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How to Jump into Tech and Start Working Location-Independent
In situations like the one we currently have with COVID-19, working location-independent becomes almost imperative for most of us. But what happens if you’re not prepared for an online job? That’s what is happening now: there are millions of unemployed people looking to enter the remote workforce. One of the best sectors for remote work continues to be the tech industry. So, it’s essential you start considering switching to a remote work career in the tech industry. Besides, the tech industry has some of the best salaries among other sectors. According to CNBC, one of the main reasons why people decide to switch to a tech career is because of the salary. If you’re one of them and you’d like to start working location-independent, here, you’ll find a guide that can help you.
Learn an In-Demand Tech Skill
To start building your career as a tech worker, you need to start learning the skills that are in-demand in the industry, and also those that could help you land a remote job. You should also consider which type of job you enjoy the most. If you create a list of the in-demand jobs, the pros and cons of each of them, and you start evaluating them, you’ll be able to find the perfect match for this new journey. Take a look at some in-demand Tech Jobs here.Software Engineering
Software Engineering refers to the practice of developing apps and web apps and working location-independent is now widely practiced. To become a software engineer, you need to understand the principles of coding. Some coding languages are more used than others, such as Java, Python and Ruby On Rails. However, it’ll all depend on what you’ll be working on. If you are working with a data-related project, SQL could be a great choice, and if you’re very new to coding and feel you’d like to start with something easy, you could try Ruby or Python. To build a career as a software engineer, you can either study a bachelor’s degree in computer science or take a course. Coding bootcamps usually give more up-to-date education and employment opportunities.Web Development
Web Development consists of writing code to develop websites. Just like with software engineering, there are front-end and back-end developers. The first type occupies the visual area of the site, while back-end programmers work on the skeleton of the website. If you learn both skills, you’ll become a full-stack web developer. Full-stack engineers usually make more money than other developers, but they also have more responsibilities.Mobile Development
Mobile Development has increased in popularity over the past couple of years because the preferences for mobile apps has exponentially risen. This has led to high demand for mobile developers, especially Android developers because there’s a more significant population using Android than iOS. However, iOS developers also have a good salary. Mobile developers work with different coding languages depending on the platform they’ll be working on. While Android devs work with JavaScript, iOS developers could work with Swift or Objective-C. Yet, most of them will be working with Swift because it is a more straightforward than Objective-C.Start Freelancing
Unless you already have your online network, you’ll need to begin with small online projects if you’d like to start working location-independent. Gig working or doing freelance jobs will help you get some experience in the digital arena. There are some great platforms like Upwork, Workana or Behance that will allow you to start building your career as a remote worker. Besides, this will increase your network of clients and maybe you’ll find a full-time job by doing these types of projects.Improve Your Online Presence
There’s a great way to get remote work and it’s by enhancing your online presence by videoconferencing. If you’re virtually visible for recruiters, it’ll be easier for them to find you and see your skills. An excellent way to do this is by creating your own website; this could work as a portfolio where you’ll show your skills and experience. Besides, this could also be an excellent way to impress them if you’re going to be a web developer. If you create a functional and aesthetic website, recruiters will know that you could be an excellent match for them.Artur Meyster is the CTO of Career Karma (YC W19), an online marketplace that matches career switchers with coding bootcamps. He is also the host of the Breaking Into Startups podcast, which features people with non-traditional backgrounds who broke into tech.
