The 10 Highest Paying Tech Jobs That Require No Coding Experience

Tech jobs are among the highest-paying and fastest growing in today’s economy. But with so many different positions available, it can be difficult to know which roles offer the best bang for your buck. To help you make a smart career move, we’ve compiled a list of high-paying tech jobs that don’t require coding experience.

1. UX Designer

The User Experience Designer is responsible for creating a positive experience for the user by creating a website or mobile application that is easy to navigate and understand. The UX Designer uses their knowledge of design principles as well as their understanding of human behavior and psychology to create an intuitive user interface (UI) that allows people to easily use the product. They also troubleshoot problems with the product, identify ways to improve it and integrate new features into the product.

UX Designers usually have degrees in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) or User Experience (UX). If you don't have a degree in HCI or UX but still want to become a UX Designer, there are some online courses available through Udemy or Treehouse that can teach you how to become a UX Designer without any coding experience.

2. Product Manager

Product managers work on teams that develop products or services for consumers or companies. They oversee the entire process from concept to launch, including market research, product development, and marketing campaigns. Their main responsibility is ensuring that a company has a quality product ready for release at the appropriate time. This can include everything from defining requirements to testing new features before releasing them to the public.

The average annual salary for this position is $128,000 according to Glassdoor's latest report on software engineering salaries but it varies depending on location and employer (some companies pay product managers more than others). An entry-level position requires an undergraduate degree in business administration or computer science; however, some companies may hire candidates with a background in data science. A master's degree is also recommended, especially for those who want to advance their careers into leadership positions.

3. Product Support Engineer

Product support engineers are responsible for providing technical assistance and troubleshooting to customers who have questions or issues with products they use. These individuals must have strong communication skills as they often interact with customers over the phone or through email.

Product support engineers can earn anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000 annually depending on their level of expertise and experience.

4. Technical Writer/Editor

A technical writer is responsible for creating a document that explains something technical in a way that's easy to understand. They might write instructions, manuals or articles on topics such as software, hardware and even medical devices.

The job description for a technical writer is simple: You need to be able to explain complicated concepts in an easy-to-understand way — without any coding experience required!

If you have a knack for explaining complex things clearly and concisely and enjoy working with computers and technology, this could be the perfect job for you.

5. Video Editor

Video Editing is a great job for anyone who wants to get into the film industry. There are many different types of editing jobs available, from working on commercials and music videos, to creating short films and documentaries.

Video editors don't need any specific qualifications or prior experience – all you need is a good eye for detail and a willingness to learn.

The average salary for video editors in the US is $44,640 per year, but this figure can vary widely depending on where you live and what type of work you do.

6. Scrum Master/Agile Project Manager

Scrum masters and agile project managers help companies build software applications more efficiently by working closely with developers, product owners, and other stakeholders. To do this effectively, you must have a strong understanding of agile development processes, teamwork, and communication skills. Oftentimes, scrum masters will also act as project managers who ensure that projects stay on track by setting deadlines and managing budgets.

According to PayScale's data on Scrum Masters/Agile Project Managers (aka Agile Coaches), they earn an average salary of $96,000 per year (nationally).

7. SEO Specialist

SEO Specialist is the highest-paying tech job that requires no code. An SEO specialist is responsible for optimizing your website's content and design to help it rank higher in search engines.

The average salary for an SEO specialist is $92,000 per year. The best-paying states are California ($129,000), Texas ($115,000) and Illinois ($114,000). If you want to become an SEO specialist, then you should consider taking courses at Udacity or General Assembly.

8. Influencer

Influencers are people who have a lot of followers on social media, like Instagram and YouTube. Influencers can be anyone from tech experts to athletes to celebrities. Their followers follow them because they trust their opinion on certain products or services. Companies pay influencers to talk about their products in their posts, which can result in increased sales and brand loyalty.

In order to become an influencer, you need to develop your own unique style and content that resonates with your audience. You can use live-streaming applications, AI video generators, and social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram to build a following among fans who'll gobble up everything you create in their feeds. Once you have a large enough following, businesses will approach you about working together.

9. Web Designer/Graphic Designer

If you're good with design and want to work in technology, this might be a great path for you. Web designers create websites and other digital media, using HTML, CSS and other programming languages. They might also create logos and graphics for various companies or organizations.

Web developers can make about $70,000 per year on average according to Glassdoor salary data. However, web designers can typically make even more than that due to their higher level of expertise and experience. For example, the average annual salary for a graphic designer in the U.S. is $57,000 according to PayScale salary data.

10. DevOps Engineer

DevOps engineers are a rare breed of programmer. They're not software developers, but they're not system administrators either. They fall somewhere in the middle and are responsible for automating procedures, building tools, setting up networks and debugging problems.

In general, DevOps engineers need to have an understanding of their company's technology stack — including everything from operating systems to databases — and be able to write code on top of that. However, there are some companies that don't require any coding experience at all.

The average salary for a DevOps engineer is $105,000 per year, according to Glassdoor data. That's more than $20,000 higher than the average software engineer salary and almost $50,000 more than the average system administrator salary (which is still higher than the average software engineer salary).

Takeaway

The valuable part of coding is that it can be learned and acquired over a long period of time. If you're just starting out, don't worry about having some college-level knowledge of coding or not; focus on the fundamentals, and build your skills from there. You may have to sacrifice a bit on your hourly-rate, but you can still land a high-paying tech job without any coding experience at all.

5 Approaches to Becoming Popular on TikTok as a Business

There are several ways for businesses to become popular on TikTok. In this article, we will explore five approaches that have proven to be successful, including knowing how to buy TikTok likes to further your business's success.

Understanding How TikTok Works and for Businesses

First, it is important to understand what TikTok is and how it works. TikTok is a social media app where users can share short videos. It is particularly popular among teenagers and young adults.

Apart from posting on TikTok, it is important to know the services that TikTok offers for businesses, such as being able to buy ads to help with product promotion and growing a particular brand.

Opportunity to Build a Significant Following

One way to become popular on TikTok is to build a large following. This can be done by creating interesting and engaging content that attracts people’s attention. It can take time but is well worth it in terms of growing sales.

Good content consists of creative videos that are entertaining and informative. TikTok users are also more likely to follow users who post frequently. Therefore, it is important to be active on the app and post regularly.

Buying TikTok Likes

Another way to gain followers is for a business to buy likes or follows from services that offer them. For instance, you could choose to buy TokMatik TikTok likes to help grow your profile. You should know how this works as it can mean the difference between a post becoming irrelevant and one that goes viral as is seen all around the world.

This is considered a valid strategy as it can help you attract more attention and get your content seen by more people. However, it's important to be careful when buying followers, as there are many fake accounts out there. Make sure you only work with reputable providers who can guarantee that their followers are real people. This is the main thing to be aware of.

Effective Interaction

Another way to increase your following is to interact with other users on TikTok. This can be done by liking and commenting on other people’s videos, as well as posting your comments on popular videos. The hope is that they will then comment on yours. It is like returning the favor sometime and just something that has to be done as another strategy to grow your following. This is whether we are an individual who likes to feel popular or a business looking to make money from social media. A business these days will struggle to survive without platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. It should be noted that many of the younger markets have chosen TikTok as their preferred option.

Collaboration With Influencers

Another approach is to collaborate with other businesses or individuals who have a large following on TikTok. This can help expose your business to new audiences.

As a business, it can be difficult to break into TikTok and become popular. However, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of success.

One of the best ways to get started is by working with influencers. TikTok’s social media influencers can have a following of several million followers, let alone thousands, and so provide significant help in promoting your brand to their fans, who will hang on to their every word.

TikTok can be a powerful tool for businesses to reach new customers and grow their brands. While there are many ways to become popular on TikTok, buying likes is proving to be one of the most effective. We also cannot underestimate the power of the influencer when our customers are likely to listen more to them than us. By using TikTok to its full potential, businesses can reach a large audience and drive sales.

4 Photo Editing Tips You Must Remember

Ready to make your photo picture-perfect?

Photo editing often highlights the best composition and adopts the photographer's method. Finally, the editing lets filmers capture a scene they saw and make it their own. Photographers can create this by using any editing program available.

So here are some of the best photo editing tips, from cropping and editing to choosing filters and lighting. 

1. Pick the Best Photo Editing Software

Most photo editing software has an assimilated feature named raw filter. It's categorized as pre-editing. If you choose a filter, it readies your photo for more editing by using some enhancements and adjustments.

Editing software provides various types of filters that can change the final output of your picture. This includes the color, hue, lenses, protection filters, neutral filters, and so on. Consider using a tool such as the photoshop color wheel plugin to really customize your experience with editing photos.

2. Balancing Photo Lighting

Editing photos for amateurs begin with modifying the light. It means changing the brightness, exposure, or contrast. Most of the time, lighting is in disarray or too dark or bright in other areas, and you'll have to equalize the photo.

You'll need to determine which spots you want more or less contrast and which places need to be bright. In particular, the way to do it is by thinking about the plan for your picture; what do you want to portray the most?

3. Cropping is Important

You're already aware of the composition and framing if you capture a picture. However, paying attention to each frame corner can be tricky as you try to take photos at a perfect moment. Cropping is as critical as the image you're capturing. 

Crop a photo in many different forms, and experiment until you get the best look. Also, you could undo the modifications you don't like, so you don't have to fret about experimenting. The best crop needs thorough deliberation of the linear lines in a picture. 

Any editing software will lay over a grid on the image you're cropping, which should match the lines in your photo. For instance, if you're capturing somebody walking, their feet must align with a horizontal bar in the grid. At the same time, a vertical bar in the grid should correspond to the stature of a wall.

Cropping could add balance and symmetry to your creative photography. For example, if there's more blank area at the top framing than at the base, crop some space at the top.

On the other hand, trimming a picture can help cut unnecessary details. For example, if you captured a picture of someone outdoors, but there's a garbage bin at the corner of the frame. Cropping the photograph can cut out the visual eyesore.

Consider checking out this program available to remove background from image free.

4. Adjust White Balance

White balance in a picture means more light in your image but more about the temperature in the photos. Warmer colors radiate a warm look if you might like it to appear cool or cloudy.

So it's best to determine the image's tone using the white balance tool to change the white balance. However, you'll need to ensure one isn't too cold or warm. 

Take Note of These Photo Editing Tips

Taking great pictures is fun, and editing allows you to make those images as they should be. Remember, you're not attempting to create a picture looks perfect. Instead, you're imbuing it with your unique style. 

With these tips above, you can edit your photos straight away using the available tools. These photo editing tips will assist you on your path to creating amazing images.

For more information on how to edit photos, check out our blogs.

How Instagram Helps Businesses Stay Ahead of the Competition

Instagram has become an effective business model for businesses to connect to and follow to stay ahead of the competition. Instagram allows businesses to share photos, and videos too, that give customers a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making products or services. This personal connection can help businesses to build trust with customers and set themselves apart from the competition. 

A social media platform such as Instagram also offers a great way to connect with potential customers who may not initially be familiar with your business. Where potential customers are not liking posts or looking to follow your Instagram account, followers and likes can be obtained via Instagram services from Twicsy. Increasing interest in the future relies on building on those viewing your account.

Hashtags put products or services in front of a wider audience and attract new customers because these are specifically searched for.

Instagram Techniques

Here are some tips on how businesses can use Instagram to the best effect:

Use Instagram Ads

Instagram Ads are a great way to reach a larger audience and promote your products or services.

Ad campaigns held locally will only attract a limited number of people, albeit those that are local to a service. However, with a product that you are selling, you will want to distribute it more widely. The more you can sell to, the greater the profits that you can make as a business. Global exposure is possible on Instagram because of its worldwide list of followers.

Use hashtags

Hashtags help you to reach a wider audience and attract new customers. Do some research to find out which hashtags are most relevant to your business. Do not just randomly think of something because the topics you choose are important.

Be reasonably specific with hashtags because they can then direct users to your particular business. Not too specific to not ever be found, though, or too general that your business is among a list of other businesses too long to bring yours to the top. You will, in a sense, be fighting for the same online trading space as many other businesses, and that is inevitable. Instagram will, however, help you combat this compared to businesses that are not using Instagram so effectively, or at all.

Use Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories are a great way to give customers an insight into your business. They only last for 24 hours so they won't clog up your feed.

People like a good story and Instagram is known for them. As a business, you can provide that personal story that hits the spot with Instagram followers and helps sell your company image and its products. You can build a brand on Instagram, and any product you launch will then attract the attention that it deserves.

Use high-quality images and videos

Instagram is all about “the visuals”, so make sure your images and videos are of high quality and capture your products or services in the best light.

Do not buy a cheap camera and expect those images to be good enough. When you are a business, you are judged on your professional standards. These might reflect on how people might think your product will be or what your after-service is. Create the right impression by always using the best quality of images you can produce yourself or afford to be professionally produced.

If you are doing the photography yourself, think of the location and the lighting and how that can enhance the product. Think of whether the person holding the product is the right fit for the product or looks like someone never likely to ever use such a thing. Be as realistic as you can unless you are promoting the equivalent of a futuristic gaming experience.

By following these tips, businesses can use Instagram to stay ahead of the competition and attract new customers. Instagram is a powerful force to be reckoned with and should not be underestimated.

How To Turn Your Dream Career Into A Reality

We're always encouraged to follow our passions, especially when it comes to a career. This is due to the simple fact that being happy at work matters. Not only does it encourage us to work hard and achieve our goals, but it also impacts our physical and mental health. 

As a result, it's essential that you find a workplace environment where you feel respected, supported and comfortable. You should also aim to work within an industry or position that excites or challenges you. To put it simply, you should be working in your dream job!

However, seeking employment within any sector is challenging, and many job seekers have to send out many applications before even being given a chance to impress in an interview. 

With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to build your dream career.

Remember that confidence is key. Whether you're pursuing a teaching position in New York or a caregiver job in Philadelphia, confidence can go a long way no matter what industry you work in. In some cases, it's a way to get your foot in the door and stand out from other applications. In others, it's the tool you will use to leverage for higher-paid positions. As such, you should work on improving your confidence where possible. For example, you could focus on improving your networking skills so that you're able to upsell yourself and your skills. In this instance, it's crucial that you're able to battle imposter syndrome. Remember that you are in your position for a reason and have all it takes to succeed.

Invest in your hobbies and & 'me time'. This advice may seem a little left-of-field, especially as we live in a society that glorifies hustle culture and non-stop working. However, many studies suggest that those who invest time and energy into their hobbies are often much more successful in their professional lives. This is because hobbies help you to cultivate a better work-life balance and ensure your well-being needs are being met. As a result, it's time to start investing your time (and money) into pursuing your hobbies. For example, if you're a keen guitarist and fancy yourself as something of a musician, invest in a Looping Pedal so that you can start recording your tunes and further honing your skills. Furthermore, studies suggest that playing instruments can improve your cognitive abilities, meaning this could even be a way to enhance your career prospects. Alternatively, if you are passionate about sports, you may be able to make some money from this via sports betting. Even if you are watching a different game, you can place bets on other games and events happening, and make use of a resource like Sportsbettingny.com to help guide you towards the best sportsbooks, keep you up-to-date with current events relating to sports betting, and show you which games might be worth putting a bet on.

Grasp every training opportunity. While you may already have a career goal in mind, it's unlikely that you'll be able to walk this position immediately, especially if it's a more senior role. Instead, you need to be ready and willing to climb that ladder without skipping any steps. This basically means that you need to find as many ways as possible to get the experience you need to get the job you want. For example, if you're pursuing a career in tech, you should start by

learning to 'talk tech' and teaching yourself the basics before signing up for courses, masterclasses or even shadowing or mentorship schemes. The more opportunities you seize, the better, especially if it helps you make meaningful connections.  

Take risks. Sometimes, to pursue your dream career, you have to be willing to take a few risks on the way. For example, you might have to leave a comfortable position in another company to gain the experience you need, even if this results in a pay cut. While this may seem a little daunting, it will definitely pay off in the end. You could always make a few lifestyle adjustments during this time, such as cutting down on your monthly expenses, to make the move a little more feasible. However, it's also essential that you aren't afraid to negotiate your salary and ensure you are being paid what you deserve. Even if you don't have direct experience in that role before, you can request a higher salary by demonstrating how your transferable skills will come in handy. 

Keep your mind positive. Whether you're entering a career later in life or not finding a position as quickly as you'd like, you must maintain a positive outlook. This will help you navigate any setbacks that come your way and ensure that you are always thinking practically. When you allow yourself to become overwhelmed with negativity, you may not present yourself in the best light in interviews or may even make mistakes in your applications that cause them to be disregarded. Stay positive, stay focused and know that even if it takes a lot of time, you've got this.  

4 Pieces Of Tech Software Transforming Business Industries

The majority of businesses these days are completely dependent on technology. This comes with advantages and disadvantages. For instance, if a piece of tech fails to function, it could cause downtime in the business model which could lead to huge losses. On the other hand, the right tech can make a business easier to manage and allow a company to run with a much smaller workforce. It’s interesting to consider the types of software that are reshaping the business world. If you are on the job market right now, knowing a little about these pieces of software and understanding how they operate can also make you more hireable. Let’s dive in. 

Project Tracking Software

First, you should consider types of project tracking software. Project tracking software is useful because it allows business managers to keep productivity levels high and ensure that they understand where their company and their team is falling short. Tracking software is available for countless types of businesses. For instance, software for real estate development will often include project tracking tools as part of the comprehensive package. 

In addition to tracking progress, many businesses are now focusing on systems that help maximize the value of their projects. These tools not only streamline workflows but also ensure that every step of the project contributes to achieving larger business goals. One such tool is a project value optimization system. These systems focus on maximizing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of projects by ensuring resources are used strategically, timelines are met, and value is delivered across all stages of a project.

Accounting Software 

Accounting software is another key option for any business model regardless of industry or sector. It’s important for companies to manage costs. A failure to do this will result in huge issues for the company as a whole. With accounting software, spending can be tracked in real time. This limits the chance of a business ending up in the red. Accounting software is also scalable to match the size of different businesses. Similar software can also be used to handle incoming transactions to help make the process run more smoothly and with less chance of error. This physical therapy billing software for example allows for quick claims processing and a high rate of clean bills in medical facilities. 

Shared Platforms 

Businesses can also take advantage of the benefits provided by shared platforms. Shared platforms are the perfect solution in a world where more companies than ever are operating with a remote team. You need to make sure that you do think about the right platform for you. Do be aware that there are development teams that can create shared platforms specific to the needs and requirements of companies. This is one of the roles that you can pursue when exploring options available to you in the tech industry. Shared platforms may also operate on the cloud ensuring that changes can be viewed instantly. 

Blockchain Software 

Finally, you might want to consider the role that blockchain software will have on the future of businesses. Blockchain is typically known as the technology which makes cryptocurrency operate. However, analysts believe that the blockchain could have tremendous potential as a resource for various businesses. For instance, blockchain can be used to ensure that data sharing remains secure. It can even be used in business models where keeping data protected must be a top priority such as the healthcare industry. Using blockchain software, key data can quickly be accessed by different parties without any risk that it might fall into the wrong hands

We hope this helps you understand that there are countless types of software that are changing the business world. As well as increasing security standards and improving the experience for clients, this software is also ensuring that businesses are easier to manage. 

Is Your Home Tech Not Working As It Should?

Technology is a wonderful thing for the majority of us, and it enhances our lives in a variety of ways. From Verisure Alarms for Home & Business keeping our loved ones and property safe and secure to skype and other apps now allowing us to stay in touch with family and friends living in far-off places. They do, however, have a tendency to go a little crazy every now and then. Even the most technologically adept among us can experience this feeling from time to time if we have a lot of technology in our houses. Here are some of the most prevalent issues that affect us all, as well as suggestions for how to resolve them.

Terrible image quality

When we are unable to obtain a high-quality television picture, it is perhaps one of the most aggravating aspects of technology in our home. In this day and age, televisions are not exactly cheap. so you would not want to put up with anything less than perfect.

In this day and age, televisions are not exactly cheap. so you would not want to put up with anything less than perfect.

Unfortunately, the visual quality is rarely a result of the television's technical specifications. Most televisions are now in high definition, which means that there are more pixels than our eyes can distinguish. As a result, the majority of the time the problem is with your transmission. In this case, checking your aerial for problems and calling in the specialists to assist you are the best options available to you. They can build an antenna on your property that will assist in boosting your signal, resulting in a higher quality picture for you to enjoy.

Some folks choose to use satellite or cable television to alleviate this issue as well.

Your PC has become unresponsive.

When your computer freezes, you are unable to complete any tasks and, in some situations, are unable to shut off your computer. It is almost like your computer knows when you are working to a tight deadline and only ever seems to play up when that happens.It is worthwhile to do some research before the computer freezes, so you know what to do, and become familiar with the process of getting it back up and running. Additionally, make certain that your PCs' Avast antivirus protection is up to date and that you perform any recommended upgrades as soon as they need to be done.

Your internet connection is constantly dropping out.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your internet connection, it can be extremely inconvenient, especially if you work from home. Check the settings on your computer to see if you can restore the connection. However, if this is happening on a frequent basis, it may be advisable to contact your internet service provider.

Remember that the speed of the connection is one of the factors that companies use to sell their products in all those flashy advertisements, so you have every right to complain if yours is not operating properly. Sometimes, all that is required to resolve the issue is a simple reset on their end. If they really cannot help, it could be time to look at other providers in your area and perhaps consider hughesnet internet plans, or similar, and get your high-speed internet back up and running.

Searching for alternative providers can be a difficult process for some. After all, it can be overwhelming trying to decide between the numerous services and features offered, to try to find what is best for your needs at a price that is right. Thankfully, there are experts like BestSatelliteOptions available who can help talk through your options and explain hughesnet vs starlink to you, for example, so you get the very best deal for you and your family.

You are unable to receive a mobile phone signal at home.

If you realize that you are unable to receive a cell phone signal in your new home, this is another really inconvenient problem. Because so many people these days rely on their mobile phones, it is no longer acceptable to have to walk to the bottom of the garden or hang out the bathroom window in order to send a text message. Fortunately, most service providers will offer you a free booster box that connects to your WIFI and allows you to continue using your phone as usual. If you're still experiencing issues, you can use a Cell Tower Map to locate your nearest cell tower. If it's too far away, it will explain why your signal is so poor.

You are continually batting away popup adverts

Adverts that show on your phone while you are browsing the web might be irritating, so start by disabling pop-ups on your browser. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Safari > Block Pop-ups and toggle the setting on. Open Chrome on your Android smartphone and select the menu option from the upper right-hand corner. Select Settings, followed by Site Settings, and then check to see that pop-ups are not being displayed.

Are you still seeing pop-ups? Delete all of your internet histories. On an iPhone, select Clear History and Website Data from the Safari settings menu in the Settings menu. Open Chrome on your Android device and tap the Menu button once more. Select Settings, then Privacy, and then Clear Browsing Data from the drop-down menu.

The Comprehensive Guide To Filmmaking: Creating A Gorgeous Video Blog

Nowadays, it seems like everyone's a filmmaker. Smartphones and cameras make it easy to share your work with the world. However, while filmmaking is often seen as an easy hobby, there are plenty of things you need to know before you take on this new venture. With a little help, you can create a gorgeous video blog that will attract viewers and customers alike.

Developing A Concept For A Series Of Videos

Before you create a video blog, it's important to develop the concept for your series. You'll want to think about what topics you want to cover, what type of tone you want it to have, and how often you'll release episodes. Are there specific themes or ideas that you're trying to address?

A great way to come up with an idea is brainstorming with a friend or family member who might be able to offer some useful insight into this process. Try writing down a few ideas for the series and then either choose one or ask someone which they prefer. After that, think about how many videos will make up your series. This will help you plan out exactly when and how often you'll post videos in the future. The next step is outlining the content for each episode and writing down any key points that may be helpful in planning out your video blog's script.

Identifying Your Target Audience

One of the most important steps in creating a video blog is identifying your target audience. You need to know who you want to reach, what they want to see, and how you can best serve their needs. It's not as simple as filming something and hoping people will watch it.

If you're passionate about cooking, for example, your target audience might be people looking for new recipes. If you're more interested in fashion, your target audience may be trendy people around the world.

Once you've identified your ideal customer, it's time to start creating videos that they'll enjoy watching.

Using A Quality Camera

If you want to create a quality video blog, you'll need the right equipment. A smartphone camera will do for some people, but the footage won't be as crisp or clear as it would be with a professional camera. If you're serious about your video blog, invest in a good camera and lens kit. You don't have to spend thousands of dollars on equipment, but remember that even an expensive hobby can require investment.

Getting A Tripod And Stabilizer

One of the most important pieces of equipment for any filmmaker is a tripod. You may be tempted to film handheld or on your phone, but this will lead to shaky footage and poor quality. Tripods are an affordable way to ensure steady shots, which will ultimately make your video more watchable. And if you're filming outdoors, it's crucial that you use a tripod and stabilizer to avoid shaky footage.

Investing In A Microphone

A microphone is probably the most important piece of equipment you can invest in when creating a gorgeous video blog. A high-quality mic will make your voice sound better, which will make your viewers trust you and the information you share more. The best type of microphone to invest in for vlogging is a shotgun mic, which records sound with a directional pattern and has a cardioid pickup pattern. This type of mic is perfect for close-up shots and recording audio that's not too loud.

Creating Your Lighting Setup

The first thing you need to know is that the camera's lens captures the light. That means in order for your video to be clear, you'll need to create a stable lighting setup. It doesn't have to be complicated or expensive; it just needs to be able to keep the light consistent throughout your filming process. You can use more lights if you're filming outside, but it's best if you can avoid this because of the time and expense involved.

Making Use Of Video Editors

One of the first things you need to do is make sure you have the right software. There are many free video editing tools available online, and they're definitely worth looking into. Remember that there's no need for expensive software when something like an MP4 editor will work just as well.

By downloading a free version of an MP4 editor, you'll be able to edit and trim your videos easily. Many of these apps also have useful features, like image and audio filters that can help improve your video in a matter of minutes.

Promoting Your Vlog

Promoting your vlog begins before you press record. Spend some time thinking about what makes your business unique and what story you want to tell. This will help you develop a unique voice, which is essential to attracting an audience.

Once you've finalized your idea, the most important step is to advertise your channel and make sure that the world knows about it. Set up social media profiles, release a trailer, and find other creative ways to get the word out. The more people know about your vlog, the more likely they are to tune in once it's live.

Before you film anything, be sure that your equipment is functioning properly and in good repair. Test them out in advance so that when it comes time for video production, nothing goes wrong.

Using Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization is the process of optimizing your website for search engines. This means you'll be boosting your site's visibility by making it easier for people to find you. Essentially, you want to make sure that when people type in certain keywords related to your vlog, your website pops up.

To do this, you'll need to use keywords that are specific and relevant. For example, using the right words and phrases in headlines, body text, and titles, as well as including keywords in URLs and headings where appropriate.

To Sum Up

Making videos and promoting them online might seem easy, but it requires a lot of skills and hard work. These tips should help you to get started and find unique ways to set your vlog apart from the rest. 

Tech Freelancing: From Winging It To Winning Big

Most people get into the tech freelancing area because it’s something they enjoy. They love tinkering around with computers and solving problems with systems. What’s funny about it is that you can start off winging it, but actually progress and win big. What’s more, you’re often able to get a lot of help and support along the way. 

If you’re looking to become a tech freelancer, here’s what you need to do: 

Look For What Really Motivates You

Freelancers don’t work for employers. They have to motivate themselves from within. All too often, many people who work for themselves get up late in the morning, put in a couple of hours of work, and then give up. That’s not enough to live on. 

The trick here is to find something that gives you a reason for getting up in the morning. You want to feel inspired by the work you do. It should feel like fun, not another dreary day in the office. 

If necessary, you will sometimes have to put yourself into “work mode” with a routine. This might involve going downstairs for breakfast, knocking back a cup of coffee, and getting changed into your work clothes. How you approach this is entirely up to you, but you want it to have a real psychological effect on you. You need to believe that you’re at work, not just mindlessly tapping away on your computer. 

Embrace Hustle Culture

When you’re trying to get into tech freelancing, there’s no two ways about it: you have to embrace hustle culture. Clients won’t just come knocking on your door, begging for your services. You actually have to go out and find them, and win their business. 

If you’re not comfortable with this, make yourself comfortable. You need to get used to the prospect of approaching people and offering them value. Not everyone will buy from you, of course, but the critical factor is to get your name out. If you don’t, you’ll stagnate, and you may find yourself going back to your old employer, cap in hand, begging for your job back,

Networking Is Key

Of course, networking relates to this closely. You’ll want to build an inner circle of well-connected people who can put you in touch with businesses who could benefit from your services. Remember, right now people with tech skills are in short supply, so there are opportunities out there, it’s just a question of finding them. 

If you don’t have a large network or you’re still growing it, you can try cold calls too. No, they’re not the best way to get clients, but they can work over time, you just need to be persistent. The trick is to meet the needs of the person on the other end of the phone, there and then. Once you reassure them that you can solve their nagging problems, they are much more likely to find the budget to hire you. 

Find Partners

As a tech freelancer, you don’t have to go it alone. You also want to work with partners. 

Partners can be great for a number of reasons. First, having IT support of some kind allows you to offload work that you don’t have time to do to other people, without letting your clients down. What’s more, it allows you to earn commission. If you send business to an IT company or agency, they’ll pay you for the privilege. 

Having support also allows you to take on bigger projects. This way, you become an orchestrator of the whole affair, again increasing the amount of money you can earn in any given period. 

Master Communications

How you communicate with your clients is pivotal to the success of your solo venture. If there are problems getting briefs across, it may cost you, and they could see you as “overrated.”

To avoid this, write everything down. Get your counterparts to confirm exactly what it is that they want you to do. Don’t allow for any ambiguity. 

Draw Up Payment Contracts

Always make sure that you get paid. While it might seem awkward for some people, your clients are expecting it. It’s a regular part of business. 

Draw up payment terms before writing a contract. Discuss how you’ll handle payment and what each part can expect. If you’ve never written an invoice before, there are tools out there that let you do it. You can even sometimes integrate these with your personal accounting software so that it automatically updates your accounts and accounts receivables. 

Starting A Career In Tech? Top Things To Do

Image Credit: Yeiferr from Pixabay.

Tech has become one of the most popular fields to work in over the past few decades. That isn't solely among young people; an increasing number of older workers are switching to tech-related fields.

With the area's various benefits, it's easy to see why. There are more than a few reasons to consider a tech career, including:

1. Many positions are well-paid compared to counterparts in other industries.

2. A significant amount of workplace flexibility.

3. You can work in various sectors.

If you're considering working in the field, you'll need to know how to start a career in tech. For younger people, that could seem easy; it may be a matter of earning a tech-related degree and applying for jobs.

However, it could seem more difficult if you're past your college years. It doesn't have to be. There are more than a few steps you can take, regardless of where you are in your career.

Though it'll take time and effort, the reward of working in a thriving and appealing industry could be more than worth it.

How To Start A Career In Tech The Right Way

Know Your Interests & Explore Roles

When many people think of a tech-related career, they’re surprised by the number of roles they can choose from. There may be more than you’re aware of.

When you’re figuring out how to start a career in tech, you’ll need to know which of these roles you’d want to pursue. It’ll have an impact on which skills you need to focus on.

Keeping your interests in mind with this is vital. Performing an interest inventory can be recommended. Doing so will help you narrow down which roles or duties you’re most interested in.

Once you have that, you can focus on your career development and search based on your interests. That should, in turn, lead to a much more rewarding and appealing career.

When you’re switching careers, that should be one of the most important factors.

Do Your Research

Tech is a much broader field than many people think. You’ll need to perform an extensive amount of research on it when you’re entering it.

There are more than a few areas to focus on with this. As mentioned above, the various roles you could pursue are one of the more notable.

These can include:

• UI/UX Design

• Web Development

• Product Design

• Mobile Development

• Technical Writing, and more.

Each of these will have their skill sets and requirements. You’ll need to know what these are, alongside how to develop them.

You could have more tools and resources at your disposal than you’re aware of. Putting the time into researching what these are will help you start a career in tech more straightforward than you otherwise would.

There could be more than a few other factors that you might want to research. These can include how the field’s job market is looking in your area, for example.

Being as informed as possible before starting your job search is vital. You’ll have a more detailed view of what you’ll need to be successful.

Refine Your Skills

A career in tech will need quite a few skills. Many of these will be the technical ones that you’ll need to refine. While you might think that you’d have to go to college to develop these, you don’t have to.

There are more than a few online resources for you to use. These focus on developing specific skills. By coupling this with your research, you can concentrate on the most in-demand skills you need.

Some of the more notable areas you might want to focus on include:

• HTML

• Python

• Javascript

You should focus on the skills needed for the positions you most want. Once you do, you’ll maximize your job prospects.

Contribute To An Open Source Project

Few people think of open-source projects when they’re entering the tech field. However, it can be a great way to develop and refine your skills.

You can contribute to these projects in a few ways, such as finding and getting rid of bugs and writing documentation. That’ll let you develop the skills you want to develop.

While you’ll typically contribute to these for free, they can be a recommended way of starting a career in tech. This can be a great way to develop a portfolio alongside highlighting your skills.

You could also network and make contacts with other people working on the project. These could be quite helpful as you kickstart your tech career.

Build Your First Website Or App

If you’re focusing on coding and programming, among other things, you’ll need to start building a portfolio. That can be difficult when you’re entering the industry.

Once you have the skills you need, however, it doesn’t have to be. You could build a website or app yourself to show off your skills.

You wouldn’t need to get overly complicated with this; showing off your competence in core areas should be your focus. It could also be worth experimenting with various tools when you do.

Concentrating on industry standards is recommended.

How To Start A Career In Tech: Wrapping Up

Many people feel as though there are multiple obstacles to getting a career in tech. That’s somewhat true, as you’ll need specific skills, especially to excel.

However, you could feel that more things are getting in your way than this. Some people believe that the larger obstacles include:

• They’re too old for the industry.

• They don’t know where to start.

• They don’t have a related degree.

You could believe that they’ll be a barrier for you. Once you know how to start a career in tech, they don’t have to be. While having a degree, among other things, can be helpful, they’re often not mandatory.

Instead, following the above steps can be more than beneficial. Not only could you find a job in tech, but you could get one faster than you’d think.

Taking a patient and planned approach, however, will be needed. Focusing on specific areas, such as those above, can be well recommended.

5 Ways Non-Profits Can Use Technology

When you think about technology in business, you probably start thinking about high-end SaaS and Silicon Valley. However, technology is touching all levels of business, including non-profit organizations that rely on donations and funding to function. Non-profits are focused on delivering a positive message to people and helping those in need. The question is, while they’re busy actively helping people - how are they making money? The simple answer is through technology, which has allowed them to reach more potential donors than ever before. Technology such as an electronic volunteer hours log has helped them to manage their internal processes too, and you can learn more about such software here. There are plenty more examples however, and throughout this article we will tell you how non-profits are utilizing technology to benefit people in need.  

Donor Management Software

Typical businesses use customer relationship management software (CRMs) to keep track of regular customers and build rapport with them. When it comes to non-profits, there are several donor management software (DMR), which follow the same principles but allow donations to be tracked over time. With this tech, organizations are able to see one-off donors and long-term donors, which will enable them to try and convert one-timers to long-term donors. 

One such DRM is Givebutter, a not-for-profit fundraising platform that makes reaching targets and communicating with donors a breeze. All payments are easy to track on the dashboard, and you can easily send out personalized thank you messages to your donors, which makes it great when it comes to MailChimp alternatives. With MailChimp alternatives and non-profit DRMs like these, you won’t have to pay any upfront costs - all you will sacrifice is a maximum of 0.5% of all donations, which will go towards their operating costs. 

Automated Marketing

Automated marketing tools are fantastic for sharing media rapidly across all forms of social media platforms and emails. They can help you plan events and spread the word of your non-profit far and wide. Although this may sound like high-brow tech language, you will be surprised at how easy it is to achieve. You can look online for free software to help you, and there is a plethora of eventbrite alternatives for nonprofits which can help you when it comes to event planning and bespoke marketing. Once you’ve automated your marketing, you will improve your efficiency, be able to reach more potential donors, and have more time to focus on your charity. As well as reaching more people with your message, you will save resources because you won’t need as many people on board to create and share content. Instead, you can spend the money placing people in meaningful roles. 

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) tech is most commonly associated with gaming systems, but there have been innovative uses of VR tech by non-profits. For your information, VR tech allows users to become fully submerged in their virtual surroundings through the use of a headset. Now, VR is becoming more widely adopted and affordable, and thanks to smartphones, it can be accessed anywhere. 

You may still be asking how this can help your non-profit. Well, there are cases in which organizations have created emotional user experiences through VR. Instead of simply watching a video slideshow full of information, these non-profits have been able to fully submerge potential donors into the lives of the people they are trying to help. They can be shown how people from third-world countries are living and how their donations support them in real-time. Given how immersive VR tech is and how many more donations it can bring in, there’s no denying that VR will be here for the long haul. 

Message Simplification

Charitable causes come in all shapes and sizes, and some of them are easier to understand than others. For example, if you’re raising money for the homeless or trying to fund cancer research, people know exactly what they are donating to. However, if you’re raising money for the research of unheard diseases, potential donors might not know what you’re doing. Therefore, technology can be used to spread your message far and break down the story. Organizations can use websites, videos, social media, and blogs to reach potential donors and educate people. 

Donations On-Demand

Potential donors don’t want to face any friction when making payments. That is, they don’t want to be faced with lengthy forms. Luckily, non-profits can utilize on-demand payments to alleviate this friction. People can order everything online now with just the click of a button, so why shouldn’t they be able to donate to their favorite courses with just as much ease? 

There are several ways to set up on-demand donations, including through the use of online web portals, external services like JustGiving, or dedicated apps. Further, thanks to technologies like PayPal One Touch, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, donors are able to make payments with just the click of a button. 

Technology is quickly improving all aspects of life, and non-profits are no exception. With the help of innovative tech, organizations can share their message and reach a much wider audience. When it comes to collecting donations and interacting with donors, technology has made it simple. If you’re not utilizing technology within your non-profit, now is the time to act. 

How Technology Has Changed The Hiring Process

The recruitment process used to be a slow process where CVs and cover letters were read by people in the office. A pile was prepared for those interviewed, and the rest went into the shredder. 

But now, CVs and cover letters are sent to recruiters and jobs. Technology has taken a key role in helping recruiters to make smarter decisions faster. 

So how has technology changed the recruiting process? 

Mobile

A huge chunk of job searches and applications now take place on mobile phones. Many websites offer a completely mobile-optimized application process. 

The applications will find and import your LinkedIn profile, meaning you don’t need to type anything at all. 

LinkedIn

LinkedIn has revolutionized how we search and apply for jobs. Recruiters have a range of exceptional tools that allow them to filter through potential candidates and reach out to them personally. 

Job searchers or those currently hiring can even add a filter to their image to let people know they are open to work or have work available. 

LinkedIn also makes it possible to see who in your network might offer a ‘way in.’ 

Reviews

It used to be more undercover, but there is power in the job seekers and those within the company. Websites like Glassdoor allow reviews of the interview process, how the company's culture is, and a little more behind the scenes. 

This information means that people have more of a view of the company and can make better decisions regarding their job applications. 

It’s not just these technologies that impact your job selection process; they impact how the landscape of your chosen industry looks now - and in the future. 

Infographic by Fourth Industrial Revolution Infographic

3 Tips To Improve Your Application's Security The Basics

Tips To Improve Your Application's Security: The Basics

As technology advances, applications have become an integral part of everyone's daily lives, and whether you are developing applications for businesses or for the app store, it is vital your application is secure. As the digital world advances, so do the cyber threats, which is why we've created this guide the help you understand what you need to do in order to improve your application's security. We'll cover everything from DevSecOps strategy to proper testing so that you can ensure you release an application that people can trust.

Implement A DevSecOps Strategy

When it comes to security, everyone in your team should play their part, and that is where the DevSecOps strategy comes in; it provides a foundation that helps you to not only detect holes in your security but prevent them by training staff to implement proper practices in their coding or behaviors. Implementing a DevSecOps strategy will let you take control of security from the start of a project all the way through to the end. This strategy is in contrast with old practices, which left the security step until the testing stages of a project.

Carry Out A Risk Assessment

Risk assessments are vital to every business as a whole but should also be carried out for every project you undertake to ensure that the applications you deliver are secure. When you sit down to create your risk assessment, you should list the assets that need protection while identifying the threats that could lead to attacks and any vulnerabilities that you need to patch in order to secure your application. Furthermore, you should also use this time to determine if you need additional security tools to increase how secure your applications are to combat the risks. 

Provide Security Training For Your Developers

Everyone should be involved in the security of a business, and during the development of an application is no different. Provide training to your developers so they can use secure coding practices, which will reduce the number of vulnerabilities that need to be fixed later on in the project. This training will also reduce how many errors in the code your team produces, which will provide you with a better end product as a result; better code will also reduce the need for patches or updates as technology advances.

Update And Patch Your Applications Regularly

When we think of updates and patches, it is typically for the purposes of improving functionality or giving users new tools they can use to improve their overall experiences. However, updates and patches are the ideal time to enhance the security of your applications. When performing updates and patches, you should also keep in mind the architecture of the application in order to avoid compatibility issues occurring, which could create gaps in your security and lead to vulnerabilities that are open to attacks. 

Furthermore, you don't want your updates or patches to interfere with when people want to use the application, and the best time to begin an update or a patch would be during the out of hours times, such as overnight when it is less likely that users will want access to the application.

Encrypt Your Application Data

Encryption is a developer's best friend and has been implemented across many digital platforms in order to remove the risk of cyberattacks, including websites, which is why HTTP now shows as HTTPS. When securing your application, people want to trust that their data is safe with you, and encryption is the best way to provide that peace of mind. Ensure that you are protected against leaks, breaches, and attacks by using the latest tools to encrypt all of the data within your application.

Integrate Fuzz Testing

Fuzz testing is crucial for ensuring your application is secure and, in short, is the process of finding bugs in your software in order to find gaps in your security and coding errors. It has become a vital part of securing applications to ensure that the software is not vulnerable to hacking attacks. If you're interested in learning more about this process, head over to ForAllSecure and check out their helpful guide on software fuzzing.

Carry Out Penetration Testing

A final tip to improve your application's security is penetration testing, which involves performing mock attacks against your application in search of gaps in security that could later be exploited by malicious parties. Using penetration testing services from an experienced company will help you find vulnerable code before you release applications to the public, but it can also be carried out during maintenance checks on your existing applications to ensure they are still running as they should be.

Additionally, as technology evolves, cyberhacking becomes more sophisticated, and new vulnerabilities could occur in your code due to the changes in the digital world. Keeping ahead of trends and how they could change the way your code works will help you prevent vulnerabilities in your applications before they can occur.

What To Expect During A Technical Interview

Preparing for a technical interview differs significantly from prepping for a non-technical interview. For example, in addition to considering normal interview questions and answers, you should also consider what questions about technical approaches and abilities might be asked, and be prepared to demonstrate understanding of topics like coding. You'll learn technical interview preparation techniques and procedures in this post, so you'll be better prepared for whatever your next IT interview has in store.

What is a technical interview, and how does it differ from a standard interview?

A technical interview is a pre-employment screening for a highly technical position, commonly in IT. Because these interviews may include numerous components, such as remote screening and coding tasks, they can be time-consuming. The parts of a technical interview may appear scary at first, but they are designed to put your critical thinking and real-world problem-solving skills to the test in a variety of circumstances where they may be used on the job.

There are three parts to a technical interview:

Telephone Screening:

A qualifying interviewer asks you questions and reviews your responses over the phone during a phone screen to assess if you're a suitable fit for the position.

An Assignment:

To get an in-person interview, you can be asked to complete a remote coding assignment. For example, if you work for a financial firm that develops Python applications for people who need to build credit, you might be asked to demonstrate your ability to create a user interface in Python.

Interview With A Person:

Following a phone interview and completion of your homework, you may be invited to come in for a formal interview to confirm your candidacy. You'll be asked behavioural and technical questions during the in-person interview, and you'll also have the opportunity to ask your own questions.

There may be several in-person interviews, or none at all, depending on the demands of the interviewer. The interview framework outlined above, on the other hand, provides a solid foundation for establishing technical interview expectations. You should try to demonstrate the following qualities during a technical interview:

Technical And Analytical Skills Are Required

To thrive in this profession, you'll need expert-level coding skills as well as the ability to analyse your work and come up with new tactics based on your findings.

Problem-Solving Expertise

In a technical interview, your ability to tackle complex problems is crucial.

Innovation and creativity are two terms that come to mind.

Companies rely on core technology to expand and compete in their markets, so bringing on a creative thinker who can come up with multiple answers to a single challenge is critical to their overall growth plan.

Communication

It's possible that your ability to communicate with others will play a role in your ability to land the job. Some technical professions are in charge of communicating complex processes to others in a straightforward manner. You may be required to work as part of a team in other situations. Communication is essential in these situations.

Fitting Into The Culture

Candidates should research the company culture and match their skills to the firm's ideals.

How To Prepare For Your Interview

Make sure to do the following in advance of your next technical interview:

• Take into account the tools and abilities required for the position.

• Look into useful books and online resources.

• Prepare for the interview by practising your responses.

• Prepare to ask inquiries by being a conversationalist.

• Allow yourself the necessary time.

1. Take into account the tools and abilities required for the position.

Consider the job's most important requirements. It's crucial to look over the job description to see what you'll need to learn. Working with data structures, programming in a certain language, and using business intelligence tools are all examples of this.

You'll be in a good position to answer any relevant interview questions if you have a firm grasp of the fundamentals. By focusing on the key principles required for the technical function, you can make an outline of what you need to study or refresh your knowledge. For example, if part of your role will include streaming or filming make sure you know the best shotgun microphone available at the moment. 

2. Look into useful books and online resources.

You may start selecting items to assist you to be more successful once you've figured out what you need to work on. This could be books, online coursework, or digital publications:

• Books. Reading books on topics such as coding or management styles might help you expand your knowledge and give confident, complete replies during your interview.

• Coursework that is completed entirely online Examining online coursework can aid in the application of technical abilities in the real world.

• Publications on the web Online publications can not only help you broaden your knowledge, but they can also keep you informed about technology trends that might be important to your interview.

3. Get ready for the interview by doing some practise runs.

Math is used in a variety of technological vocations. Practice logical equation strings that make sense for the position to prepare for practical components of a job interview, such as take-home work or in-person problem-solving. During this procedure, thinking aloud can be beneficial. It's not only a good method to keep interested when solving hard tasks, but it also lets interviewers know how you think. As a result, to better prepare for your technical interview, try thinking out loud while solving practise tasks.

You should practise answering coding questions if you're heading into a coding job. Indeed Career Advice is one of several websites that provide coding interview questions and answers. You can also practise answering interview questions based on your own experiences by using the STAR approach, which requires you to think about a difficult situation and your involvement in solving it, as well as the conclusion.

Review the kind of general interview questions about abilities and behaviours that you're likely to be asked during an interview while you're preparing questions for various circumstances. You should devote time to these if you want to keep your technical job.

Questions & Answers about Scrum

4. Prepare to ask questions and be a conversationalist.

The ability to speak with others professionally is crucial in addition to being knowledgeable and demonstrating demonstrable talents. When it comes to going forward in the process, things like talking over your work, offering thorough, on-topic replies, and appearing for your interview prepared to ask questions can make all the difference.

Have a few questions ready to ask the interviewer to help you better prepare for the conversation. It's likely that you'll need to do some extra research. Before the interview, spend some time reviewing the company and job description, and note down any questions you have. By doing some research prior to the interview and coming up with questions, you'll take the pressure off yourself and open the floor for the interviewer to give you more information. This will give you some better insight and importantly, more time to breathe. Being able to discuss the company with your interviewer will increase the likelihood you'll breeze through your interview feeling well practiced, as you'll be thinking more in the context of a discussion rather than an interview, this can make you feel more relaxed and able to answer questions in the best possible way.

5. Give yourself plenty of time to do your task.

Take the time you need to solve the problem and double-check your work, whether it's answering take-home coding questions or using a whiteboard in real-time during your interview. You're more likely to make fewer mistakes if you calm down and avoid rushing.

Hopefully, this post will you to apply for a position in technology. Do you have any other tips that could help? Please share them in the comments below. 

How to Make Sure Your Computer Is Interview Ready

Having a slow computer can be one of the most frustrating things in the world. This can be doubly hard if you are using your computer to work remotely, or are using it to complete coursework or are even having a remote interview. The last thing you want is a computer that is prone to freezing and crashing. Sometimes we may just buy a new computer, but this is not always the best solution, it certainly is not the most environmentally friendly one. You are far better off discovering ways to enhance your computer in the here and now to make it quicker and more efficient. Here are a few solutions for you:

Uninstall Unused Programs

Having a computer filled up with old programs that you never use is a great way to slow the performance. Sometimes we download something and use it one or two times, and forever it remains, filling up space on the hard drive. Also, when you purchase a computer, you will see that there are several programs installed that you never use. All you need to do is navigate to the add/remove program section of your control panel and delete or uninstall all these programs. You may need to install a new program for your remote interview, so having less competition on the hard drive is an added benefit.

External Storage Options

Try to avoid overfilling your hard drive. If you have less than 15% space, then you really need to consider freeing up some space. Why not transfer any old picture or video onto an external hard drive, or use cloud storage. A computer should not really be used as an old picture database, as this uses up a lot of space for something that can easily be transferred elsewhere. If you then need more space to download things during your interview, you will have the space to do so. 

RAM

If you have a desktop PC or even a laptop you could consider purchasing a new piece of RAM. There are a lot of options when purchasing extra RAM, so ensure you do your homework. 

Disable any Auto-launching Programs

When your computer starts up, does it take an awfully long time to get going? Well, it could be because you have too many programs that automatically open as soon as the computer is switched on. Additionally, they will continue to run as background processes for the duration of your time on the computer. The majority of these serve no purpose. The best thing to do is disable any programs which are primed to launch on startup. Some programs actually allow you to stop this in their properties. However, you may need to use the task manager under the startup tab to disable others. 

Use System Tools

Any budding tech interviewee should know how to use their Operating systems disk clean up and maintenance tools, like a disk defragger. So before your interview, ensure you have used these tools to keep your computer running quickly and efficiently. They also ensure that the disk has no issues and the files are saved in the most orderly fashion. Have a look and see what options you have in your control panel. If your Mac is particularly slow, click here for more details on how to speed your computer up. Anything you can do to prevent computer issues during a tech interview is an absolute must.

Your Camera and Microphone

It is best you do a little test run before the big day. The last thing you want to discover is that your internal camera and microphone are faulty. It may be a good idea to speak to a family member or friend over Skype just to practise. If there are any issues, you can adjust the settings, or you have the time to buy an external microphone or camera., Perhaps you can get one that reality enhances your look too.  

Get Dusting

Allowing dust to build up in your computer is a serious no-no. Dust can clog up the innards and cause the hardware to be overhead, which can prematurely end the life of your computer and it can hinder performance. Opening a desktop computer should be relatively simple to do, and once you have it open, just blow away all the dust, especially off the fans. For laptops, use some compressed air and blow inside the vents. The last thing you want is your computer to conk out during that all-important tech interview. That would definitely mean you do not get the job.

How to make progress in your trading profession

Investors should improve their trading performance as it is necessary for getting a good result. High performance can bring a great change in the career. People do not think that in the trading field, it is easy to make money. Here, many people have lost money and left the field. They must be aware of every action to make progress. Though there are many ways by which you can make progress as a trader, you need to follow a simple system. If you make the overall trading process a complex task, you are going to lose money most of the time. So be strategic with your actions.

Give attention to fundamental and technical analysis

People should develop theoretical and practical knowledge to gain victory. The person must learn about the important components of this zone that have an impact on the price movement of the currency pair. Traders can gain knowledge from books, online sources, and so on. Many investors also attend seminars to get answers to their questions. When people will increase their knowledge level, they will perform better. If you recognize the situation, it will be possible for you to determine the right action. 

Along with theoretical cognition, the investor must give an effort to develop practical knowledge. They need to know about the brokers and the trading platforms so that they can run the buying-selling process properly. Investors should practice through the simulated account so that they can build the crucial skill which will help to make progress. And if possible read some premium articles at Saxo markets. Use their free resources to enhance your skills. 

Build a fruitful plan

Traders should do the task based on the plan so that they can work systematically. They have to try to develop a fruitful roadmap to do better. Investors are required to invest time in making the strategy and try to implement this timely. He should try to trade based on the plan which will help to remove the tendency of overtrading. People do not make the right decision if they have no roadmap. This will help to find out the right way of gaining success. People should trail the plan so that they can know about its affordability. Traders should need to change the blueprint if it is necessary. Without modifying the roadmap, you can’t be profitable in every situation.

Take the changes positively

If the investors want to adjust with the dynamic situation, they will get the benefits. Investors are required to take the right action based on the situation, Sometimes, traders cannot be able to stay in them because of their lack of adjustability. Here, the person cannot beat the market. If you try to do so, you will be failed. People should be prepared for countenancing difficulties. When the investor will adapt to the new situation, he will face a winning streak. So, take proper preparation which will help to adapt to the situation. And stop getting frustrated by seeing the negative results in your trading performance. 

Tackle the Sentimental Issues

Due to excessive emotions, the person cannot perform perfectly. They must try to reduce the negative factors such as greed, fear, depression, overexcitement which are not beneficial to trading. People should try to think practically and make a logical decisions so that they can see better sequels. Here, when the person will learn to accept the loss and think about the upcoming action, making profits will become easier.

If you can apply these techniques properly, you will improve your performance. The better performance will provide the investor with a better result. Traders should try to think positively so that they can reduce the negativity. The person must try to make a balance between professional and personal life to do work properly. If your personal life is disturbed, your professional life will be influenced by this.

The Ultimate Guide to Accepting a Job Offer

Infographic Provided by Advanced Resources

3 Obstacles Between You and Your Dream Tech Job (and Why They Aren't Really Obstacles)

Want to get into tech? Spend your days dreaming of that one perfect job? Too scared to act because it feels like there are just too many obstacles standing between you and your dream job? You’re certainly not alone, and maybe we can help you overcome one or two of those obstacles so you can go for your goal and secure that great tech role after all... 

1. You’re short of cash

When you want to break into tech, you often need to buy expensive equipment like MacBooks or invest in pricy coding courses that will equip you with everything you need to know to be the person you want to be, right? Wrong.

Although some formal coding education at a decent high school or online cyber school alongside algebra lessons and all that jazz, may help you a bit, most tech jobs are all about talent, and that means you can teach yourself. There are so many free and low-cost courses that will enable you to do so, and actually, if you have the drive and passion to learn everything yourself, well that is only going to impress employers more. Oh, and you absolutely can get started on a cheap laptop or whatever.

2. You don’t have the time

You have to work your day job, take care of the kids and look after the house so there’s no time to break into that dream tech job, right? Once again you are wrong. We all have the same 24 hours in the day, so if other people have successfully broken into the tech industry before you, many of them single parents struggling college students, or people working several jobs just to get by, so can you.

What you need to do is take a good hard look at your schedule and get rid of anything that isn’t necessary. Can’t do that? Get up an hour early and work on building your tech portfolio then. Sure, it may take you a little longer, but if it means getting to do your dream job, then it has to be worth it, right?

3. You don’t have any contacts

There’s this misconception that everyone in the tech industry knows everyone and you can only get a job if you have an in with someone. Sucks for you if you don’t know any tech people, right? Again, wrong. This really doesn’t have to be an obstacle. The great thing about the tech industry is that it is always looking for talented people, so although it may be easier to find an opportunity if you know a guy, it isn’t essential. 

Work at building your skills and creating a killer portfolio, then reach out to people. Show them your stuff, and if it’s good, there’s every chance that they will consider you for a position.

Alternatively, you could just go freelance and start making money your way on your terms without any gatekeepers in the way to stop you at all.

As you can see, those obstacles you thought were preventing you from getting your dream tech job, aren’t obstacles at all, so go get it!

Follow These 10 Steps to Land a Career in Tech

Are you starting out and considering your options? Or maybe you've heard that tech is a thriving industry and have decided to make a career change. Either way you will need a pathway into the industry that combines learning and practical skills to good effect. 

There is good news and bad news. The bad news is there is no prepackaged way to do this. You can't simply sign up to a course that will give you all the essentials. The good news is you have the freedom to cherry pick what is most important and relevant to your own vision and career path. For example, you might find you need to learn how to use a Grep command to do your ideal job, or, you might have to learn something completely different! 

In this post we look at ten steps you can take to make your first impressions on the tech industry. The steps don't have to be followed exactly, they are more like options you can engage with at different times and to different degrees. In the end it will add up to a successful job in tech. 

ATTEND INDUSTRY MEETINGS 

Where would we be without mentors in life? Our first mentors are our parents, then our teachers. Professors and career advisors are also mentors. What they provide is practical knowledge and life advice for the way things are. This isn't always something you can access by reading a book or online article. 

If you want to land a good job in tech, advance your career, you will seriously benefit from a tech mentor. But where do you find one, especially at that early stage when you don't have a paid role yet? The answer is to attend industry meetings and talk to people. You will start to meet the people you need to know and know about if you want to get ahead. 

EXPLORE TECH JOBS 

Deciding to pursue tech as a career path is a big decision, you probably have several other potential pathways ahead of you and choosing one means closing the door on all the others. Still, tech is a thriving industry and you should have plenty of career options available. Actually, the tech field is just as expensive as the career options you had previously. 

But that doesn't make things any easier. You still have to decide on what tech pathway to pursue. Will you do programming or networks, for instance. The way to decide is by exploring the job roles available and using tools like CompTIA to help you decide on the best fit for your personality and skill set. 

LEARN HTML

If you move to another country and don't know the language you're at an immediate disadvantage. Sure, you can get by. You still have body language and a number of other signs and signals you can use; but you won't be able to conduct a meaningful conversation with a friend or get technical with the brains that matter in your workplace. 

Speaking of communication, pursuing any job in the tech sector requires a strong and stable cell phone signal. When you work freelance or for a company it isn’t just the internet you need;  there are important phone calls to take everyday and you can’t exactly wave your phone around on the street every time. If your home or place of work doesn’t have a strong cell phone signal, invest in weBoost to instantly boost your cell signal wherever you are.  

Back to coding! Newbies in the tech industry are now expected to know HTML, it’s the language used to make websites visible and is used by Programmers, technical writers, information architects and many others. When you understand HTML you will be one step closer to landing that dream career in the tech sector. 

READ COMPUTER BOOKS 

Having a mentor is one thing but you also need to know your stuff. Your knowledge base for your Tech is very important and will complement your mentorship conversations as well as resource you for your future career. Computer books can be anything from technical guides in your industry to motivational figures. 

To make your learning as practical and efficiency as possible it's best to choose your sector first. Of course eclecticism is fine at the start, especially when choosing your career pathway, buy after you have chosen the real learning begins. Tailor your tech reading to your chosen field as far as possible, this will help you to specialise more quickly. 

WRITE A PROGRAM 

Whether you wish to specialise in programming or not, it's still a good idea to learn some programming. Programming is an essential part of the tech industry and you should know how it works and what the terminology means, even if your main job is in networking or something else. The good news is that programming is very easy to learn and you only need a few hours a week to get started. 

To write a program you will need a computer with a strong Internet connection.. You will also need a web browser, a text editing program, and an online tutorial or app. You will also need to set aside some time in your day or week to focus on learning the skills. There are many programming languages to German your start. Choose from C++, Java, C#, Visual Basic and many more. Learning programming has the added benefit of giving you a skillset that helps you earn money. 

INSTALL LINEX 

If you thought that OSX and Windows were the only operating systems on the planet that's not surprising. The vast majority of PCs and laptops run one or the other. In reality, there are many more operating systems in existence and Linux is one of them. Linux is an Open-Source operating system free from any brand affiliation. This is one aspect of tech it's good to learn about.

One of the first things you should do is install the Linux operating system. This will give you plenty of time to learn and practice the platform. You will have to seek out the programs that work for it as you learn your tech skills and knowledge base, which will also assist your practical learning. Don't read the theory first, learn and use it simultaneously. 

VOLUNTEER YOUR SERVICES 

If you're right at the start of your tech career you might think you have very little to offer and that no one will hire you. In some respects that might be the case, which is why you need to be proactive about your learning and practice. Once you have decided on a tech career there's no time to lose. 

You may not have many tech skills yet but you will have other skills you can trade and enhance in tech roles. Communication is very important in the tech sector. No matter what role you find yourself in your need to be able to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively. This takes practice. 

The best way to enhance your skills and knowledge without experience is to volunteer. These days, everyone needs a tech person and there should be an opportunity to watch a learn in local industries. Seek out non-profits, religious organisations, community groups and tech companies in your areas. Think of it as learning for free, not working for free. 

OPEN SOURCE PROJECTS 

Open Source Is software, code, or other technical data that can be freely shared on the Internet between different users. This type of data has no encryption and is freely available to the public. Projects are organised in this way and people from different backgrounds and disciplines can contribute. 

If you have little or no experience with technical projects then try contributing to an open source one. The process will not only enhance your technical knowledge and skills but you will get to know people interested in the same field and start to build a network. 

There is a further advantage to contributing to an open source project. When it's complete you will gain recognition for your efforts which will stand you in good stead for getting future roles. Having contributed to this project future employers can see you are a committed and competent team member. 

ENROLL IN COURSES 

To land a job in the tech sector you need to know what you're doing. So where do you gain this viral technical know how? One way is by reading books, another is by volunteering your services. But these should always be complemented with technical courses both online and offline. 

If you care about your career you will be learning all the time, especially when  it comes to the tech sector which changes quickly. Tech courses are now offered by community colleges, universities, and technology training centers, there are also some excellent courses available online. 

Courses can give you the training and knowledge – at least theoretically, but sometimes practically – to get ahead in your field. It pays to have a tech course of some kind on the go at all times. That's to online training courses these are now more cost effective and time flexible than ever before. 

BUILD A WEBSITE 

The best way to learn any subject is to work in that field and learn directly. There are three types of learning, visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Some people are predisposed to one more than the other, but it takes all three working in tandem to learn a subject authoritatively. Don't stall at the theory, also dive into practical learning.

Building a website is an excellent way to get your teeth into your subject. It's an excellent way to learn and produce some content for future companies to see. Have fun with this process. It's a learning curve and a process of discovery. Don't put yourself under too much pressure. You can decide late if what you create is good enough for your portfolio.