How to Gain Tech Experience Without a Tech Job

“Experience required” is a tough roadblock on your journey to a tech career. How do you get experience if no one hires you without it?

Earning an IT certification may require you to prove you can apply technical concepts. Fortunately, the tech world values what you can do, not how you learned.

Projects = Experience
You can gain real-world tech experience even if you haven’t worked in the field. Make sure to document and share your work – build a tech portfolio, write a blog post, film a video, upload your work onto GitHub Pages or social platform dev.to, or post on LinkedIn (and network with other tech pros).

Below are five ways to show what you know.

Hands-On Labs
Labs give you the chance to apply concepts in a real-world setting.

Computer Coach has a lab day once a month to give students the chance to do some hands-on work under the guidance of an instructor. For example, students can literally build a computer and set up a network with components on hand.
You can also use lab software to create your own work, such as putting together an email template using HTML if you’re learning about web development or glean insights from data using SQL if you’re honing your data analysis skills.

Collaborate and Build: Hackathons
Collaborate and connect to solve a problem together during a hackathon, offered locally via Tampa Hackerspace or found online on Devpost. Hackathons bring people together into teams to solve a problem in a brief time (usually 24 to 48 hours).
Whether it’s building a new app, solving a real-world problem, or just experimenting with new tech, hackathons are about turning ideas into reality.

You can also take part in virtual meetups that host tech-related events and a chance to connect with the tech community.
Use Your Tech Skills for Good

Offer your help to a nonprofit or a small business. Not only do you show off your skills (as you build your portfolio pieces), the good will you generate can pay off down the road.

• Volunteer as tech support during a conference. Attendees appreciate a person who can resolve wireless connectivity issues that may hinder emailing an important report to the boss between conference sessions.

• Create an e-commerce site for a friend’s new craft business that’s taking off beyond the outdoor markets where she got her start. The site can take orders and set up payment (thanks to your shopping cart feature) and let her know what’s selling well and what isn’t.

Connecting with your local tech community (like Tampa Bay Techies) or other online groups can help you find opportunities to donate your time and skills.

Take on Freelance or Contract Work
Not every company can afford to keep a full-time IT person on staff. That’s where companies like Field Nation, ServicePower and WorkMarket come in. These firms offer IT service tickets to technicians to perform work on site. Projects can be repairs or installations and may last a day or as long as a few weeks.

For aspiring techies, temporary projects can provide professional experience. You can also work for yourself, accepting assignments for small businesses.

Competitions: Put Your Skills to the Test
Virtual competitions and events can evaluate your ability to apply what you know. You’ll gain experience that mirrors the kinds of problems you'll face in a job setting and gain a confidence boost in the process.

For example, Capture the Flag (CTF) events sharpen cybersecurity skills by solving security-related simulations. Participants find "flags" that earn them points. CTF games may cover ethical hacking, programming and scripting (using Python), analyzing vulnerabilities, digital forensics, and exploit development, among others.

Data enthusiasts may want to try one of Kaggle’s competitions. Cultivate data analysis and modeling skills, and machine learning by solving real-world problems using data. The platform caters to data enthusiasts at all levels – beginners to seasoned professionals.

You can explore or play, and you get to work with real datasets, build a portfolio of your efforts, and potentially win prizes.
Jumpstart your tech career with Computer Coach’s IT certification classes! Gain in-demand skills, earn industry-recognized certifications, and stand out to top employers. 

Whether you're looking to switch careers or take the next step in your current career, our certified career coaches & strategists can help you explore a wide range of possibilities and learn how our training courses can help you reach your career goals. 

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