The Tech Industry

I have been working in the Technology industry for the last 10 years and the one thing that I notice is that there are not a lot of blacks in this industry. There are many ways to break into this industry. The most cost effective way for a brother to get into this industry is to get certifications. It is ideal to have a degree in computer science but to jump start your career I recommend to get certified.

There are many different tech jobs that you can choose from:

Network Engineer/Administrator - Network Engineers can work to either set up computer networks, or to administrate them. These jobs can range on how much they pay based on are but the range in the San Francisco Bay Area 50 - 60k a year (based on information from Dice.com ) . To get into this industry the most sought after certifications are MCSE and CCNA. It is a good idea to get both certifications which will open you up to as many opportunities as possible.

Computer Programmer - Computer programmers are very important in the IT industry these days and their pay reflects that. In the silicon valley you can make anywhere from 60 - 100 k. The amount that you make depends on experience and the programming languages that you know. This is an area that blacks are not represented well and an area that I am working to be apart of.

Project Management - Per dice.com Project Managers is the most sought after IT workers. There is a lot of money in this field. The certification that is required is the PMP certification. These guys are making up to 100k a year.

So how should you get started brothas?

• At your local community colleges.
  
• There are trade schools that you can go to that provide a fast way to go through school. These are very expensive. There are programs that will pay for your school. Do some research in your area but in the Bay Area (where I am from) there is a program called Bay Area Works which paid for a very expensive academic program that I was in.
  
• Join every online group available on the subject.
• Join Dice.com and stay updated on industry changes.