The Ultimate Guide for Veterans in Tech

Technology can be a great career to pursue after military service. Veterans in technology can utilize many of their military skills such as perseverance, problem solving and analytical thinking. These skills are useful in the technology industry because the work there is analytical in nature.

The U.S. government has recognized the technology sector as an important source of employment opportunities. In 2015, President Obama launched the TechHire Initiative to help 100,000 people get jobs in the tech industry. Obama believed that technology education creates the "workforce of tomorrow" by giving people the technical skills they need for middle-class careers and meaningful employment.

There are currently hundreds of thousands of technology job openings in the U.S., but not enough professionals to fill them. Every job that goes unfilled is a missed opportunity for communities, businesses and the country, all of which would benefit from the innovation such jobs create.

The stereotypical image of a programmer is that of a young and smart person who works for one of the tech giants in Silicon Valley. However, the programming industry is much more diverse than that. More and more veterans who return home or want to reorient themselves professionally are recognizing the stability of jobs in the technical sector. As a result, several training programs have been developed to support those who want to transition from military veterans to technology assistants.

As programming becomes an increasingly lucrative industry, veterans are increasingly seeing this sector as a good way to adapt to a civilian career and life. In this guide, learn how veterans can access coding training and find career opportunities in the tech industry.

Why Pursue a Technical Career for Veterans?

There are several reasons why more and more people are choosing a career in technology. First, technology has become an important part of every major industry. The healthcare, agriculture and insurance industries are all leveraging the power of technology to increase their efficiency. As more industries use technology, more people will be needed to keep up with technological changes and develop applications.

Secondly, more and more products are based on software, e.g. B. in consumer electronics and household appliances. This can only mean one thing: the demand for programmers is skyrocketing.

Technology jobs are increasingly seen as the future of work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average software engineer - a popular job in the technology industry - earns $105,590 per year. Employment of software engineers is expected to increase by 21 percent between 2018 and 2028. During the same period, employment of application developers will increase by 26 percent and that of systems developers will increase by 10 percent.

Technology is already a popular career path for veterans, in part because programmers can learn the craft relatively quickly. A lawyer must study for years to obtain the degree required for his practice; A software developer, on the other hand, can get started after just a few months in a boot camp.

The ones for them programming required skills Although valuable and in high demand, they can be learned in a short period of time by technically savvy people. Additionally, the rise of non-traditional educational programs like coding bootcamps has made it even easier for veterans to get the training they need to get their foot in the door. The low time commitment involved makes the career choice particularly attractive for veterans who want to reintegrate into society as quickly as possible, especially for those who have acquired relevant technical knowledge during their service.

Many companies, including Google, have made special accommodations in their hiring practices to target veterans. These companies value the interpersonal skills that veterans of all military branches have developed during their service, such as: B. a strong work ethic, the ability to work in a team, find solutions to problems and pay attention to details. In fact, many veterans find good jobs in tech after attending a boot camp and completing coding training.

How to Become a Veteran in Tech

There are many types of jobs in the technology sector, each requiring different skills. Many of the jobs that coding bootcamp and College The benefits students seek after graduation are similar to those offered by the military, making it easier for veterans to transition into a good job in the tech industry.

These positions may be a good fit for those who have worked in the Army Corps of Engineers (e.g., technical engineers, engineering supervisors, and technicians), those who have worked in the Army's cyber division, or those who have a have assumed an operator role (e.g. satellite, radio, telecommunications).

One of the first things you should do is figure out how to tell your story. On your path to a career in tech, you'll need to introduce yourself to potential employers and talk about your previous experiences; knowing how to present yourself can mean the difference between success and failure. Take time to understand your story and figure out where you want to go. This will help you determine which position best suits your unique skills and knowledge. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Where have you been? What did you accomplish in the military? What have you learned from your experience as a soldier?
• Where do you want to go? Why did you leave the military? Why do you want to pursue a technical career? What interests you about technology?

Once you know a little more about your own experiences and what motivated you to enter the industry, you can make a more informed decision about your next move. If you decide to pursue a career in the technology industry, you will have an easier time choosing a program if you know what type of role you want.

One thing to keep in mind is that you can still change your mind, even if you have to think about it before making a big one Career decisions meet. You might decide to become a software engineer today and attend a bootcamp to learn about software development, but since there are many different careers in this sector, you can always change your career path later and into a different one Change career.

Bootcamps often teach highly transferable skills that are used in various careers. Once you've become familiar with one programming language, it's easy to learn a second one. The average person changes jobs about 20 times throughout their career, so don't worry about staying in one role for the rest of your life. Compared to the military, the private sector is more flexible in terms of job opportunities and career changes.

How do I learn the skills to go from military veteran to tech guru?

Getting started in a career in technology is easier once you've spent some time developing your skills. Fortunately, there are many ways to get the training you need, no matter your background:

Coding-Bootcamps

A popular way to gain programming skills is to attend a boot camp. Similar to a military boot camp, a coding boot camp is a short and intensive program designed to teach a specific set of skills. While studying computer science at a university focuses on theory, a boot camp is about teaching practical skills that are in demand on the job market.

As a nice bonus, many bootcamps offer students and graduates comprehensive career support to ensure they find a good job. This support can include: in the form of career counseling, technical interview practice, and resume review.

Coding bootcamps are a good option for veterans because of the short time commitment. The average duration of a bootcamp is only 15 weeks. If you're looking to start earning income shortly after returning home, a bootcamp can help you quickly land a well-paying job. Bootcamps often have a high placement rate.

Bootcamps emphasize programming languages ​​and the terminology you're likely to encounter on the job to help you transition into full-time tech work. Coding bootcamps are also cheaper than many other options, including college.

Tuition at a university with a strong computer science program can be tens of thousands of dollars per year; in contrast, the average cost of a coding bootcamp is $13,500. This makes it a good option for veterans who don't have savings or need them to transition into work.

College graduation

Of course, you can also take the more traditional route - one academic degree . The main advantage of this route is that most computer science degrees pay well. Employers sometimes prefer applicants who have earned a college degree after four years in an academic environment. College graduates can earn higher salaries than those who do not have a college degree.

Many view a college degree as a safer path to a successful career in tech, as many leadership positions require a college degree. Because of the amount of theoretical knowledge you will gain, a college degree may be a good option if you are a veteran seeking higher positions in the tech industry.

You should be aware of some important differences between bootcamps and graduate degrees. First, coding bootcamps are significantly cheaper than most computer science degrees. Compare the average cost of a boot camp - $13,500 - with the possible cost of a university degree. For example, a degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) costs between $60,000 and $70,000 per year, so the cost of a single semester is higher than an entire coding bootcamp.

Some community colleges offer cheaper programs, but tuition can still be up to $20,000 per year. Veterans returning home after their service may not have the financial resources to afford a college degree. Also keep in mind that it can be difficult to work full-time when enrolled in university, and four years is a long time without income.

College graduation

Of course, you can also take the more traditional route - get a college degree. The main advantage of this route is that most computer science degrees pay well. Employers sometimes prefer applicants who have earned a college degree after four years in an academic environment. College graduates can earn higher salaries than those who do not have a college degree.

Many view a college degree as a safer path to a successful career in tech, as many leadership positions require a college degree. Because of the amount of theoretical knowledge you will gain, a college degree may be a good option if you are a veteran seeking higher positions in the tech industry.

You should be aware of some important differences between bootcamps and graduate degrees. First, coding bootcamps are significantly cheaper than most computer science degrees. Compare the average cost of a boot camp - $13,500 - with the possible cost of a university degree. For example, a degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) costs between $60,000 and $70,000 per year, so the cost of a single semester is higher than an entire coding bootcamp.

Some community colleges offer cheaper programs, but tuition can still be up to $20,000 per year. Veterans returning home after their service may not have the financial resources to afford a college degree. Also keep in mind that it can be difficult to work full-time when enrolled in university, and four years is a long time without income.

A college degree may not be as good an investment as a boot camp. Most coding bootcamps last three to nine months, while college programs last four years. The average starting salary for a coding bootcamp graduate is $70,700. A college graduate with a degree in computer science, on the other hand, can expect a salary between $50,000 and $106,000. In other words, despite spending significantly less time, bootcamp graduates can earn just as much as computer science graduates.

College degrees have some advantages over bootcamps. While boot camps focus on practical skills, college courses focus on training well-trained professionals. If you are looking for a more comprehensive academic experience, a college degree may be a better choice.

Self-study

You can also teach yourself programming. Many successful developers are self-taught, having learned their skills through online courses, books, and tutorials. For veterans, this can be an alternative to a boot camp or university, but they should consider a few things before getting started.

First of all, you should know which learning style suits you best. Have you ever tried to teach yourself a technical skill? If so, were you able to master this skill? If you are good at working independently, self-teaching may be a good option. However, if you are better at working in a team, attending a coding bootcamp or other training provider may be better for you because you will interact with peers, mentors, and teachers.

Also consider the difficulty of creating your own curriculum. There are so many resources for learning to code and it can be really difficult to know where to start. If you have some technical experience, it may be easier to navigate these resources and figure out what's best for you. If this is not the case, using a training provider may be a better choice.

Finally, keep in mind that being self-taught will not earn you any official accreditation or a degree that will be useful in your job search. Even if you have the skills required for the job, it can be difficult to stand out to employers without the support of an institution. Additionally, coding bootcamps typically offer career support services, making job searches and hiring much easier.

If you want to use both options, you can teach yourself the basics of programming and then take a college course or boot camp to hone those skills.

Required Skills for Veterans in Technology

Most veterans have the skills required for a coding bootcamp, such as: B. Problem-solving skills and some technical knowledge in the field of computer science. Additionally, discipline, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to work hard are also essential to completing these courses.

Bootcamp students can work on assignments for up to 40 hours per week, so discipline and a willingness to work hard are important elements for success. Programmers are constantly faced with problems that need to be solved quickly and efficiently, so strong problem-solving skills are a must.

You don't need high-tech skills to get into a bootcamp, but you'll definitely learn them during your bootcamp training program. You can be confident that the training provider you choose will give you all the skills you need to succeed in the tech industry.

What are the best tech jobs for veterans?

Jobs like web developer, data analyst, and software engineer are great for a successful transition from military veteran to tech guru. As a trained veteran, you should be able to find many job opportunities in the cybersecurity industry as well, perhaps as a cybersecurity specialist. These are some of the most popular technical careers for veterans in the job market:

Full-Stack-Webentwickler

A full stack web developer is responsible for creating both the Frontends , i.e. the part of a website that the user sees, as well as the backend web applications of a company. Full-stack web developers are responsible for developing the various components of a website and have an understanding of front-end and back-end technologies. Full-stack web developers need to know the basics of servers, application programming interfaces (APIs), and how to program a web page in HTML. You'll learn all of these skills in a full-stack development bootcamp. According to ZipRecruiter, these developers earn an average of $106,800 per year.

Quality Assurance Analyst

A quality assurance (QA) analyst tests code to ensure that it works correctly and meets the requirements of the project. QA analysts look for problems in code, create workflows to ensure problems are identified before an application is released, and test software in different environments to ensure it works correctly in a variety of cases. With some experience, you can work your way up to quality assurance manager. According to ZipRecruiter, QA analysts earn an average of $73,000 per year.

Data Analyst

Data analysts work with data generated by a program or organization. They read raw data and analyze it to generate insights that help the company make better decisions. For example, a data analyst can analyze time spent on a web application to determine when users stop using a website.

This information is then passed on to the development team so they can make the necessary changes. Companies of all sizes need data analysts, including organizations outside of the technology sector. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a data analyst is $66,600 per year.

Software Engineer

Software engineers design, create, and maintain software for a company. They generally work with a development team and write code based on the specifications of their team and other stakeholders. Software engineers are often the most hands-on members of the team, constantly making changes to an application's code.

Their goal is to keep these programs running smoothly, and to that end they create the updates that the software needs. A software engineer may also work with external customers to identify problems in an application. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a software engineer is $98,300 per year.

Front-end web developer

Front-End- web developer are a popular place to work for many bootcamp graduates. They create the visual components of a website that users see and interact with. Front-end web developers ensure that web applications work smoothly on various devices. You can also work with backend and full-stack web developers to gain a deeper understanding of the entire developer stack. The average salary for a front-end web developer is around $79,100, according to ZipRecruiter.

Cybersecurity specialist

The entry into the Cybersecurity is a good option for tech veterans. As a cybersecurity specialist, a typical day involves protecting hardware and software systems. This involves identifying vulnerabilities in the systems, creating defense plans, and sometimes even hacking the system itself to find out how it can be done. The average annual salary for a cybersecurity specialist is $86,009.