Are you the go-to person in your family or friend group when tech issues come up? Perhaps you’ve always had an interest in tech but were unsure where to start. What about schooling? Maybe you’ve got some technical skills but don’t have the degree to back those skills to start a tech career.
If any of these thoughts resonate with you, you're not alone. Both those new to the workforce and experienced workers have fears about pursuing a tech career, especially if they don’t have any experience behind them. Don’t let these fears stop you. You don’t need years of schooling or outlandish loans to pay for education to help you build relevant tech skills. Even if you have zero experience in tech, you can still learn the fundamental skills in a short amount of time and with cost-effective tech training from globally recognized tech education organizations like CompTIA. If you want to break into tech, but feel overwhelmed, confused, or even unqualified, it’s time to reset your approach.
The demand for tech jobs is not going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, the boom in data centers, high demand for cybersecurity professionals, and the ever-present need for help desk technicians means now’s the time to learn the technical skills you need to start your tech career. Most importantly, you don’t need a four-year college degree or tech experience to land an entry-level tech job, and you can develop the skills for in-demand tech jobs with no experience at all.
Whether you are new to the field, want to specialize in tech, or are a career switcher, your dream tech job is closer than you think. You have what it takes to become a tech professional in the industry of your choice.
At CompTIA we take pride in helping learners like you find the right path towards a rewarding tech career. Read on to explore how to get into tech with no experience.
Is a tech career for me?
Embarking on a new career in tech is exciting, but it’s important to determine whether a tech career is the right path for you to begin with. This is especially important if you have no tech experience.
Learners who are successful in tech careers will generally possess a combination of the traits and abilities below:
Natural curiosity – Tech professionals have a curiosity about how things work. If you like to take electronics apart or are naturally curious about how digital systems work, you can be successful in a tech career.
Persistent Problem Solvers – When faced with a tech problem, you have a genuine interest in fixing it and understanding why the problem happened in the first place. Challenges aren’t seen as burdens to you, instead, they’re seen as puzzles that need to be worked out and understood.
Adaptable – If you’re adaptable by nature, you’ll thrive in a tech career. As the tech landscape improves and evolves, tech professionals are always adapting to new processes, technologies, and ways to do things.
Attention to detail – You have a keen eye for the little things. You pay attention to the details and understand the importance and impact of even the most minor elements of a whole.
Collaborative – You do well in collaborative settings and recognize the importance of working as a team. While tech professionals do spend a good amount of time working independently, knowing when to work as a team is critical.
Creative – You think outside the box. Because of this, your creativity can often help you solve a problem or find a new way of doing things.
Experience helps, but skills matter too
While experience helps, it’s not a deal breaker for employers in today’s tech job market. CompTIA’s September Tech Jobs Report details that 22% of employer job postings require 0-3 years of experience. Meanwhile, 34% did not specify whether experience was a requirement.
While experience undoubtedly helps in the search for a tech job, employers are increasingly seeking out candidates who have the skills needed for the role. CompTIA's 2024 Workforce and Learning Trends Survey found that 49% of HR professionals agree a skills-based hiring approach is a “new and compelling strategy.” HR professionals are turning to skills-based certifications including CompTIA certifications which validate a candidate’s technical skill set and knowledge of relevant concepts and tools.
If you don’t have the experience for the tech job you want to pursue, don’t feel defeated. With the right training and learning plan, you can gain the technical skills that will help you qualify for IT jobs with no experience.
Map out your path for the tech career you want
Ready to start your journey toward an exciting tech career? Don’t let the lack of experience stop you. Here’s what to do next.
1. Narrow down the tech career you want to pursue
From helping customers troubleshoot tech issues to helping companies secure their digital networks, information technology is a vast field. There are many roles you can pursue, and each role requires a distinct skill set.
If you like working with people, an IT Support Specialist role might be a good fit for you. Want to help organizations stay on top of their digital systems? Becoming a Network Support Specialist might be your calling. There are other exciting tech roles out there including Systems Administrator, Cybersecurity Analyst, Data Center Technician, and many others. Narrowing down the right tech job that fits your personality and interests is essential. Take our Career Quiz to help you start your journey.
2. Learn about the skills employers want
Once you have a general understanding of the type of job role you want, it’s time to learn about the skills you need to pursue the tech role you have in mind. One of the biggest mistakes many people make when they decide to pursue a tech career is researching or even enrolling in classes or courses that don’t align with their career goals. Tech is so vast and it’s easy to become overwhelmed and feel defeated because of information overload. Don't get to this point in your tech career journey. Instead, identify the skills employers are looking for and establish a plan of action that will help you gain these skills.
3. Find training solutions that help you build the right skills
Now that you know what skills employers want and have a career path in mind, it’s time to take action. Relevant and quality training is essential to learning the technical skills you need for success in a tech career.
As a global leader in tech education and skills development, CompTIA’s training solutions are designed to help you succeed. Start your journey with our career path planning tool. This easy-to-follow tool will help you explore the different avenues in tech and how CompTIA certifications and career pathways can get you there.
All certifications offer corresponding training that can help you learn, practice, and refine skills needed for today’s evolving tech job roles. CompTIA training solutions position you for success because there are tools that resonate with various learning styles. You’ll have access to resources including:
Official CompTIA study guides
Hands on practice through simulation and live labs
Narrative style videos
Practice tests
Reports and analytics to track your progress
Exam vouchers + retakes and so much more
Learn more about CompTIA learning and training solutions here.
Take the first step toward your future with CompTIA
It’s time to realize your dreams of becoming a tech professional. As a globally respected technical skills certifying body, CompTIA is a proud leader in developing tech talent and helping current professionals advance in their career goals. Join the ranks of tech pros who have launched successful careers with the support of CompTIA. Start your journey today with our career path planning tool.
