2021 is a year that I achieved several new career heights in my business. I registered an LLC business in the USA, gained more valuable IT skills, and grew my income to an okay level. However, for the purpose of this article, I will be focusing more on the growth of my career as a Digital Marketing Professional and a tech bro :).
I don’t consider myself a real tech bro yet for the simple fact that I don’t work in the main tech fields like Software Development (SD), Information Systems (IS), and Computer Systems and Network Technology (CNT).
I am not entirely a novice in these mainstream tech fields but I also don’t consider myself a beginner yet. This is what I want to improve on going forward.
I already do a lot of Content Marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) on a day-to-day basis. I know one or two things about installing and managing Content Management Systems (CMS), especially WordPress.
I manage several WordPress blogs and websites with multiple contributors. I write, edit, and publish business and tech articles on my personal blog, business blog, company blog, and several other blogs as a guest writer. This should qualify me as a Digital Marketing Professional but I don’t feel comfortable with the title yet.
I enjoy my work. I love the freedom to work wherever I want, whenever I want, and how I want. I love the satisfaction I get from being a creator, dealing with clients via emails, the excitement of learning new things on the go, and the ability to push my imaginations. But I still feel that there is something missing for me to become a recognized Digital Professional in my field.
This might be a case of imposter syndrome. I know that it might sound cliche but it is what it is. I can also say that it is more of a growing desire to be recognized and respected globally as a professional tech bro. 🙂
In Pursuit of a Professional Career Recognition In the IT World
Who am I? This is a question I am trying to answer every day as I grow daily in my professional life.
I don’t consider myself a content marketer even though I do Content Marketing on a daily basis. I don’t consider myself an SEO expert even though my work is basically Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
I don’t consider myself a blogger even though I publish articles daily on my business blog. Perhaps, I am a digital consultant.
I am a lot of things to different persons every day. To some people, I am a Digital Consultant and to others, I am an Online Entrepreneur. Maybe, I am a Tech Polymath. I don’t even know if I can call myself this.
In the past, I’ve been exposed to the basics of Computer Hardware, Computer Software, Operating systems, and Basic Electronics. However, I don’t use this knowledge in my daily work. So, I can’t call myself an IT Professional yet in the real sense of the word.
I hope to find a career identity that will capture my knowledge of IT and the essence of all that I do online in my business. And hopefully, I would like to be part of a recognized global organization of digital professionals.
Exploring New Career Heights with BCS Membership and BNT
In the search for professional recognition in my tech career, I registered with the Blaze Networks Transcend Technologies (BNT), a training center accredited by The British Computer Society (BCS) Chartered Institute for IT which is a professional body for IT.
BNT in partnership with BCS offers different training modules to fast track your technology career with a flexible program of higher education IT qualifications giving you the practical skills, knowledge, and competencies you need to go far in the global IT industry.
For the purpose of my professional goals, I will be starting with BCS Level 4 Certificate in IT with training modules in Information Systems (IS), Computer and network technology (CNT), and Software Development.
As a result of this training, I get to become a member of BCS by selecting the grade of membership that is right for me. For my current career stage, my BCS membership will cost 30 Pounds per year and 40 Pounds for four years which is fair considering the overall value and networking opportunities.
BCS is a global and diverse home for digital, technical, and IT professionals where I will be supported at every stage of my career journey. This fits right with my goal and I believe that this is the right step to take in my pursuit of career identity and global recognition as an IT Professional.
There are higher training modules but for the BCS Higher Education Qualifications, you must start for Level 4 and study your way up to Level 6.
My Experience With BNT Virtual Classes
One of the things that encouraged me to enroll for the BCS Level 4 Certificate in IT training with BNT is the availability of virtual classes. Physical classes will affect my work schedule and with the COVID-19 pandemic still, very much around, virtual classes seem to be the best practical solution to protect us from this virus.
We are already three weeks into the classes and I am glad I took the step at this stage of my career.
Although the only downside so far to this mode of learning has to do with a bad internet connection. The instructors make sure that the classes are recorded for students with bad internet connections.
We have one hour of classes for each of the units on Mondays (Software Development), Wednesdays (Computer Networking and Technology), and Fridays (Information Systems) between 8 PM and 9 PM WAT to accommodate busy professionals like myself.
Saturdays are for revision between 8 AM and 12 PM WAT but we are yet to start Saturday classes. I believe that the time sacrifice is worth it for my career goals even though it can be stressful at times.
Looking back, I would say this is one of the best decisions I made in 2021. The time and financial commitment to this training are huge but I believe that any money and time spent on personal development and growth is an investment.