You might want to work in the tech industry or open a tech-based business but feel intimidated. Many people avoid working in the industry because they feel they won’t be good enough or don’t have the necessary knowledge to succeed.
But, conversely, many people try to start in tech and find out that it isn’t what they first believed it to be. No matter the industry, starting a business or a new career is a challenge.
It’s opening up a world of unknowns, and it can be daunting. If you are not fully prepared, you could find yourself falling behind or shocked by something that could have been predicted. Here are some common myths of the tech industry so that you know exactly what you are getting into and are not taken in by misconceptions.
Myth 1: You Need A Degree
There are many types of jobs you can get and services you can provide in tech. Sure, some require a university degree. However, tech is very much about solving problems. If you can demonstrate the ability to solve problems for your clients, then you can find success in tech.
If the type of job you want requires a degree, but you know you have the knowledge, then you can still open your own service business and make a good living at it. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have a university degree. If your customers are satisfied, then you will do just fine.
Myth 2: Tech Is A Man’s Game
This is another pervasive myth, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, most people who work in tech are men, but there is nothing about the industry that would preclude women from being an equal part of its workforce.
The number of girls studying tech and women working in tech is growing. While there may still be some outdated notions of what gender should be working in tech, those biases are going away, and there’s no reason that you can’t get started and be a trailblazer yourself.
Myth 3: Everyone Works In Their Parents’ Basement
One of the great things about working in tech is that there are many opportunities to work remotely. You can work from your couch, from the beach, from a cafe in Paris, or yes, from your mom’s basement. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to work remotely.
There are plenty of workplaces where creative and brilliant people work together every day to solve problems and to move companies forward. If you open your own tech business, it will be up to you to decide how you want your workplace to function.
Myth 4: You Don’t Need Insurance
Along with working from wherever you want, many tech businesses can be started with very little investment. You might only need a laptop and some software, and you’ll be good to go.
However, there are other expenses that you should consider. Insurance is one of them. Working from home might make you think that you don’t need insurance.
While it’s true that there is no risk of injured clients on your property or in getting into a vehicle accident related to your business, there is still risk. For example, you could get sued for slander, libel, or allowing a data breach.
In addition, if you have employees, workers’ compensation is one of your legal business requirements. The fact is, it only takes one lawsuit or employee injury to cost you potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars, so you definitely need insurance for a tech business.
Myth 5: Soft Skills Aren’t Important
Even if your technical skills and knowledge aren’t where you think they need to be, there is still a need for people with great soft skills, such as communication and customer service.
If you can solve problems while communicating the issue in an understandable way, then you can go far in the industry. You will also need these skills to create partnerships and build relationships with clients and stakeholders.
Because tech can be very complicated and hard for many people to understand, the ability to explain things clearly to a layman can be incredibly valuable.
Myth 6: You Will Always Be Working Long Hours
When you watch movies and TV, you probably see techie people working at all hours of the day. Whenever they enter the story, they are in front of a screen doing something vaguely technical.
It looks like they never leave their desk, and they never sleep. While yes, many people in the tech industry work long hours, that doesn’t mean that you will.
If you start your own business, then there is a good chance that you will have to work overtime to get everything ready for launch and in the first phase. However, if it continues like that for a long time after, then you need to rethink how you run your business.
Myth 7: There’s No Creativity In Tech
This is one of the most surprising myths about tech. There is a belief amongst some people that people in tech aren’t creative. They follow patterns with their coding and recreate what’s been done before, for example.
However, this could not be further from the truth. Tech is about solving problems, and in many cases, it requires unique and creative solutions. On top of that, web design involves incredible creativity, as does front-end development.
Even when coding, you will need to find new and exciting ways to produce the effects you want. Tech is full of creativity and fun, and if you embrace it, you can be successful.
Myth 8: You’ll Be Stuck Doing the Same Thing Forever
Nowadays, people don’t want to be stuck on one career path for the rest of their lives. If you get a job or start a business in the tech industry, you might think that what you are doing now is what you will always be doing.
Luckily, nothing could be further from the truth. The tech industry is wildly diverse, and the skills you have and learn in one sector of it can be transferred to another.
Plus, if you own a business you can always branch out to provide different services and products that will not just diversify your revenue sources, but will vary your personal experiences.
Myth 9: You Have To Be Great At Math
The diversity in the types of jobs in tech means that there is also a diversity in the types of knowledge that are needed to work. Are there jobs that require a strong math background in order to succeed?
Absolutely. However, even if you aren’t great with numbers, you can still be very successful. Many tech jobs require creative minds, or problem-solving minds.
That creativity can lead to design jobs. Thinking logically and being able to problem-solve can also help fix issues with beta products and innovate new ways of doing things. The tech industry requires all kinds of people to make it great.
Myth 10: The Jobs Will All Be Outsourced Overseas Soon
While it’s true that some companies in the tech industry have outsourced certain jobs to other counties. There are several reasons for this, and one of the biggest is that it’s a global marketplace and they want to provide customer service 24 hours a day.
Despite some jobs being international, there are still thousands of jobs available here in the United States for people with the right skills. The fact is, the tech industry and huge, and there is something for everyone, even in the U.S. When searching for jobs, look for what you want, and you will almost certainly find it.
Myth 11: Tech Is A Young Person’s Game
There is a prevailing feeling that the people who work in tech are in their early 20s, in college or high school, and barely need to shave. However, the tech industry has been around for a long time.
While many people got into tech in their early days, they certainly aren’t still that age. There are senior citizens who have been working in the field since before the internet age.
The fact is, if you have the goods, you can work in tech. Will you face some ageism if you are just breaking into the field? Possibly, but that is true with almost any industry.
It is still possible for you to get the job you are striving for in tech and thrive in the business no matter what your age is. If you are thinking of a career in tech, or you want to start your own business, then you need to understand what’s in front of you.
Don’t fall for the many myths that are going around about the industry. For one, you don’t want to get discouraged and avoid pursuing something that might be profitable and fulfilling for you.
You also don’t want to go into it with your eyes closed and get blindsided by it. Keep these myths in mind as you start to move towards a career in tech.