6 Ways to Get a Tech Job Without a Tech Degree

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6 Ways to Get a Tech Job Without a Tech Degree

• By
• Vacancies.ae

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1. Learn How the Web Works

• Im consistently amazed at the number of
  businesspeople who have no concept of where a
  website comes from. Theres no need to be an
  expert coder, unless youre an aspiring engineer,
  but you should know enough about technology to
  make informed business decisions about it.
• I taught myself how to code in the mid-90s after
  leading an e-greeting card site that could have
  been successful but didnt have the technology to
  scale with demand I never wanted to be stuck
  like that again. Similarly, Instagram founder
  Kevin Systrom taught himself to codeat night
  while working in marketing, possibly inspiring a
  new generation of business guys learning to
  program.
• The first thing anyone should do is learn HTML
  and maybe even some JavaScript. Codecademy and W3S
  chools are two great places to start. Or pick up
  a newbie book from Amazon.

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2. Start With a Digital Job in Your Current
Company

• Without any digital experience, landing a job at
  a tech company will be tough. Get an advantage by
  going after low-hanging opportunities.
• Many non-tech companies, like the one you
  probably work for, are desperate for help
  building an effective presence on the web. If you
  can be of service, youll not only gain valuable
  experience, but youll also be likely to have the
  chance to make a real impact. This way, you can
  show up for your first interview at that
  desirable tech firm with a success story behind
  you.

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3. Knock on the Door of a Disrupter

• A friend of mine used to be a salesperson for
  radio, a dying industry facing myriad high-tech
  competitors. And, as happens in these situations,
  he got laid off. But rather than fighting for one
  of the last jobs in his native field, he went
  after a gig selling ads for Pandora. They liked
  that he knew the radio industry and hired him.
• One of the easiest ways to get into tech is to go
  after a job at a startup thats looking to
  disrupt the industry in which youve spent your
  career.

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4. Position Yourself as an Innovator

• The technology space is all about innovation.
  Working for a scrappy disruptor or the digital
  department of your current company will surely
  give you the chance to be a pioneer. But if these
  roles are inaccessible, you should demonstrate
  your inventive and courageous side within your
  present role by starting a new department,
  devising and implementing a fresh strategy or
  producing a cutting-edge marketing product. Its
  advantageous if technology is inherent in these
  accomplishments, but not necessary.

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5. Accept that Youre Not as Senior as You Think
You Are

• Just because youre an art director for print
  doesnt mean youre qualified to be an art
  director in digital. Just because youve managed
  significant client relationships doesnt mean
  youre qualified to manage client services at a
  tech firm.
• Individuals switching industries need to start
  with a more junior role. When I meet fairly
  senior people whom Id be interested in hiring, I
  ask if they would start as a project manager and
  not a single person has ever taken me up on that
  offer. Invest time to learn the business and the
  pay cut wont have to last long.

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6. Become a Thought Leader

• It takes some creativity, charm, smarts and
  nerve, but you can become an industry thought
  leader before you even have a job in the
  industry. JD Beebe, a young copywriter, creative
  and entrepreneur, is a good example. He made his
  way into the agency world by starting
  a Paper.lionline newspaper called Ad Agency
  Thought Sauce that aggregated links from ad
  agency tweets. Agencies saw him re-sharing their
  links, and this functioned as a constant series
  of soft introductions.
• If social media acrobatics arent your thing, you
  can still build a profile for yourself as an
  expert by sharing your point of view on industry
  issues. Do it in-person, at industry events
  and Meetups, and digitally through Facebook, Twitt
  er and comments on relevant articles maybe even
  this one.

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References

• https//mashable.com/2012/05/19/tech-job-tips/RiP
  hPOYL6sq9
• https//www.vacancies.ae/jobs/jobs-in-dubai
• https//www.vacancies.ae/jobs/jobs-in-abudhabi
• https//www.vacancies.ae/jobs/jobs-in-sharjah
• https//www.vacancies.ae/jobs/jobs-in-ajman