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The growth in the tech space in Africa is incredible, and like the gold rush, everyone wants in. From their minds to their search engines, many young people are curious and finding ways to transition to tech in 2022. The ecosystem with startups ranging from agritech to fintech to healthtech is flourishing across the continent and the world as a whole.
Everywhere you turn, there is a tech person around the corner (Cue the black turtleneck and MacBook) and yet another Twitter thread. You should know that the tech ecosystem cuts across different industries and skillsets. So, before going down the rabbit hole, you should streamline what you want, other than more money. If you are interested in the tech space but clueless about getting in, this is a guide to help you transition to tech. Go Tech Bro/Sis!
When transitioning to tech, these should make up your to-do:
Identify your motivation
You need to identify why you want to make the switch. Why Tech? Why now? Identify why you like this career path and your long-term career goals. What are your aspirations for the future? Does transitioning to tech get you closer to those goals?
You should also identify what matters to you in a job. Are you looking for financial security or flexibility? Are you tired of commuting and seeking more remote-friendly jobs? Do you want a new challenge? Consider your answers to these questions and understand why this is the right step for you at this time. Identifying your motivation can also help when you are exploring your options. Think of your reason to transition as your origin story and the fuel that will drive you during endless standups and long nights.
Do your research
Tech is broad, encompassing careers involving coding, designing, and writing. It can be pretty tricky streamlining and deciding the career path to follow. When making the transition, doing your research and exploring the available options is a step in the right direction. You can identify your skillset and interests to help find a path that is the right fit.
Are you wary about learning to code? It would help if you realised that not all tech roles require coding, and there are technical and non-technical roles
Technical roles: Technical roles require specific technical skills and expertise to solve complex problems such as coding. Junior or senior level technical roles in tech include DevOps engineer, hardware engineer, web developer etc.
Non-technical roles: Non-technical roles do not require direct involvement in maintaining new technology or coding. The field of non-technical roles ranges from sales to product management, customer success and marketing. These roles include product manager, digital marketer, customer success manager etc.
You should search for job descriptions of these different roles and evaluate the day-to-day tasks. You can also speak to people or check out the Linkedin profiles of people who have made the transition. Exploring the requirement for technical and non-technical roles enables you to make informed decisions about your career path in tech. Non-technical roles are as challenging as technical roles and can be a great way to break into the industry. If you are currently in marketing or sales, you can research roles in tech, such as product marketing, that you will thrive in with your transferable skills. More research arms you with more knowledge to help you understand the options available and the right fit for you.
Select a career path
After researching your option, you should select a career path. What are the day-to-day tasks for a specific role? Are you interested in it? Transitioning is easier if you know the role you want to pursue.
As you select a career path and consider what you want from your new role, you should:
Note your main attributes: Do you prefer technical work or organisation and setting timelines? Which roles require these attributes? For instance, Interpersonal and team-building skills? Consider roles in HR or customer success. Writing and communication? Tech sales, digital marketing. Programming and building products? Software developer, Product manager
Think about your experience: What aspect made you happy? Did you enjoy analysing data or writing?
Consider your research: Which job description mirrored what you would like to be doing?
Knowing the career path you want allows you to focus on specific training opportunities and resources. You can try out different courses (yes, I am justifying the 10 Coursera courses you are considering), gauge your interest and determine the specialisation you are most interested in.
Acquire necessary skills
If you feel confident about the career you are pursuing, you can move on to acquiring the skills to thrive. You can explore different paths to develop necessary skills, such as coding bootcamps or self-paced courses with certification.
In Africa, these platforms are helping people make the transition into tech; AltSchool Africa, Ingressive For Good, She Code Africa, and Dev Careers Africa, amongst others. Platforms such as Coursera and Udemy also offer courses that help you gain essential skills.
Some platforms offer internship opportunities upon completion of the course or boot camp. Internships are a great way to gain hands-on experience and get noticed by recruiters.
Build your portfolio
Whether you are pursuing a career in UI/UX design or digital marketing, a portfolio is always good. As you improve your skillset, you should build an online presence and develop your brand. A portfolio is a way to document your experience and skill and is a great way to be discovered.
You can start a personal website where you have your designs displayed, build a Github portfolio, create a portfolio on Medium or send out a newsletter on Substack detailing what you are learning. This creates a handy way to showcase your knowledge and compile your works. You should update your portfolio regularly. Got a byline? Include it. Have you designed a website? Please put it in there! Regularly update your portfolio with new projects.
Employers often request a portfolio, which can be in place of years of experience as it helps to display your skills and potential.
Develop your network
Learning a new skill and transitioning to a new career is not easy, but a community makes this better. You should reach out to people for support and information. As you break into a new industry, connecting with others already working in the industry can prove very helpful.
Connect with people on Linkedin or Twitter & join tech related platforms like Tamborin. Follow people in your dream role or company, read about their experiences and reach out to them. Ask for advice, discuss your short-term goals and seek growth opportunities. These conversations can help you with resources that could assist you, such as a course or a book that you should read. You could learn about company culture, possible interview questions or what to expect as day-to-day tasks.
These connections can guide you as your career progresses and lead to introductions or internal referrals. Developing your network is crucial as you transition to a new role or industry.
Put yourself out there
You have done it, and it is time to toss your hat in the ring. Be confident that you have done the hard work in pursuing your goal and acquiring relevant skills, and it’s time to kickstart your career.
As you apply for jobs, remember to read the job descriptions and match your resume to the requirements in the job ad. Sending out multiple applications can be exhausting, but you must not give up. Your offer is just around the corner.