3 Steps to Jumpstart Your New Career in Tech in 2024
Are you considering a career change? If so, you know that it can feel like an overwhelming prospect. But it can feel exciting, too – a journey filled with opportunities for growth and self-discovery.
With the new year right around the corner, we’re covering three steps you can take to jumpstart your new career in 2024, with particular guidance for those considering a new career in tech. These practical steps can help reduce overwhelming feelings and help you to determine if you’re ready to take the next step.
Step 1: Figure out if you’re ready for a career change
There are a variety of reasons you might be considering a career change. Maybe you feel stagnant, like your career is stuck with no room for growth. Maybe you’re increasingly disinterested in your role or industry. Maybe you’re looking for a salary increase or a new challenge.
According to Northeastern University, one of six signs that you’re ready for a new career is when you feel like your job is negatively impacting your personal life. Forbes states that it’s time for a change if you’re feeling chronically worn out and exhausted by your work instead of invigorated.
If any of these examples ring true to you, chances are you’re ready to explore a new career.
Step 2: Determine if a career in tech is right for you
A new career in tech is one of the most promising paths you can choose. Tech skills can bring higher salaries, engaging challenges and projects, and a strong work-life balance. To that end, MarketWatch recently found that software developer was ranked the ‘best job in America’ thanks to high starting salaries and that aforementioned work-life balance.
To determine if a new career in tech is right for you, we recommend that you start exploring some free online resources to see what you gravitate toward and enjoy. For example, we love freeCodeCamp and the The Odin Project – but the internet is full of options that can help you determine your best path forward.
Dabbling in free online resources can also help you figure out what aspects of tech you like, and also, what you don’t like, which is equally as valuable. Maybe you love coding! Or maybe you feel a pull toward data analytics, or tech project management, or DevSecOps.
No matter the outcome, taking time to explore free online resources can help you get started. The more knowledge you have before changing careers, the more confident you’ll feel when it’s time for next steps.
Step 3: Explore your tech education options, including coding bootcamps
Once you determine that a career in tech is right for you, it’s time to evaluate which educational program best suits your needs. During your search, it’s important to vet your options by looking at the data these programs provide on their websites. Look for information such as graduation rates, placement rates, number of hiring partners, and years to promotion. For example, at Tech Elevator, we report on student success by publishing placement numbers, hiring partners, and more. Don’t overlook the power of digging into the data. Visit websites, read alumni success stories and attend open house events. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek clear answers.
If you’ve decided on a coding bootcamp, consider how you want to learn this new material. Do you want to learn in-person or remote? Do you want to learn full-time or part-time? Do you want to learn asynchronously or in real time? As you start to answer these questions, you’ll narrow down schools and programs that fit your criteria, and you’ll be able to confidently decide which path to take.
Ready to get started? Join a Tech Elevator Coding Bootcamp!
Explore our coding bootcamp options, which enable you to learn in person, online, full-time, or part-time. And when you’re ready, check out the first step in our admissions process: the aptitude test. This free test doesn’t require any coding knowledge. It looks at basic problem-solving ability, which is what we build upon during the coding bootcamp. Get started today!
