You might think that you need to have worked in a technical-related field all your life or have a degree in Computer Science to be in tech. But, there's no expiration date on when you can make the switch and start your career in the industry, Rombom believes. In fact, the skills and knowledge you've developed in prior roles or through your education are valuable. "Having the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with otherseven if you developed those soft skills far outside of techcan be just as important as mastering a hard skill like coding," she says.

Not tech-savvy, so you can't possibly work in tech? Don't sell yourself short. Ignore the stereotype that you have to be a "technical" person in order to be successful in this field. "Many believe that coding is a super mathematical, solitary pursuit," says Rombom. It's just the opposite, actually. "Coding is creativemore like writing than math," she says. Beyond that, "Building software requires constant collaboration, so the more diverse perspectives available, the better the product," she says.

As the world increasingly turns toward digital, more companies have technology at their core, so it's important to develop programming skills. It "not only empowers you to make more of an impact in your current roleto implement your own solutions instead of outsourcingit opens up a whole world of career opportunities across every imaginable industry," says Rombom. Her advice is to find what you're passionate about and pursue that in an even more powerful way by leveraging code.

Whether you've decided to go for it and get into tech or if you're still unsure, it's important to build your confidence and not let "Imposter Syndrome" (aka, convincing yourself that you don't know enough to be good at it), take over. "Try turning 'Imposter Syndrome' on its head," says Rombom. "See a lack of knowledge not as a flaw but as an opportunity to grow," she says. Understand that everyone, no matter how long they've been in tech, is a beginner at something. "You just have to start. Go for small wins," she says. Also remember that with programming, failing often is part of the learning process. "You'll write buggy code, your test wont pass, or you'll get stuck on a problem for hours, and the world will keep spinning," she says.

Love these tips and want more? Check out the Flatiron School's e-book How to Be a No-Brainer Tech Hire.

The Flatiron School's Rebekah Rombom shares her advice on breaking into the tech world as a woman, whether you're a recent graduate or looking for a career change.

It may come as a surprise, but women only hold 25% of computing-related jobs even in today's digital world. What's more, that number's been declining since the 1990s. As a female-founded tech company, Birchbox is striving to change that statistic, which is why we partnered with the [Flatiron School](https://flatironschool.com/) to create the [Women Take Tech](http://blog.flatironschool.com/announcing-women-take-tech-in-partnership-with-birchbox/) scholarship program. As part of our commitment to giving women the tools and know-how they need to build successful careers in tech, we asked Rebekah Rombom, vice president of career services at the Flatiron School, to share her advice on breaking into the tech world and how to navigate it once you make the jump.

Breaking the Code: How to Get Into the Tech World

1. Figure out which apps drain the most juice.

If youre an Apple user, you can use the tool in iOS 8 that gives a percentage breakdown of the biggest drainers. (Go to Settings > General > Usage > Battery Usage.) That will help you decide whether to close out those apps or just delete them altogether. Battery Drain Analyzer will help most other smartphone owners figure out which apps are the biggest culprits.

2. Just say "no" to notifications.

Every time your phone buzzes with a notification of a new Snapchat, tweet or Instagram like, it loses a little bit of power. Keep the notification alerts to a minimum to maximize that battery life.

3. Stop making fetch a thing.

We know, you dont want to miss an e-mail. But the fetch functionwhich is always looking for new mail and pings you with inbox updatesis a major battery drainer. Turn the function off on the weekends (at least) to extend the power while youre out and about.

4. Don't hit rock bottom.

Avoid letting your phone's battery run all the way down to zero percent. Most smartphones use lithium-based batteries, which are designed to be charged early and often, and letting them get too low can actually damage the longevity of the battery.

5. Embrace your ringtones.

Keeping your phone on vibrate is the social norm, but that function uses additional battery power. Opt for a ringtoneand just keep it at a low volume.

6. High brightness: a not-so bright idea.

The brighter your screen is, the more battery it uses. Preserve that juice by keeping the brightness display at the lowest setting possible.

7. Disable dynamic backgrounds.

iPhone users have the option to employ animated wallpapers on their screens. Its a cool touch, but also one thatyou guessed itrequires more battery power. Stick with a simple static background in the "Wallpapers & Backgrounds" menu instead.

8. Auto-lock sooner.

If youre not using your phone, let it go to sleep by taking advantage of the auto-lock feature. The sooner is sleeps (think after one or two minutes of inactivity), the less power it uses.

9. Keep it cool.  

Ever notice that your battery runs out faster when you spend the whole day at the beach? Batteries function better in a reasonably cool environment (room temperature is fine), so dont leave your smartphones under direct sunlight or in any place that is hot. On the flip-side, sub-zero temps arent great for phones either.

10 FYI: Force-quitting wont really help.

Contrary to popular belief, force-quitting apps does not improve your battery life. Your phone actually requires more battery power to reopen and load apps that have been closed. You should really only force-quit if an app crashes or isnt responding.

Instead of spending your time looking for the nearest outlet, use these tips to improve your phones battery life between charges.

You rely on your smartphone for a lot of things: providing directions, paying for coffee, tracking your steps, even finding dates. You need that gadget by your side throughout the day, so instead of spending your time looking for the nearest outlet, try these tips to improve your phones battery life between charges.

Better Battery Life: 10 Ways to Hack Your Smartphone

While Birchbox Man has partnered with River VR to put you behind the wheels of a race car, on a surfboard mid-wave, or above the city in a helicopter, there are a handful of other apps that transport you from your desk to foreign lands, or offer VIP entertainment access. Here are five of our favorites.

A collection of high-profile videosfrom Jerry Seinfeld doing standup to VICE's Millions March protest coveragemakes VRSE one of the most buzzed-about VR apps. 

Download: Apple | Google

A new spin on single-player Pong. Use your head to move the paddle; just keep aware of your personal space, less you head butt your neighbor.

Download: Apple | Google

Glitcher utilizes your camera: It detects faces and puts cartoon heads atop people, or inverts the colors in any room to throw you for a loop.

Download: Google

While simple in context360-degree panoramic photosthe execution is stunning. You'll feel like a tourist at some of the world's best attractions, seeing every angle of the action. (Nevermind that it's paused.)

Download: Apple | Google

With numerous standalone experiences, Jaunt is paving the way for all-access entertainment. See Paul McCartney or Big Sean in concert, experience a WWII rescue simulation, or go base jumping with North Face. 

Download: Apple | Google

Visit Birchbox.com/VR to download the River VR app or to order a handheld viewer.

The immersive technology is more accessible than ever.

The latest leap in virtual reality makes the immersive technology more accessible than ever: All you need is a smartphone and a handheld headset. ([Get one here](/vr)!) 

The 5 Coolest Virtual Reality Experiences You Can Have on Your Smartphone

For most of us, the official start of summer means sticky, sweat-inducing heat. Cool off and stay hydrated with this refreshing Melon Ball Punch from Divas Can Cookits basically air conditioning in a cup. Fresh mint and crisp melon make this drink extra tasty, so we wont judge if you guzzle two (or three).

If summer reading is high on your agenda, consider one of Brit+Cos top six apps for bookworms. Shelfie will digitize your dusty paperbacks, while Oyster will help you discover the next indie author. And if youre looking for book ideas, Overdrive will allow you to borrow from other users' shelves without wandering the aisles for hours.

Add some sultry vocals to your Saturday soundtrack with Leon Bridges' debut album, Coming Home. Check out the title track, a throwback to retro grooves, and reserve bragging rights for knowing him before anyone else.

Sick of looking at the five nail colors you never wear? Check out Bustles guide for using your old nail polish to do anything from cleaning up other polish to fixing your window screens. Not only will it help you get organized, its also an excuse for a fresh mani-pedi!

Because everyone's working for Saturday and Sunday.

Since we know how crazy-busy Monday through Friday can be, wed like to take a little pressure off the stressful question of how to spend this weekend. Here are a few particularly entertaining things we think youd like to partake in:

Hey there!

Breaking the Code: How to Get Into the Tech World

Better Battery Life: 10 Ways to Hack Your Smartphone

The 5 Coolest Virtual Reality Experiences You Can Have on Your Smartphone

The Birchbox Weekender