How to Japa into Tech from Any Career: A No-Cap Guide for Gen Zs

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Introducing  Tech Series on my blog, yeah this is Still Afomic, stay calm and don't go away.

How to Japa into Tech from Any Career: A No-Cap Guide for Gen Zs

So, you’re looking at tech like “Omo, this thing dey hot o, but I no get tech background.” Relax, no wahala. Whether you’re coming from banking, education, defense, or even slinging jollof at a party, the tech space is wide open, and guess what? There's room for everyone!

We’re in an era where breaking into tech doesn’t require you to be born with a laptop in hand. It's more about the mindset and hustle. Let’s gist on how you, yes you, can break into tech from whatever background you have—no stress, no drama, just pure vibes and hard work.

Why Enter Tech in the First Place?

Look, tech is the future, abeg. If you’ve been paying attention, you already know it’s the real deal. Whether it’s the mad salaries, the remote work life (because who wants to be stuck in Lagos traffic for hours?), or the sheer variety of career paths, tech’s got you covered. Plus, tech jobs are always in demand. No be only software engineers them dey find, there’s space for everyone.

1. Find Your Existing Talents

Before you start downloading coding apps, calm down. You likely already have skills that’ll serve you well in tech. Let’s break it down:

• Project Management: If you’ve managed any team or organized any event, you’re already halfway to becoming a product manager or scrum master.
• Customer Service: If you’ve ever dealt with annoying customers, well done! Tech companies are always looking for people in customer success or support.
• Research Skills: Whether you’ve worked in education, finance, or anything that involved researching, this can translate into data analysis, cybersecurity, or even UX research.

Write down everything you know how to do. Trust me, something will match with tech. Just connect the dots, no be rocket science.

2. Choose a Path that Feels Right

Tech is like that buffet at your cousin's wedding—plenty options. No need to chop everything. Find what works for you:

• Software Development: Love solving puzzles? Enjoy figuring things out? Software dev might be your plug. Languages like Python or JavaScript are cool places to start.
• Data Science: If you like working with numbers and data, this field is calling your name. The money here is sweet too!
• UX/UI Design: Got a creative side? UX/UI is all about making apps and websites look dope and work well.
• Tech Sales: Not everyone has to code. If you’ve got the gift of gab and can sell anything, tech companies need salespeople too.

Choose one, no need to stress yourself about learning everything.

3. Start Learning the Tech Stuff

Omo, the internet is your bestie. You don’t even need to pay big money to learn tech skills. Platforms like freeCodeCamp, Coursera, or Udemy have free/cheap courses that will take you from zero to hero. You just need your phone and data:

• Code/Dev: Learn Python, JavaScript, or HTML/CSS.
• Data Science: Tools like R, SQL, or even Excel.
• Design: YouTube is your friend for learning tools like Figma or Adobe XD.

And if you want to level up faster, consider joining a bootcamp (like ALX Africa if you’re feeling fancy). But for real, just start small and keep building. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is your tech career.

4. Build Something – Make Dem See You

In tech, it's not about how much grammar you speak; it’s about what you’ve done. Build a portfolio. Whether it’s coding, designing, or anything else, find small projects and do them. Show your skills.

• GitHub: If you’re coding, drop your projects here.
• Behance or Dribbble: For my design peeps, these platforms are perfect for showing off your work.
• Blog/LinkedIn: Write about your journey or share what you’ve learned.

You don’t need to create the next Facebook. Just build and let people see. Trust me, recruiters love seeing action more than just talk.

5. Network – Link Up with Tech Peeps

Make tech friends, sha! Networking can land you jobs faster than job applications. Follow tech guys on Twitter, join WhatsApp groups, and slide into LinkedIn. The tech community is surprisingly friendly, and people are always willing to share advice and opportunities.

• LinkedIn: Make sure your profile is popping and connect with people in tech.
• Tech Meetups: Attend tech events in Naija, whether online or physical.
• Slack Communities: Plenty Slack channels dedicated to beginners in tech.

It’s not about forming levels, just be real and let them know you’re learning and hungry to grow.

6. Apply Like There’s No Tomorrow

Once you’ve got some skills and a portfolio, start applying. Internships, junior roles, entry-level gigs—grab them all. Don’t be shy; the more you apply, the better your chances. Volunteer! Volunteer! no be everything be money.

And don’t forget about remote jobs. Some tech companies don’t care if you’re in Lagos or London. If you’ve got the skills, they’ll hire you.

Final Words: Keep Going, No Dey Slack

This tech life? It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time, enjoy the process, and keep learning. You might not break into tech overnight, but with patience, persistence, and vibes, you’ll get there.Spoiler alert, you will see shege in your application process, We’re all in this together. Let’s secure that bag, one line of code or design at a time.