Navigating Your Tech Career From Learning to Getting Opportunities

TechCrushHQ avatar
TechCrush.pro
@TechCrushHQSep 15, 2025

The Spaces explored practical pathways for beginners entering tech, focusing on cybersecurity, UI/UX design, and product management. Tega emphasized community participation, structured challenges (e.g., 100 Days of Cybersecurity), and showcasing projects, which led to pitching a Cisco Packet Tracer project and gaining opportunities; volunteering was endorsed as a strong portfolio builder. Dennis detailed transitioning from graphics to UI/UX by aligning interests with market demand, community resources, learning curve, and earning potential. He outlined tactics to land clients: become exceptionally good, post work consistently, leverage inbound leads from social platforms, apply selectively, cold-reach recently funded startups, and network with value-first outreach. Cheesy shared a system for consistency: small goals, daily learning schedules, progress tracking, active communities, volunteering, accountability partners, building in public, and mentorship. Closing notes urged focus on one’s own timeline, deep reading, and deliberate practice (10,000-hour perspective). An upcoming scholarship announcement was also noted.

Twitter Space Recap: Breaking into Tech, Cybersecurity, UI/UX, and Staying Consistent

Speakers and roles captured

  • Host/moderator: name not stated (managed flow, posed questions, announced scholarship update, closed the session)
  • Tega: cybersecurity learner/early-career professional (shared entry journey, internships, communities, volunteering)
  • Dennis: UI/UX designer and product strategist (shared transition from graphic design, skill-selection framework, client acquisition, networking, and growth mindset)
  • Cheesy: product manager (shared systems for consistency, communities, volunteering, accountability, and motivation)

Context and flow

  • Session experienced intermittent network/mute issues but proceeded with three major segments: cybersecurity entry paths (Tega), UI/UX transition and earning as a creative (Dennis), and sustaining consistency and momentum in tech (Cheesy). The host also noted a forthcoming scholarship announcement and closed with reflections and final words from speakers.

Entering cybersecurity: practical path and what worked for Tega

  • Community-first approach: Tega did not rely on formal volunteering initially. Instead, she consistently showed up in relevant communities and Spaces (e.g., ITITA’s cybersecurity Space), absorbing information about internships and entry pathways.
  • 100 Days of Cyber Security: Participated in a 100-day challenge to build momentum and public accountability, which amplified learning and visibility.
  • Projects and pitching: Built a networking project using Cisco Packet Tracer and had the opportunity to pitch it to Cisco representatives in Nigeria. After answering verification questions (to confirm authorship and competence), she was encouraged to follow up and subsequently got opportunities. Takeaway: shipping tangible projects plus visibility created serendipity.
  • Volunteering: While not central to her own early path, Tega affirmed volunteering is valuable—especially for career changers or those from non-technical backgrounds. It:
    • Builds portfolio and credibility (document concrete tasks and outcomes).
    • Demonstrates initiative and skills on a CV.
    • Can be complemented by self-initiated or “build-your-own” projects if formal volunteering isn’t available.

Transitioning from graphic design to UI/UX: Dennis’s journey and decision framework

  • Why he switched:
    • Desire for deeper user impact: beyond aesthetics to designing things people actually use (user research, product usability).
    • New challenge and better pay: UI/UX presented stronger market demand and higher earning potential compared to his graphic design income.
  • You do not need to be a graphic designer first: While a visual foundation helps (tools, color, composition), many succeed starting directly in UI/UX.
  • Choosing the right tech skill: criteria to evaluate
    • Interest and strengths: Align with what you naturally enjoy (e.g., artistic inclination for UI/UX/graphic design; other strengths may point to development, cloud, etc.).
    • Market demand: Check active hiring and salary bands on LinkedIn/Indeed; UI/UX has broad demand across companies (mobile apps, websites, internal tools).
    • Ease of entry/learning curve: Consider time-to-competence. For visually oriented learners, UI/UX may be faster than some development paths.
    • Community/resources: Opt for skills with strong communities and abundant learning content (YouTube, courses, local communities). Dennis cited a strong UI/UX ecosystem and “TechCross/Tech Crush” style communities as examples.
    • Earning potential: Research average compensation and trajectory for the role.
  • Decision process: Write these factors down, assess honestly, and choose the skill that aligns best across them. Avoid chasing hype or short-term pay trends (e.g., jumping into Web3 solely for money) without fit.

From beginner to paid work: Dennis’s practical playbook

  • Mastery first: Prioritize becoming truly good at your craft.
    • Intensive deliberate practice (he routinely designed 10+ hours/day early on).
    • Benchmark against the best: Recreate top-tier work (e.g., reverse-engineer leading bank visuals, product patterns) to calibrate taste and standards.
    • Reality check: Markets are crowded with average designers; excellence differentiates you.
  • Visibility matters: If no one sees your work, opportunities won’t find you.
    • Publish across platforms: X/Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Behance, Dribbble, WhatsApp status—wherever your target audience hangs out.
    • Embrace public work and feedback: Post consistently; learn from critique. Recommended book: “Show Your Work” by Austin Kleon.
    • Inbound example: A client found him via X after a 30-day landing page challenge—led to a high-paying gig.
    • Compounding effect: Some clients follow your work for months before reaching out when a need arises.
  • Outbound still counts
    • Apply on job boards/freelance marketplaces: LinkedIn, Upwork, Fiverr, Dribbble. Not his primary source, but a viable stream.
    • Cold outreach to startups: Use YC/Techstars lists to identify recently funded startups. Audit their product/site, redesign or propose UX improvements, and pitch concisely.
  • Networking with a “give-first” mindset
    • Many meaningful gigs come via warm introductions.
    • Offer value upfront (e.g., insights, small contributions) rather than asking for mentorship or favors immediately.
    • Engage with potential mentors’/leaders’ content meaningfully (likes, comments, thoughtful questions) to build real rapport.
  • When are you “good enough” to start posting/applying?
    • Don’t wait for a perfect milestone—start sharing as you learn. There’s a client for every level; the act of applying and sharing accelerates growth.
  • Scaling your lane: Read deeply and aim for excellence
    • Read more than the average practitioner (he emphasizes at least five field-relevant books—biographies, foundational texts, or leader-authored works).
    • Identify the top 2–5 practitioners locally and globally in your field and use them as north stars.
    • 10,000-hour perspective (Malcolm Gladwell): ~3–4 hrs/day of true practice ≈ 10 years; doubling daily focused practice can compress timelines.
    • Parkinson’s Law insight: Work expands to fill the time you allot; tighten timeboxes to push intensity and quality.

Staying consistent and avoiding burnout: Cheesy’s systems approach

  • Build systems, not just rely on motivation
    • Make learning a habit by creating structure (akin to paying for a gym program to ensure you show up).
  • What worked in practice
    • Set small, achievable goals: Focus on one capability at a time (e.g., user research, product discovery, market analysis). Use monthly micro-milestones for momentum.
    • Create a daily learning cadence: 30–60 minutes daily (industry blogs, product resources, webinars). Consistent micro-doses beat sporadic sprints.
    • Track progress meticulously: Keep written notes from bootcamps, projects, learnings; regularly reflect on what worked/what didn’t.
    • Join communities at scale: Participate in multiple product communities (e.g., on Slack) to learn, get inspired by success stories, and feel supported.
    • Volunteer strategically: Hands-on volunteering produced real portfolio artifacts, accelerated learning-by-doing, and built networks. Cheesy’s current leadership role (leading tech innovation in Anambra State while freelancing as a PM) emerged from volunteering impact and visibility.
    • Find an accountability partner: Align on goals, schedule check-ins, share outcomes, and encourage each other.
    • Build in public: Announce commitments (e.g., “starting cybersecurity today”) to instill public accountability and keep showing up.
    • Reconnect with your “why”: When it gets hard, revisit your goals and circumstances. She cited a very practical motivator—escaping poverty—as a powerful driver. Also lean on mentors (she mentioned “Shanna Sherry,” who inspired her PM pivot in 2020) for perspective and encouragement.
  • Mindset
    • Consistency isn’t perfection—it’s daily presence, patience, and enjoying the process. Over time, discipline compounds into outcomes.

Announcements

  • Scholarship: A new scholarship cycle is “coming very soon.” If you missed or didn’t secure Q3, watch this Space for the next announcement and application details.

Closing guidance and memorable takeaways

  • Keep showing up: “Tomorrow might be your lucky day—but you won’t know unless you try.” Publish, apply, network, and take shots.
  • Start now: There’s no perfect time. Begin with what you have and where you are.
  • Create opportunities: Don’t only “position” for luck—proactively pitch, redesign, propose, and reach out.
  • Avoid comparison traps: Everyone’s timeline differs. Measure yourself by daily improvement and craft depth, not someone else’s highlight reel.
  • Read and aim high: If you claim a field, study it—books, case studies, and leaders. Set your sights on the top practitioners and reverse-engineer their standards.
  • Compress your mastery timeline: If you want it in five years instead of ten, double the depth and duration of focused practice (e.g., 6 hours/day of true design work instead of 3).

Actionable checklist (condensed)

  • For cybersecurity/tech entrants (Tega’s lens)
    • Join active communities and challenges (e.g., 100-day challenges).
    • Build and ship projects; pitch them when opportunities arise.
    • Volunteer or create your own projects for portfolio depth.
  • For UI/UX aspirants (Dennis’s lens)
    • Choose skills via interest, demand, learning curve, resources, and pay.
    • Practice deliberately; replicate best-in-class work.
    • Post your work widely; run 30-day public challenges.
    • Apply on platforms, cold outreach to recently funded startups, and propose improvements.
    • Network by giving value first; engage consistently.
  • For sustaining momentum (Cheesy’s lens)
    • Establish daily learning routines (30–60 minutes), micro-goals, and progress logs.
    • Join communities, find an accountability partner, and build in public.
    • Volunteer to gain real-world reps and network signals.
    • Revisit your “why” and lean on mentors when energy dips.

Final note from the host

  • Consistency and deliberate positioning are non-negotiable. Beyond consuming advice, apply it. Embrace opportunities even when you don’t feel fully ready. Keep learning, keep building, and results will follow. The team thanked all speakers and listeners for staying to the end and encouraged everyone to watch for the upcoming scholarship announcement and continue engaging with the community.