
From Beginner to Tech Pro
With the explosion of artificial intelligence startups and applications, tech is one of the fastest-growing industries, offering many opportunities for career growth. Even if your background is in another field, you can quickly train for an exciting new career, whether you’re interested in pivoting from your existing job or starting fresh from the ground up. You don’t need a computer science degree to work in tech. Miami Tech Works joins with top employers and ambitious tech talent by providing comprehensive skills-based programs that will get you ready for a rewarding, in-demand tech career. Talent isn’t just reserved for the lucky few. With the right training and support, you can build the skills you need to succeed.
Tech isn’t a monolithic career choice. It includes a wide range of roles, such as software development, data analysis, cybersecurity, UX design, and cloud support. You can lean on your strengths when you choose an area of specialization. If you’ve always enjoyed statistics, you may want to go into data analysis. If design is more appealing to you, you may excel at creating intuitive user experiences.
The tech industry encompasses both technical roles, such as coding, and tech-adjacent roles, such as project management. Technical careers are those that require specific hard skills. Data scientists, back-end developers, and engineers are all tech roles. People in tech-adjacent roles work closely with developers or support technical products but don’t perform hands-on coding.
Some pervasive myths about working in tech are that you have to be a math whiz, you need to have grown up with technology, and that it's a career for the young. None of these is true. There’s room in the tech industry for anyone willing to learn new skills.
When you’re considering a career change, choose an area that aligns with your interests. What problems do you want to solve? If you aren’t familiar with the different types of tech roles, start by investigating your options. Miami Tech Works offers resources to help you explore different roles.
You can also take online assessments, such as career quizzes, or conduct informational interviews by reaching out to your contacts in the tech industry. Ask about the types of tasks they perform, what they like and dislike about their jobs, and how they’d rate their work/life balance.
Consider what roles are in high demand. Miami is one of the South’s biggest tech hubs and is experiencing a significant growth in startups that’s attracting a large pool of tech talent. In particular, there’s a growing need for software developers, cybersecurity specialists, and network administrators.
Once you’ve decided what career option you want to pursue, select a training option that works with your current situation. If you need to keep your current job while you’re studying, a part-time community college track can be a good choice.
Bootcamps can also work on your schedule. Many offer flexible, online, and hybrid options. Some, such as 4Geeks, offer a money-back guarantee if you don’t land a job within six months of graduation. BrainStation offers in-demand certifications in areas such as data analytics and digital marketing. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can train to switch careers with a Certificate of Professional Preparation from Miami Dade College.
There's no shortage of training options, but they’re not all equally valuable. You’ll get the most out of your training program by doing some research before you commit. Look for programs that are designed to help you graduate with job-ready skills. Ask about:
Avoid programs that exhibit red flags such as:
Short-term training programs are designed to get you ready for a new career quickly. Approach it as a sprint, not a stroll. You’ll be learning hard skills such as coding, cloud tools, and databases, as well as important soft skills like problem-solving and collaboration. Although you may be working on many assignments asynchronously, your peer group and instructors will be an important part of your learning process. They’ll also form many of your first industry connections. A strong community will offer benefits such as mentorship that can help you get your career off to a strong start.
Because your training program is short, it will help you to go into it with an eye towards finding your first position. Focus on career readiness as early as possible. This includes earning industry-standard certifications, building your portfolio, working on interview prep with resources such as LeetCode, and strengthening your soft skills through group projects.
You can start looking at entry-level job descriptions to get an idea about what qualifications you’ll need. Some common entry-level positions include:
Miami Tech Works brings together qualified training providers, tech talent, and local businesses to create a sustainable tech talent pipeline. These hiring pathways and placement programs can help you launch a meaningful, long-lasting career.
You don’t have to be a genius to land a great job in the tech industry. You just need a starting point and a strong commitment. Miami Tech Works can help. Reach out today to start building a brighter future.