How To Land Yourself a Tech Job Without Big Credentials

Most of us are told that we need some kind of degree or big credentials in order to land a job. This is especially true when it comes to landing a tech job. After all, you need specialized skills if you want to land a software or development-related job–it’s not something that you can just do out of nowhere!

But what if we said that it’s possible to land yourself a tech job without big credentials? It might sound too good to be true, but if you think you’ve got what it takes then we’ve got the advice that could change your life.

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First thing’s first, make sure you actually have the skills required

It’s easy for people to get overconfident in their own skills, so that’s why we suggest that you actually make sure you have those skills in the first place. For example, if you want to become a software developer then you need to actually know how to develop software. The good thing to know here is that most companies have their own internal tools to make it easy for them to develop things or modify their existing projects. Many of these tools are proprietary, meaning you wouldn’t be able to practice using them even if you wanted to. However, that doesn’t mean that you can just waltz in and say that you’re good for the job.

One of the reasons why tech companies require their employees to have fancy degrees and credentials is because it shows not only a willingness to learn but also basic computer science and tech-related knowledge that’s important for understanding the tools and processes that they use. As a result, a candidate is far more suitable for a company if they have skills that are similar to what they’re looking for. This also means that when you do land a job, there’s a learning process before you can actually use the software and get involved with their established processes.

In short, practice your skills and focus on growing your knowledge in a variety of different tech-related fields. If you want to get into software development, make sure you learn a few program languages. If you want to be a web developer, make a few websites. Remember that most companies are looking for experience and a willingness to learn!

Getting your first gig in a tech-related industry

So let’s go over a few ways to actually get into the tech industry with zero credentials.

• Entry-level jobs are a good way to get started because they require minimal tech knowledge, but there are usually plenty of ways for you to grow your knowledge on the job which can lead to more opportunities. For example, software testing jobs are usually considered entry-level, but there are also senior roles available. This can lead to another job in the future in the same company, and the experience you have can be used to apply for a more advanced role.
• Establish a portfolio and pitch ideas to companies if you want a little more control over who you work with. This is a fantastic idea for freelancers that want more independence, but it can also be a great way to land a full-time job with a large tech company. There are many stories of people working on amazing projects by themselves, only to be scouted and picked up by larger tech companies. People have created modifications to software only to be eventually hired by larger organizations to work on private projects or large-scale tech.

• Look for freelance opportunities such as web development contracts, freelance programming gigs, or even consider technical writing. There are many freelance roles in the tech industry, so it’s important to consider all of your options and find something that suits you. It’s going to be difficult to find a freelance gig if you haven’t established yourself, so make sure you have some kind of portfolio especially if it’s a somewhat creative role like web development.

As you can see, it’s all about utilizing your skills and setting yourself up for success. Instead of just applying to different companies and hoping they hire you, you’re trying to show off your skills instead. This is much more enticing for companies (especially new startups) because it shows that you’re willing to take the initiative and it puts your skills on display as soon as you interact with those organizations. This is a much better way to find a job and it means you don’t need to have formal qualifications or credentials–you just need to show that you have the skills and dedication.