Designing a Tech Career Roadmap

Designing a Tech Career Roadmap

Transitioning to tech and building a career roadmap.

Hello, there!

This article is about how I transitioned from academia to a career in technology, where I am now and how my experience could help others design their careers roadmap.

I ventured into tech while looking for ways to aid the learning experience for my students during the pandemic; the computer became my source of companionship, which assisted in developing instructional materials. I became fascinated and decided to look for a skill to acquire through the internet.

I engrossed myself in sourcing for different types of skills while watching a series of tutorials online to know which one suited me the most. This curiosity brought me to the #ADAproject, where I was opportune to listen to Yewande's speech on "Designing a tech career roadmap".Yewande Odumosu

She explained the different types of roles in tech and how to identify the right one. She showed us how to design a career plan by considering our skills, interests and values and then figured out what sort of role would fit us best.

From her discussion, she highlighted some steps to take while transiting into tech, which include;

  1. Understanding your strengths and skills
  2. Take an intro (or crash course)
  3. Try side projects
  4. Join a community
  5. Get a mentor

Understanding your strengths and skills

While identifying strengths and skills, she mentioned the Japanese concept "IKIGAI", which means "a reason for being". This concept (IKIGAI) connotes the reason for being a human from the point of understanding of "what you love?" "what you are good with?" "what you could be paid for?" and "what the world needs?". Understanding these questions would help in deciding which skills to pick and the unique ones attached to us as an individual.

Take an intro (or crash course)

She recommends taking an introductory class that would expose you to a wide range of knowledge and then decide which one suits you best from them.

Try side project

Yewande admonishes working on side projects to build portfolios and create awareness on the social media platform. She emphasises "networking", which is paramount in the tech industry, and how to distinguish oneself from the rest of the world by pushing out work samples for the world to see.

Join a community

As transitioning into tech, being in the midst of other people who do that sort of work can be a big help. Mentally and confidence-wise, it is good; moreover, most communities have an expert who can answer any question. Yewande Odumosu

Get a mentor

Find an accountable mentor; such a mentor would do checks and balances on the project and serve as a guide through any rough path stumble across. As someone just transiting, checks and balances matter the most to move ahead because the journey is not smooth, and every bit of help is needed.

In summary, these highlights from Yewande's speech would serve as a guide to building my career roadmap and yours. I know the journey ahead might not be perfect nor smooth; there will be ups and downs, days of joy or sadness. But regardless of it all, consistency and commitment are going to be the key to the end goals.

Reference

Yewande Odumosu.