6 answers
Damian
Student
Limestone, Maine
1
Question
Asked
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How did you get into the Technology field and is the work as ambitious as I think it is? Am I on the right path given my circumstances?
I'm a young man highly interested in pursuing a career in Technology. Specifically, I want to be apart of something where innovation and the development of new, cutting edge technology is apart of the goal, working for companies like SpaceX, Tesla, Apple, or Microsoft. As of right now with my given life circumstances I cannot afford to pay for a four year university and obtain a bachelor's degree, I'm a High School graduate. Thus, I am currently enrolled into Job Corps and am on a path to take the Electrician trade in the meantime while I square myself away. But I am still hoping to fulfill my goals, if not at this very moment, than for the mid-long term. #computer-science #technology #science #job
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6 answers
Andy Hencke
Business Operations
15
Answers
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Updated
Andy’s Answer
Hi Damian!
Heading towards electrician as a "trade" could be a great strategy! Depending on how you like to spend your time (working with your hands vs. typing on a computer vs. talking on the phone), the "trades" including electricians can offer some physical diversity to the day: driving to site(s), physically cabling a building, interacting with other trades and customers. If you are considering a path where being an electrician provides you some economic stability and resources to then further your education towards a technology based career, that also seems like a great strategy. The cool thing about the sequence you are considering, is the electrician trade skills are physical, practical and somewhat immutable (always required, don't change dramatically over time) so you may be able to establish some economic stability as an electrician - and then, along the way you can keep considering your vision of working more deeply in the technology industry. I suspect that even a few years into your electrician "phase" you may have more and more specific or refined ideas about what kind of role you might want to target within the tech industry. Is it the assumed path: an electrical or mechanical engineer, helping design and build physical circuitry (or devices) or maybe you end up wanting to take a different type of role but within the tech industry: sales , marketing, business development, manufacturing, (there really are so many different roles inside the tech industry beyond "engineering" - any/all of which are great options depending on a person's natural interests, passions, skills). Lastly, yes I do think you would find hte "tech industry" to be a very ambitious field with lots of options. Zhebei also has some great points in his answers as well!
Cheers,
Andy
Heading towards electrician as a "trade" could be a great strategy! Depending on how you like to spend your time (working with your hands vs. typing on a computer vs. talking on the phone), the "trades" including electricians can offer some physical diversity to the day: driving to site(s), physically cabling a building, interacting with other trades and customers. If you are considering a path where being an electrician provides you some economic stability and resources to then further your education towards a technology based career, that also seems like a great strategy. The cool thing about the sequence you are considering, is the electrician trade skills are physical, practical and somewhat immutable (always required, don't change dramatically over time) so you may be able to establish some economic stability as an electrician - and then, along the way you can keep considering your vision of working more deeply in the technology industry. I suspect that even a few years into your electrician "phase" you may have more and more specific or refined ideas about what kind of role you might want to target within the tech industry. Is it the assumed path: an electrical or mechanical engineer, helping design and build physical circuitry (or devices) or maybe you end up wanting to take a different type of role but within the tech industry: sales , marketing, business development, manufacturing, (there really are so many different roles inside the tech industry beyond "engineering" - any/all of which are great options depending on a person's natural interests, passions, skills). Lastly, yes I do think you would find hte "tech industry" to be a very ambitious field with lots of options. Zhebei also has some great points in his answers as well!
Cheers,
Andy
Thank you for the advice! While in Job Corps, I was thinking of doing the following route, Electrician trade, then do either air force or college so I can get degrees in computer science, double majoring in physics or something else if I find a better candidate. Add on a minor too.
Damian
All great options! Air Force is an interesting option: 1). Provide deeply meaningful public service as part of the armed forces; 2. Probably good acccess to technical training and opportunities to learn/explore different technical topics; 3. Some financial support for training/education maybe even college afterwards
Andy Hencke
Rob Dalehite
Sales
1
Answer
Charleston, South Carolina
Updated
Rob’s Answer
Hi! Getting into the technology space isn't a "cookie cutter" process. My journey should be able to explain that ANYONE can get into technology. I was not an engineer or a math student... I was actually a history major in college but I've seen people with other backgrounds do well. However, I got my first job in tech at a major tech company working in their contracts division. The job interview was facilitated by a friend, so it's always good to know someone who is "inside" or if you don't then use LinkedIn, make introductions and just ASK people to help you. You'd be surprise how many people want to help others get in the door. Next is to be curious and know that much of the time the company you work for doesn't have all of the answers but curious people know how to answer them. Net/Net if you want to work in tech then you can make it happen. Just work to get in the door, regardless if the role is specific to your talent and once you are in you can navigate by learning to the job fit that is exact to you. Find someone who can coach you and give you advice on how to get in to the respective company, and just be tenacious!
Angelina Hagan
Manager, Consulting
1
Answer
Sacramento, California
Updated
Angelina’s Answer
Hey Damian,
I think both options are super great! In my experience, you won't always need a college degree right away to get into the tech industry. There are many more affordable options online (such as Treehouse.com or CodeAcademy) that can help you get started and equipped enough to land a great job. I personally was not able to go to college right away after high school and instead got involved in tech by starting in a support role at a company, saying yes to opportunities to learn more. Within a couple of years, I had learned enough and advanced enough to start putting myself through college.
I love that you are already thinking in the mid to long term as well. College right away does not always have to be the path if it doesn't make sense given your life experiences. And as someone who is still working on finally wrapping up their degree 10+ years later, I can confidently say it is not the only path to success.
Take advantage of what makes the most sense for you in the short-term (1 - 2 years) and keep heading towards that north star. You'll get there!
Best,
Angelina
I think both options are super great! In my experience, you won't always need a college degree right away to get into the tech industry. There are many more affordable options online (such as Treehouse.com or CodeAcademy) that can help you get started and equipped enough to land a great job. I personally was not able to go to college right away after high school and instead got involved in tech by starting in a support role at a company, saying yes to opportunities to learn more. Within a couple of years, I had learned enough and advanced enough to start putting myself through college.
I love that you are already thinking in the mid to long term as well. College right away does not always have to be the path if it doesn't make sense given your life experiences. And as someone who is still working on finally wrapping up their degree 10+ years later, I can confidently say it is not the only path to success.
Take advantage of what makes the most sense for you in the short-term (1 - 2 years) and keep heading towards that north star. You'll get there!
Best,
Angelina
Danielle Alvernaz
Sr Product Operations Manager
1
Answer
San Francisco, California
Updated
Danielle’s Answer
Hi Damian,
I agree with the above feedback that there is not necessarily one way to get into the field or role you are interested in. Many roles at tech companies do not require a 4 year degree as well. I personally work in an operations, and with our customers. Given the experience for the roles that I hire for, not every role that I hire for requires a 4 year degree. In fact I have one current employee of mine who is currently working on my team, and getting their degree at the same time. I do believe that it's not necessarily about your degree, but how you get your foot in the door, and then how you use your experiences, and make connections, to your advantage.
Just remember there is not one linear path on how to get to where you want to be. You will find the right way path :) .
Best,
Danielle
I agree with the above feedback that there is not necessarily one way to get into the field or role you are interested in. Many roles at tech companies do not require a 4 year degree as well. I personally work in an operations, and with our customers. Given the experience for the roles that I hire for, not every role that I hire for requires a 4 year degree. In fact I have one current employee of mine who is currently working on my team, and getting their degree at the same time. I do believe that it's not necessarily about your degree, but how you get your foot in the door, and then how you use your experiences, and make connections, to your advantage.
Just remember there is not one linear path on how to get to where you want to be. You will find the right way path :) .
Best,
Danielle
Kevin Berry
Software Engineering Manager
4
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
A Mainer! I lived there for a long time. Now in San Francisco, CA and working a job that I find motivating everyday. You can do it, even without a college degree.
There are a number of software engineers that are 'non-traditionally' trained. There are a number of GREAT software engineering programs that are not college programs. Some are paid, others are free. The best thing you can do is to continue to learn always, and understand what is needed in order to eventually get that first software engineering job.
What skills do you need? Sadly if you ask 10 people you may get 10 different answers, which there is not the best clear answer for.
But if you learn how to build software applications and APIs, like you could build a clone of a website you like or something, that is a really good start.
And keep checking in on this website as you continue your learning. You could say, I have learned X, Y and Z. What am I missing? What should I study next?
Good luck!
There are a number of software engineers that are 'non-traditionally' trained. There are a number of GREAT software engineering programs that are not college programs. Some are paid, others are free. The best thing you can do is to continue to learn always, and understand what is needed in order to eventually get that first software engineering job.
What skills do you need? Sadly if you ask 10 people you may get 10 different answers, which there is not the best clear answer for.
But if you learn how to build software applications and APIs, like you could build a clone of a website you like or something, that is a really good start.
And keep checking in on this website as you continue your learning. You could say, I have learned X, Y and Z. What am I missing? What should I study next?
Good luck!
Jay Parisi
Solution Architect
1
Answer
Smithtown, New York
Updated
Jay’s Answer
I love your ambition to work for those cutting edge companies you mentioned. Glad to hear you're pursuing a trade-having Electrician roots will pave the way for you to a) save some money on home improvements :) but more importantly give you flexibility to purse online courses to embark on a career in technology. As others mentioned, there are bootcamps, online courses (udemy, codeAcademy, etc.) which offer low cost courses (even free ones) to get you rolling in the amazing world of Technology. You can do these classes at night /weekends/whenever while providing a good living via the trade route (I had to do the same). If you find the Technology path going well, start some projects (prob bono), build some apps that solve problems for Electricians.- that would be a nice full circle! Please note it's never too late to learn any technology. In my career as a Solution Architect, technologies come and go- keeping us on our learning toes- and excited about solving problems with software.
Read the Phoenix Project
Find a free class on codeacademy.com (intro to front end development
Jay recommends the following next steps: