The Ultimate Guide to a Successful Tech Career

Art Zeile , CEO of Dice


Welcome

Interested in breaking into the technology industry? Already a technologist, and curious about how you can take your career to new heights? No matter where you are, The Ultimate Guide to a Successful Tech Career can help take you wherever you want to go.

The guide offers advice on everything from landing your first role to excelling in upper management — and all the pivotal moments in between. It also explores some of today’s most important issues, including the critical rise of remote and hybrid work, the importance of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) efforts (and how you can make an impact) and more.

We’re excited you’re here! Let’s get started.

Whether you aspire to a tech role in the future or are already a technologist gaining valuable experience, you’re no doubt wondering if (and how) you can build a successful technology career. You’ve seen how a single technology professional with a great idea and execution can change the world; you also know that a career in technology is a potential pathway to a great salary and financial stability.

Over the past few quarters, you might have noticed some tech companies initiating hiring freezes and even layoffs. Those stories might have you doubting whether a career in tech is a great idea right now. Fortunately, these layoffs aren’t the whole story: overall hiring in tech remains robust, with organizations across the country seeking technologists skilled in a variety of disciplines.

Companies are also more than happy to pay extraordinary salaries to technologists with the right mix of skills and experience. Regardless of the current state of the economy, there remains a critical need among organizations both within and outside the traditional tech sphere for technologists who can build websites, manage networks and defend the tech stack against internal and external threats.

We hope our guide provides you the tools you need to build an exciting, fulfilling and lucrative career as a technology professional.

Table of Contents

Tap on a topic to go to that article

Entering the Tech Industry

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College

Bootcamps

Hacking It (Self-Learning)

Internships

Landing Your First Role

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Building a Strong Presence

Level Up Your Networking Skills

Acing the Interview

Onboard Like a Pro

Early Career

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Boosting Your Early Career

Charting Your Career Path

• Embracing Short-Term Goal Setting

• The Value of Continuing Education

• Do I Need Certifications?

• Finding a Mentor

• The Importance of DEI

Navigating Salary at Your Current and Future Jobs

• Maximizing Your Salary (and Opportunities)

• Average Salaries by Occupation

• Negotiating Salary at Your Current Organization

• Negotiating Salary at Your Future Organization

• The Gender Pay Gap

Preparing for Your Next Career Move

• Managing Up

• Risk-Taking and Creativity

• Changing Jobs and Organizations

Solidifying Your Career

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Soft Skills

Deepening Your Soft Skills

Making Hybrid and Remote Work Structures Work for You

Long-Term Goal Setting

Choosing Your Path: Individual Contributor or Manager?

Evolving From Manager to Leader

Leveling Up Your Career

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Access More Excellent Tech Career Advice on Dice Insights

Create a Profile on Dice and Connect with Recruiters

Search for Your Next Tech Job on Dice Now

Entering the Tech Industry

View page

College

Bootcamps

Hacking It (Self-Learning)

Internships

Landing Your First Role

View page

Building a Strong Presence

Level Up Your Networking Skills

Acing the Interview

Onboard Like a Pro

Early Career

View page

Boosting Your Early Career

Charting Your Career Path

• Embracing Short-Term Goal Setting

• The Value of Continuing Education

• Do I Need Certifications?

• Finding a Mentor

• The Importance of DEI

Navigating Salary at Your Current and Future Jobs

• Maximizing Your Salary (and Opportunities)

• Average Salaries by Occupation

• Negotiating Salary at Your Current Organization

• Negotiating Salary at Your Future Organization

• The Gender Pay Gap

Preparing for Your Next Career Move

• Managing Up

• Risk-Taking and Creativity

• Changing Jobs and Organizations

Solidifying Your Career

View page

Soft Skills

Deepening Your Soft Skills

Making Hybrid and Remote Work Structures Work for You

Long-Term Goal Setting

Choosing Your Path: Individual Contributor or Manager?

Evolving From Manager to Leader

Leveling Up Your Career

View page

Access More Excellent Tech Career Advice on Dice Insights

Create a Profile on Dice and Connect with Recruiters

Search for Your Next Tech Job on Dice Now

Read about Entering the Tech Industry

Interested in connecting with top tech recruiters and employers?

Create a profile on Dice

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