How to Become a Technologist
The most general definition of a technologist is someone trained to use technology to perform their job. Technologists combine their training and understanding of technology with the details and intricacies of an industry. Technologists can be found working in every field including the food, medical, criminal justice and banking industries. Some technologist jobs may require intricate training while other jobs may require a focus on the science with minor training in computer information systems. Discovering which industry is of interest is key to becoming a technologist.
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Instructions
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Choose an industry and investigate the requirements for technologists. Each industry will require something different from the person carrying the title "technologist." IT departments are filled with technologists trained only in the computer science field. The food industry requires food technologists to be schooled in the agricultural sciences. Read technologist job descriptions, talk to the human resources department of companies that are of interest and ask people working in a favored industry what they did to become a technologist.
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Get the education. Many entry-level technologists are hired when they hold a bachelor's degree in computer science or information technology. Technologists interested in working in a specific industry should investigate a combined or specialty degree. A combined degree would be an information technology degree enhanced with a minor or elective credits that pertain to a particular industry. A bachelor's degree in medical technology would be considered a specialty technology degree. Students with an interest in cyber security should consider adding courses in criminal justice to their degree plan. Students interested in forensics and the medical field can benefit from a degree in medical technology. Entry-level clinical laboratory technologists are usually hired with a bachelor's degree in medical technology.
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Build a work history. Most industries will require three or more years of relevant work history before moving someone into a technologist position. Internships undertaken while in school introduce the technologist to the professional world. Student jobs in corporate or small business IT departments are good training ground for any industry. If a medical technology career is desirable, obtain a job working in the medical field as a research data assistant or lab technologist. Those interested in the justice system should obtain work in the IT department of the local or federal court system.
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Get certified. Look for associations and standards organizations that offer certification opportunities for the specific industry. The National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel, the American Medical Technologists and the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies each have certification programs for industry technologists. Certifications usually involve an application, proof of education, proof of work history, a fee and an exam.
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