi, try to focus on the AI and Machine Learning since it is poised to become more and more important. Given that AI system do require maintainance and updating, having the right skills in this area would help to stay competitive and relevant in the market.
Yes thank you very much Martin! I am also planning to get into AI.
Zion
Updated
Enrique’s Answer
Hi Zion,
my advice would be try to understand any other industry you would like to know, then you will differentiate from other people as you'll be able to apply data science models to any company business needs in that industry.
Consider your knowledge in computer science like a framework to transform and optimize industry processes.
Meanwhile complement you programing skills with advanced knowledge in data analysis tools starting for example with advanced Excel including pivot tables, statistical modeling, forecasting and prediction,....
Hope this helps,
Enrique
my advice would be try to understand any other industry you would like to know, then you will differentiate from other people as you'll be able to apply data science models to any company business needs in that industry.
Consider your knowledge in computer science like a framework to transform and optimize industry processes.
Meanwhile complement you programing skills with advanced knowledge in data analysis tools starting for example with advanced Excel including pivot tables, statistical modeling, forecasting and prediction,....
Hope this helps,
Enrique
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
Zion
Updated
Lotan’s Answer
Hello!
Definitely consider exploring LinkedIn for internships or entry-level positions. Take note of the qualifications they're seeking. Remember, each job you take on will provide valuable learning experiences.
It's tough to pinpoint specific skills needed for every job, but being adaptable, dedicating time to study, learning from experienced colleagues, and asking questions about your work are always beneficial.
Feel free to browse LinkedIn profiles of seasoned professionals to see what they've studied. Additionally, you can find helpful training resources on both YouTube and LinkedIn. Keep up the great work!
Definitely consider exploring LinkedIn for internships or entry-level positions. Take note of the qualifications they're seeking. Remember, each job you take on will provide valuable learning experiences.
It's tough to pinpoint specific skills needed for every job, but being adaptable, dedicating time to study, learning from experienced colleagues, and asking questions about your work are always beneficial.
Feel free to browse LinkedIn profiles of seasoned professionals to see what they've studied. Additionally, you can find helpful training resources on both YouTube and LinkedIn. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for giving me advice.
Zion
Updated
Mangesh’s Answer
The field is far from being too crowded. Tech companies are always on the hunt for skilled individuals in all areas of technology.
1) Focus on learning about Artificial Intelligence and Data Science - these are the future.
2) Get comfortable with translating Python or Java code into everyday business language. Think of it like ordering from an app (like McDonald's, Chipotle, or Taco Bell) - that's the Java/Python code in action! It's essential to grasp the business needs and express them through programming logic.
3) Develop the skill of presenting ideas in a straightforward way. Apple product announcement videos are fantastic examples. Just look at how effectively Steve Jobs shared his ideas!
1) Focus on learning about Artificial Intelligence and Data Science - these are the future.
2) Get comfortable with translating Python or Java code into everyday business language. Think of it like ordering from an app (like McDonald's, Chipotle, or Taco Bell) - that's the Java/Python code in action! It's essential to grasp the business needs and express them through programming logic.
3) Develop the skill of presenting ideas in a straightforward way. Apple product announcement videos are fantastic examples. Just look at how effectively Steve Jobs shared his ideas!
I appreciate you taking the time to answer this mangesh! it’s very helpful!
Zion
Updated
Garry’s Answer
the tech field is broad and very time consuming depending on the career you chose. the tech field is also very pay rewarding and the skills you gain will live you for a life time. I'm a software engineer and i love my job/pay and it gives me the freedom to enjoy hobbies outside of work.
Thank you for the advice.
Zion