Question 1

How do I get into Tech with no prior experience?

Accepted Answer

This is an excellent question that we get asked all the time!

First, you need to find out exactly what interests you the most in Tech and what you could actually picture yourself doing. There are many Information Technology (IT) jobs that you could pursue in your career.

We suggest researching the tasks that are involved with each role so you can get an idea of what your responsibilities in the position will consist of on the job.

Below are several IT job titles you can research further:

- Help Desk Analyst
- IT Support Tech
- IT Technician
- IT Technology Analyst
- IT Product Marketing
- IT Project Manager
- Data Analyst
- Software Developer
- Website Developer
- Network Engineer
- Network Technician
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Cloud Operations Specialist
- System Support Engineer
- Cyber Security Engineer
- Cloud Security Consultant
- Cloud Platform Engineer

Also, check out this Youtube video below on How to get an entry-level IT job with no experience:

https://youtu.be/PVt0spea4HY

Question 2

Can an internship help land me a job in Tech?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we strongly advocate for doing internships!

Although you can land a job without an internship. An internship only increases your chances of getting the job you want. Additionally, it lets you know what you like in your role and what you don’t like by providing hands-on experience. Internships are the golden ticket for society today. Most internships give you tangible hands-on experience and are paid. This is an opportunity to dive into your interest and build up your work experience.

Below is a list of internship opportunities:

- https://github.com/pittcsc/Summer2023-Internships (https://github.com/pittcsc/Summer2023-Internships)
- https://blog.tryexponent.com/the-top-8-tech-companies-to-intern-at-in-2022/ (https://blog.tryexponent.com/the-top-8-tech-companies-to-intern-at-in-2022/)
- https://scholarshiptrack.org/2020/12/27/top-13-companies-offering-student-internships-in-tech/ (https://scholarshiptrack.org/2020/12/27/top-13-companies-offering-student-internships-in-tech/)

Question 3

What are certifications? Do I need them to get into Tech?

Accepted Answer

Information Technology (IT) certifications are a designation that demonstrates specific competency in a certain field of technology. Some are very general and perfect for beginners (such as the CompTIA Network+ and Security+) and some require years of real-life work experience before you can sit for them like the CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional).

We do believe that having certifications are very beneficial to your career and landing your first IT job. Below is a video you can check out which goes over common IT certifications that employers love to see and what to expect with each certification exam.

https://youtu.be/W2tTsjkX76o

Question 4

Is a degree necessary to get into Tech?

Accepted Answer

Getting a Bachelor's/Master’s degree in technology will not hurt your chances. If anything, it will increase your chances by providing more knowledge, exposure, and building your network.

As the technology field continues to get more competitive, a graduate degree can give you a slight advantage in the job market. We strongly advocate for those who decide to get an advanced degree. Of course, you may be successful without it, but having a degree does significantly increase your chances of having a successful long IT career.
 
Although you can accumulate loans/debt from your advanced degree, you can pay them back with future job bonuses or by making payment plans. There are many other ways to cover these costs, you can reach out to the program director for a graduate assistantship or teaching assistantship. You could also apply for scholarships internally and externally.

Question 5

How can I get involved in the Tech community?

Accepted Answer

There are many ways to get involved in the Tech space. It is a very diverse community full of amazing individuals with many different experiences and job roles. Below you can find several organizations and popular conferences that you can join and be a part of to help get your foot in the door:

Organizations:
- ISACA
- ISC2
- TAG
- PMI

Conferences:
- ISACA
- Black Hat
- TAG
- AfroTech
- Black Is Tech
- AWS re:Invent
- AWS re:Infoce

Question 6

How much can I expect to make in Tech?

Accepted Answer

Let's talk Money! Having a career in Tech can be very rewarding for you if you choose to pursue it. Information Technology (IT) professionals made a median salary of $91,250 in May 2020, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is significantly more than the median salary for all occupations, which was $41,950.

Keep in mind that many factors can influence your salary, including your level of experience, skill set, the cost of living of your location, your education level, and what certifications you have.

IT Salaries by Position:

So what do IT workers in these roles actually make? The following salaries were reported in Robert Half’s 2022 Technology Salary Guide, and represent those in the fiftieth percentile of professionals—defined as those who have average experience and most of the required skills for the job.

The list is organized from lowest to highest salary:

Product Support Specialist: $57,750
Desktop Support Analyst: $62,750
Hardware Analyst: $78,250
Systems Administrator: $88,750
Systems Analyst: $99,500
Scrum Master: $104,000
Cloud Computing Analyst: $106,000
Database Administrator: $107,750
Systems Engineer: $111,500
Network/Cloud Engineer: $118,750
DevOps Engineer: $125,750
Site Reliability Engineer: $126,750
Network Security Engineer: $131,250
Big Data Engineer: $141,500
Security Architect: $143,250
Network/Cloud Architect: $153,750
Information Systems Security Manager: $157,250

What IT roles make the highest salaries?

The highest salaries in the IT world are tied to roles that are high in demand and currently have a shortage of qualified workers—typically positions related to cloud computing, cybersecurity, and big data. Managers, engineers, and architects indicate mid-career or senior positions and are also correlated with higher incomes.

Generally speaking, entry-level positions are correlated with lower salaries. These include help desk and troubleshooting positions like help desk analyst, IT technician, and IT associate. As you gain more experience and specialize your skills in areas like systems administration or cloud computing, you'll see your salary increase.

IT Salaries by Location: US States

Here’s what you’ll make across various states in the US, according to Global Knowledge’s 2020 IT Skills and Salary Report. The states listed below are the ten most populous, beginning with the largest population.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e2e1b0_83165e3ba7c4419e9c03e462b913bad8~mv2.png