If you’re trying to get into tech and you still don’t know what you want to do, welcome. You’re normal!
A lot of people quit before they even really start because everything feels vague. Everybody keeps saying “just pick a niche” like they’re sharing it in the market.
Most people I’ve spoken to didn’t know what they wanted to do when they started. They began with something small they could try. Something that gave them fast feedback and didn’t leave them second-guessing every single thing they were learning.
On January 16, 2022, I coded my first website and now I don’t even code anymore. Do you get my point?
This is the part that doesn’t get explained properly.
Most tech advice online jumps straight to roles and roadmaps. Frontend. Data. Product. AI. Cybersecurity. Meanwhile, you’re still stuck on one basic question. What do I even start with?
This article is not about picking the perfect career path. It’s about choosing a starting point that won’t drain your money, your confidence, or your energy before you ever get paid.
The idea is simple.
- Pick a path where you can see progress quickly.
- Build confidence.
- Post what you’re learning.
- Pay attention to how you feel while doing the work.
This is how you find clarity. Or at least, that’s how I did.
The paths we’ve set out for this series are beginner-friendly and don’t require fancy tools or deep technical backgrounds. Treat them as an intro to your tech journey.
You try one. You learn. You adjust.
Graphic Design: A Solid Place to Start If You’re Confused!
Graphic design earns its place on this list.
Not everyone needs to become a designer, but it gives you fast feedback, which makes it a great place to start. You can see improvement almost immediately.
The best part is that you can start right now using free tools like Canva or Figma. What matters early on isn’t the tool you use. It’s learning how to arrange information so people actually understand it.
Design teaches you visual hierarchy, attention, and constraints. You learn quickly that you can’t do everything at once, and that you have to choose what matters most and design around it.
What to Do in Your First 30 Days
Pick one format and stick to it. Just one.
It could be Instagram posts, flyers, simple landing page sections, or presentation slides. Don’t jump between everything. Consistency is what allows you to see progress clearly.
For the first week, recreate designs you like in the format you’ve chosen. You’re not posting just yet. This week is about training your eye. You will be learning spacing, font sizes, and alignment.
When I started, I followed step-by-step YouTube tutorials and recreated designs exactly as they were. That helped me understand what to do faster because I wasn’t trying to figure everything out on my own. I was following along.
In weeks two and three, your confidence starts building and you begin designing your own versions of things. Redesign event flyers you see online. Rework bad posters. Simplify cluttered announcements.
This is also a good time to start posting your work. Be open to feedback, but remember that most comments are there to guide your thinking, not discourage you.
By the end of the month, aim to have 10 to 15 pieces. They won’t be perfect, but they need to exist.
Making It Visible Without Pressure
You don’t need to announce yourself as a designer.
Post before-and-after designs. Share redesigns. Explain what you changed and why. This helps people (and your potential employers!) see your thought process.
Now, you can start collaborating on real world projects. Reach out to friends with small businesses and design something they would actually use. Volunteer to design for school events, church programmes, or small creators online who need visuals.
These are the kinds of projects that get your work seen while actively building your confidence and your portfolio.
Posting once a day is more than enough to stay visible without unnecessary pressure.
When to Go Deeper and When to Switch
If you realise that you enjoy design and thrive here, go deeper. That usually means you’ve found a real point of interest. Or as we like to call it, “YOUR NICHE”.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
You can apply for internships, take structured courses, or explore paths like product design, brand design, or motion design. At this point, you’ve already learned that you enjoy visuals and that your thinking works well within constraints.
On the other hand, if graphic design doesn’t click for you, that’s fine. That time wasn’t wasted as it has given you necessary information. You now know what doesn’t work for you, which makes choosing the next path easier. Clarity doesn’t come from thinking harder. It comes from trying things and paying attention.
This is just the first path in this series. There are other beginner-friendly ways to get started in tech, and we’ll walk through them one by one.
Your journey doesn’t have to end here. Let’s keep moving.
May the force (and us) be with you!
