5 Smart Ways to Grow Fast in the Tech World

The tech world is fast-paced, competitive, and constantly evolving. But the good news is that anyone can grow fast in tech with the right mindset, tools, and strategy. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up, here are 5 practical ways to fast-track your growth in tech, especially if you’re in a developing market like Nigeria or anywhere across Africa.

1. Master a Marketable Skill (then develop more)

Tech is wide; from web development and cloud computing to data analytics, cybersecurity, AI, and more. You don’t need to know everything. Instead:

Pick a niche that’s in demand (e.g., cloud computing, DevOps, frontend development, Machine learning, Prompt Engineering or cybersecurity).
Focus on learning deeply, not just watching tutorials. Practice, build, break, fix, repeat.
Specialists tend to grow faster than generalists in the beginning stages. So specialize in one and grow.

After picking the skill, draw a road map and strictly follow it.

2. Work on Real Projects (even before you're hired)

Tech is a “show me, not tell me” industry. Employers and clients want to see what you can build, not just hear about what you know.

Build real-world projects: a portfolio website, a landing page for a small business, a personal API, a weather app, or a security audit report.
Offer to work with small businesses, friends, or NGOs at a discount (or even for free at first) to build experience.
Open-source your projects on GitHub. It shows proof of work and growth.

Extra tip: Document your projects; what problem it solves, how you built it, what tools you used. Don’t gate keep, share it and you’ll meet people of like minds.

3. Leverage Online Learning + Certifications

Thanks to the internet, you can access world-class tech education from your room even with just a smartphone.

Use platforms like Coursera, Udemy, FreeCodeCamp, YouTube, LinkedIn Learning etc.. to take structured courses.
Follow a certification path that matches your skill. For instance, if you’re into cloud, go for:

4. Join a Tech Community (Online and Offline)

You grow faster when you’re not doing it alone. Communities give you access to:

Mentorship and guidance
Job referrals
Collaboration on projects
Accountability and motivation

Join tech WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, Discord communities, facebook groups or pages or Twitter/X Spaces. Also, attend tech meetups, bootcamps, or hackathons in your city.

Communities to check out:

For Nigerians: Ingressive for Good, Zuri Team, She Code Africa, DevCareer, Google Developer Groups
Global: Stack Overflow, GitHub, Reddit r/learnprogramming, Women Who Code

5. Market Yourself: Let the World Know What You Can Do

This is one step many techies ignore. But in today’s world, if you don’t put yourself out there, people will assume you don’t exist.

Share your learning journey on Facebook, IG, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, TikTok, or a personal blog.
Make a daily post about your jouney.
Post your GitHub link in your bio.
Make short videos or write posts explaining what you built or learned.
Update your portfolio regularly.

It’s not bragging, it’s branding. That’s how recruiters and clients find you.