How to get into the tech industry with no experience

You get into the tech industry with no experience by earning your degree, learning through web development boot camps and self-education, as well as building your online portfolio.

The best way to break into the tech industry is to obtain your degree in a tech-related area. Most positions prefer a bachelor's degree in areas such as:

• Computer programming

• Computer science

• Computer engineering

• Cybersecurity

• Web development

• Network design

If you are a new graduate or looking for experience in the tech industry, you may want to explore free online resources on coding and take some practice assignments to determine if you want to make a career out of it.

One of the first steps you can take when planning to enter the tech field without experience is to take advantage of free online coding resources. There are countless online sources (like Khan Academy and freeCodeCamp) that provide free, self-directed resources that allow you to try your hand at coding.

To be clear, these courses are not intensive or comprehensive and will not prepare you fully for working in tech. These courses are designed to give you a better insight into how coding works and provide you with exercises to practice basic skills. When coupled with your degree, these skills can be invaluable.

Once you are comfortable with coding basics, you can further your education with tech boot camps. These boot camps are intensive programs that help you develop practical skills that are in high demand for tech careers. They are designed for you to be capable of hitting the ground running upon graduation.

Unlike university computer science programs, boot camps are designed with a strong emphasis on practical skills and hands-on experience that employers are looking for when hiring. Important tech skills that you should know include:

• HTML

• CSS

• JavaScript

• jQuery

• Database manipulation

• Server-side development

• Web applications

• C#

• Java

• Python

• Go

These programs also offer greater flexibility as you can attend a virtual online coding boot camp on either a full-time or part-time basis. Many boot camps can be completed in three to six months. It is important to note that boot camps are not self-study programs and you will plan on attending regularly.

If you attend a boot camp, you will receive individualized training, education, and interaction as if you were attending an in-person course. You will engage in focused, accountable study and gain proficiency in a wide range of coding languages and work on individual and group projects that will eventually serve as the core of your portfolio.

By the end of boot camp, you should have comfort, familiarity, and knowledge of the tech industry. You will also receive a certification that proves you have marketable skills, work well under tight deadlines, and can submit high-quality assignments. You will be ready for your first job.

In addition to boot camps and self-learning, you should consider getting started by building your portfolio. These days, an advanced online portfolio is an essential component of a strong tech resume, especially when you are looking for a tech career.

With a portfolio website, you can show employers that you understand the technologies needed for developing a site and demonstrate your other capabilities via linked projects.

You may also want to get involved in open-source development communities such as Github. These allow you to contribute to significant projects, expand your knowledge, and make excellent connections in the field (especially in widely-used programming and scripting language groups).