If you want to rise to the very top of the tech sector, showcasing the fact that you are a talented, passionate, and knowledgeable technician is of the utmost importance. By increasing your industry authority in this sense, you will provide prospective consumers with a reason to place their trust in the services that you provide. This will enhance your tech credibility, which in turn will help you to appeal to potential employers, partners, and investors going forward into the future.
When attempting to cultivate a trustworthy and professional reputation for yourself within the field of technology, you are advised to heed the following advice. Here are five things you can do to increase your tech authority:
Earn a postgrad degree
Chances are, you will have already obtained an undergraduate degree in order to first enter the tech industry. If you’re serious about taking the next step in your career as a technician, however, you should consider going one step further in your learning journey
Earning a postgrad degree is highly recommended for anybody who wishes to climb the tech career ladder. Enrolling in a postgrad course in either computer science or software engineering will not only expand your working tech knowledge but will also add some much-needed credibility to your resume. Going forward, this will stand you in good stead whenever you attempt to earn promotions.
Concerned that you won’t be capable of juggling full-time postgrad education with your day-to-day working life? Fear not, as you could always enroll on an online masters in software engineering course at Baylor University. On this educational program, you will receive a first-class tech education without having to attend physical lectures. This will allow you to retain complete control over where, when, and how you study.
Become certified
As well as earning yourself a shiny new postgrad degree, you should also seriously consider getting yourself certified. By obtaining certification, you will show true dedication to your craft. This will increase the likelihood of other professionals in your field taking you seriously, which in turn will provide you with the perfect platform on which to showcase your tech expertise.
The type and level of certification that you obtain will depend on the niche technological service that you plan on providing. For a list of the very best entry-level tech certifications, click here.
Hone in on a specialty
If you haven’t already done so, you might now want to consider honing in on your very own tech specialty. While it is beneficial to be proficient in a number of technological fields, focusing on one particular sector will help you to establish your reputation as an industry expert. This is down to the simple fact that your distractions will be limited, and, in turn, you will be able to devote time and effort to the optimization of one particular task.
To hone in on a specialty that actively helps to push your career to the next level, it’s recommended that you:
1. Identify the exact consumer pain points that you wish to solve
2. Perform a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats)
3. Consider your passions and allow them to drive your personal brand
4. Analyze your closest competitors and perform extensive market research
5. Heed any advice that is provided to you by an experienced mentor
Increase your network
Unfortunately, your technological proficiency will only get you so far in your tech career. As is the case in most industries, who you know will be just as beneficial to you as what you know. It is for this reason that you are heavily advised to increase your professional network. The more tech professionals you align yourself with, the more likely you will be to unearth promotions and potential growth opportunities. Ultimately, this will aid you in your attempt to cultivate an authoritative reputation for yourself as you progress further in your career.
Whether you consider yourself to be an introvert or an extrovert, increasing your network is never going to be a walk in the park. It will require hard work, due diligence, and a whole lot of patience. For advice on how to successfully expand your professional tech network, be sure to check out this insightful article on the matter.
Take on leadership roles
After putting all of the above advice into practice, it’s time to truly put your tech authority to the test. There are a number of things that you can do to perform this all-important task, one of the most effective being to take on leadership roles. By becoming a workplace leader, you will show yourself to be a credible and capable tech professional, and this will help you to cultivate a reliable reputation.
Becoming a tech lead isn’t going to be easy; that much is for certain. When you take on this challenge, you will be sure to face a whole host of difficult and diverse challenges on a day-to-day basis. To ensure that you thrive in this tough but highly rewarding role, try heeding the following advice:
1. Master the art of effective delegation
2. Learn how to motivate your team members
3. Establish a clear, concise, and coherent flow of communication
4. Provide your team with feedback and actively seek it back from them
5. Commit yourself to continuous leadership learning (read books, listen to podcasts, etc.)
6. Seek to handle staff conflicts in a direct and timely fashion
7. Be transparent with your team at all conceivable points
8. Keep your finger on the pulse of the latest trends in the fields of both tech and leadership
9. Share your expertise, open-source your thoughts, and have confidence in your contributions
10. Most importantly of all, never be afraid to change or tweak your leadership style
Are you determined to be viewed as an established, professional, and authoritative provider of tech services? If so, be sure to remember all of the advice and guidance laid out in the article above.
