So I am 18 years old right now I come to you so what is the piece of advice that you have for me so last time when this question was asked in the podcast, I had given a very to the point answer but today I will answer this question in five different points so these are the five tips I will give to younger myself to start a tech career and these tips I am giving you from my experience of many years so it can vary from person to person but we will discuss it in a general way that if you are starting a tech career whether you are going for web development whether you are going for cloud computing whether you are going for a development or you are going for any tech career then these tips can help you
if you are starting today as an 18 year old or as a 19 year old or as a first year student so let’s jump to the tips so my first tip will be very simple C Focus on the fundamentals, so basically what happens is that when we start or whenever any first year student or a younger person starts, when he starts, he sees many names in the market, that is, he sees many frameworks, many libraries, many such names which he feels are the most important things in today’s time, but he tries to skip the fundamentals and go directly to some framework or library, which should not be done, so what should you do, you should simply focus on the fundamentals,
so what are fundamentals basically, fundamentals mean your programming basics, along with programming basics, if you are just starting, then you should study data structure along with it, you should study object-oriented programming, you should master the problem solving skills, and then going to the libraries and frameworks at the first time, you will clear the fundamentals, so the first tip that I give to myself is that focus on the fundamentals. Pay attention, clear the fundamentals and then go to the next step. Now when you have cleared the fundamentals, then comes the tip number two. Now, since your fundamentals are strong,
you can pick up a specific domain and start studying it. For an example, you have chosen web development, for an example, you have chosen cloud computing from Let’s, you have chosen DevOps, or you have chosen AI development, you have chosen data analytics, any one path, you have chosen any one domain, and now when you have chosen that domain, then you have to study that domain in such a way that you are going to build a project on this. So this is the tip number to build a project, don’t just learn. So basically what happens is that we either create a project. What does building a project mean? Real life problems should be solved, or some outcome of what you have studied should be created and presented. Presenting means that you can showcase it anywhere. You can do a case. This is the most important part in today’s time, which will make your portfolio strong and then you will be able to go ahead with the job easily. So, I am not telling you that you should work on only one tip, that is,
if you are in the first year, then you will be able to work on both the tips in the first year itself because it is possible that your first five to six months will be spent in strengthening the fundamentals. If you are a B.Tech student or BCA student, then at that time, obviously you will be studying the fundamentals in the college itself, so that whole year can also be spent in strengthening your fundamentals. Studying is a different thing, obviously it is a college subject, so you will be studying because you have to pass as well, but I am talking about strengthening it, so you first focused on strengthening them, then you chose a domain, studied that domain well and then made a project, so it will obviously take time, it can take seven to eight months as well, so basically depending on the thing.
How much time are you able to give daily? Now since we have made our fundamentals strong, we have caught hold of a domain and made projects there, now comes tip number three where we have to focus on those skills which are not technical, so we are talking about tech career but those skills which are not technical, that is, our soft skills and communication, these two skills are important for us because we should know how to express our knowledge, so what does expressing mean, that let’s say the interviewer asked me to explain this XY root terminology, now I am not able to explain it that well, then the interviewer will feel that I do not have knowledge of that thing because you can give an interview at any place anytime So you are not directly welcome to the tech round.
You first have to pass those rounds where Q&A is also taking place where your general communications are also judged and it helps you in other things in the venture, lets say it will help you in team work, if you want to become a team leader, then your communication will help you there too, so point three focuses on soft skills and your communication skills. Now this is also important because we will move forward step by step in our career, so from junior we will become senior, from senior we can also go to TL, from TL we can go to project manager, in this way we have many options, we will have to communicate everywhere, so you should also focus on communication skills,
this was the tip number three, now comes the tip four, because now you have become so smart in development or you have become mature or I would say you have become skilled enough that you can now even communicate on open source. You can contribute, what happens when you contribute to open source, then your image is created by contributing to open source, in that particular developer community, let’s say you are a top developer and when you contribute to open source somewhere, then you get a stand out image of yours there that this person who is XY contributes something or the other to open source, now this helps you in one more thing,
this gives you the option to correct the code of some very experienced developers or you get the option to contribute something or the other to it, so tip number four is basically very simple, contribute to the open source, wherever you see open source code, go there, if there are some problems there or you can add some new features, then go for that and then comes the last and final tip is the tip number five, in which we are talking about be consistent, motivation alone will not work, so now you will say that a few days ago a video came in which I am talking about how you can Stay motivated while you are on your coding journey.
I just said that motivation alone will not work. So basically what I am trying to say is that motivation is just to start. You can get motivated and start but to continue on that journey is the most important thing. So, I would like to give this very strong tip to my younger self or to you guys considering me as a younger self, that be consistent. Simply you have started today and this journey is very long. This is a marathon. It is not a sprint that you finish it in two months or three months. To become a good level developer and to build your portfolio with a good latency,
it may take you years. Yes, this is reality because at many places you must have heard that this will happen in four months or six months. You get a start in one month or six months. That means you get loose but after that you will have to keep working consistently and adopt new technology. Whatever new method comes in the market, You will have to study the new technology and implement it and always stay up to date with the latest technology because you are talking about a tech career.
What you studied four years ago may not be implemented even at 1st place today, leave alone as it is, because many things keep changing in tech. So you need to be consistent while on this journey. You cannot think that I have studied this much and now my work is done. No, you will always need to update yourself. And in this, motivation can only give you a start or the doses of motivation in between can help you if you are going down somewhere to bring you back up. But this graph should move consistently, meaning your graph can move up and down.
Meaning sometimes you did very well, sometimes you could not do very well, you could do average, you could do below average, but you are doing it consistently, meaning you are able to put in your efforts consistently. So these are the five tips that I want to give to you. Considering yourself as me, which I have implemented myself so that I can move forward in my journey and I am giving these same tips to you people as well, so that you can also start your journey and an event does not just happen like a journey because the journey will go on continuously, so that you can start it, be able to perform something very good on that journey,
## Essential Tips for Starting a Career in Tech
Starting a career in the tech industry can be daunting, especially if you are a young individual like an 18-year-old or a first-year student. The landscape is filled with a plethora of frameworks, libraries, and technologies that may seem overwhelming. However, by focusing on certain key principles and advice, you can carve out a successful path in your chosen tech domain. Here are five essential tips to guide you through this journey:
—
### **1. Focus on the Fundamentals**
One of the most important steps for any young aspiring tech professional is to **s solidify the fundamentals**. Often, newcomers get enticed by the latest trends and popular frameworks, neglecting the essential basics. Here’s what to focus on:
– **Programming Basics:** Understand core programming concepts to build a strong foundation for your knowledge.
– **Data Structures:** Gain insights into different data storage and organization methods.
– **Object-Oriented Programming:** Familiarize yourself with OOP principles, as they are prevalent in many programming languages.
– **Problem-Solving Skills:** Develop your problem-solving abilities to tackle challenges effectively.
**Note:** Prioritize these fundamentals before diving into advanced libraries and frameworks.
—
### **2. Choose a Domain and Build Projects**
Once you have established a strong base, the next step is to **select a specific domain** to specialize in, such as:
– **Web Development**
– **Cloud Computing**
– **Development & DevOps**
– **Data Analytics**
After identifying your domain, start building **real-world projects** that apply what you’ve learned. This approach is vital because:
– **Hands-On Experience:** Practical experience reinforces theoretical knowledge.
– **Portfolio Development:** Projects serve as tangible proof of your skills to potential employers.
—
### **3. Develop Soft Skills and Communication Abilities**
As you navigate through various stages of your career, honing your **soft skills**, particularly **communication**, is essential:
– **Express Knowledge:** You need to articulate technical concepts clearly.
– **Team Dynamics:** Effective communication is critical for teamwork and collaboration in tech projects.
– **Professional Growth:** As you advance from junior roles to senior positions, strong communication skills will facilitate leadership and project management.
In interviews, showcasing your ability to communicate effectively can set you apart from other candidates.
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| **Tip Number** | **Focus Area** |
|—————-|———————|
| 1 | Fundamentals |
| 2 | Domain and Projects |
| 3 | Soft Skills |
—
### **4. Contribute to Open Source**
As you become more proficient in your skills, consider contributing to **open-source projects**. This involvement can benefit you in several ways:
– **Networking Opportunities:** Engage with experienced developers and fellow contributors.
– **Showcase Your Work:** Your contributions create a lasting impact and improve your visibility in the developer community.
– **Skill Enhancement:** Working on real-world projects with a collaborative approach helps refine your coding and problem-solving abilities.
—
### **5. Consistency is Key**
Lastly, while **motivation** is essential, it is **consistency** that will sustain your journey in tech:
– **Long-Term Commitment:** Understand that becoming adept in technology is a marathon, not a sprint. The development of an effective portfolio may take years.
– **Regular Learning:** Continuously update your knowledge with new technologies, programming languages, and industry practices.
– **Emotional Resilience:** Expect fluctuations in your performance; what matters is that you remain consistent in your efforts.
In the tech industry, change is a constant, so staying adaptable and committed to your growth is crucial.
—
## Conclusion
In conclusion, embarking on a tech career requires a blend of foundational knowledge, hands-on experience, soft skills, community engagement, and commitment. By following these five essential tips, you will be better prepared to navigate the complexities of the tech world.
1. **Stay grounded in fundamentals.**
2. **Choose your domain wisely and build practical projects.**
3. **Cultivate soft skills and enhance your communication abilities.**
4. **Contribute to the open-source community.**
5. **Remain consistent and dedicated to your journey.**
By embracing this journey and applying the insights shared here, you can build a rewarding tech career that not only fulfills your aspirations but also benefits those around you. If you found this video helpful, feel free to share it with your peers; you never know who else might gain valuable insight from this advice. Thank you for watching!
