Speedy Mentors       3 yrs ago

With almost everything driven by technology, it is no surprise that the world of tech continues to grow. Employment opportunities abound in the industry, and the majority of them are well-paying and high-demand. In fact, the best tech jobs are found to pay more than the average median wage and have growth rates that are significantly higher compared to other jobs. Add to that is the fact that a lot of tech companies put a premium on culture and employees’ welfare. Put it simply, there is no better time to be working in the tech industry than today.

But what if you do not know how to write a code to make functional websites and apps? Would you still be able to find your way into the tech world and be part of an innovative company like Google, Apple or Facebook? Sure, you can! And the reason is simple: lots of available jobs in tech do not demand coding skills. In fact, here at Speedy Mentors, we have seen a number of both mentors and mentees successfully take on tech careers without having a working knowledge of coding fundamentals.

Surprised? Don’t be. The tech industry is not just about making products that rely on coding. It also presents other amazing opportunities that demand a broader range of tech skills such as designing, testing, analysis, optimization, etc. People who do these jobs enjoy high pay and excellent career prospects just like programmers do. 

Now that you know you don’t need coding skills to get into tech, you are probably wondering how to get started. We have put together this simple guide so you can discover: 

• The realities of working in tech

• How to get in the tech career path with your existing skills

• Some no-code tech careers worth your consideration

The realities of working in tech

A lot of people outside tech think that it is an exclusive community, where only a select few can get in and where work entails sitting in front of a computer all day, building sites and apps. These are not entirely true. 

Although technical jobs make up more than half of the workforce within the tech industry, there are still plenty of roles within the field that do not necessarily require such capabilities as designing computer networks or creating websites or apps. These are roles that help make the tech industry operate smoothly, including HR workers, product managers, business development specialists, digital marketers, content writers, sales representatives and customer service professionals, among others.

The point is: you do not have to be code-savvy or tech-savvy in general to find a job in the tech industry. You can tap into your existing skills to handle other jobs within the field, and while at it you can start teaching yourself some tech skills so you can become better over time and use that to move your career forward.

How to get in the tech career path with your existing skills

You already accepted that coding isn’t for you. Deep down, however, you know that tech is the industry where you want to be. Sure, making that happen may not be easy. But it is definitely doable by tapping into your existing skills and with a bit of hard work. Here are some steps you can take to get your foot in the door.

Start where you are 

A lot of people think that to enter or transition into a tech career, you need to have tech qualifications like a computer science degree or a previous tech-related job. This is not the case, though. Many successful tech professionals went from zero tech skills to tech executive roles. Take for instance Pandora Radio CEO and Founder Tim Westergren who used to be a sound engineer and musician before building and leading a tech startup. There are also Alex Turnbull of Groove HQ and Stephanie Tilenius of Vida Health Inc., both of whom do not have a tech background but were able to establish their own tech-driven companies that are earning millions per month in recurring revenue. 

These executives show that a long-term tech pedigree is not necessarily the be-all and end-all to get into the industry. There are numerous paths to get there and you just have to put in the effort to begin your journey. Start where you are at the moment. Find ways in your current career to incorporate tech-related tasks into your role. Along the way, you can grow your technical expertise that can help you get where you want to be.

Become familiar with available non-coding roles

One of the top factors that many people overlook when finding non-coding jobs in tech is familiarizing themselves with the available roles. This is why it is important to do your research first so you can effectively distinguish non-coding jobs despite their tech-sounding titles and understand what they truly entail. 

There are a number of resources you can use for your due diligence, such as LinkedIn and other job search platforms. While at it, know the requirements for each role as well as the common application and interview process. It will also help if you will be able to find people who are currently working in those roles so you will have an idea about their career backgrounds.  

Once you have figured out the non-coding jobs you can potentially pursue, it is a good idea to determine if your skills and experiences fit in with those required in the positions you have found. Identify areas within the jobs where your strengths can be useful and highlight them in your CV. Doing so will make it easier for prospective employers to see how your previous experiences can be useful to the role they are trying to fill. Additionally, do not forget to point out gaps in your skills and experiences so you can start working on a plan to fill those gaps, which should help make yourself all the more qualified for the role.

Invest in your learning

Keep in mind that the tech industry is an ever-evolving field. The knowledge and skills you have now could easily become obsolete in the future, so even if you are aiming for a non-coding job, it still pays to invest in your learning.

This does not necessarily mean that you have to go back to school to finish a tech-related degree. These days, there is an abundance of valuable resources online that you can access either for free or with a minimal fee. The good thing about these online resources is that the majority of them are self-regulated, which means you can study at your own time and pace.

Also, consider supplementing your online learning by reading materials about the tech industry and the role you would like to pursue. You can find a plethora of tech-ed books, articles, newsletters, and white papers written by tech experts, covering everything from industry trends to tips on how to break into the tech world.

Start working on building your network

It does not matter if you are aiming for a non-technical role in the tech industry. Doing some networking now can go a long way towards boosting your professional development as well as career prospects. 

Networking is not just about meeting people within the industry. It is also about exchanging information and fostering a professional relationship. To start building your network, get out there and attend seminars, conferences and other meetups that will help you become acquainted with the tech community in your area. Once you are able to meet people who are in the career path you would like to take, exchange information with them and accelerate the relationship-building process by connecting with them via LinkedIn. As you build connections, take the time to customize whatever questions or requests you might have to keep the conversation going.

Engage in a mentoring relationship

Breaking into a tech career comes with a lot of challenges. Having an expert from the industry to guide and support you is an excellent means to effectively navigate the complexities along the way. What’s more, they can help you build the right skills set by assisting you in finding and sorting out the resources you could possibly need, and even providing you access to their network of other industry professionals.

If you are ready to find and connect with a mentor, Speedy Mentors is the place to be. The platform has a number of mentors from various tech disciplines who are ready to share their wisdom, skills and experiences to help you break into the world of tech even without a coding background. 

Some no-code tech careers worth your consideration

The tech industry is one of the most diverse fields out there, employing people from different backgrounds—even those with low to zero coding skills like yourself. To give you an idea of what is out there, here are a couple of no-code tech careers where you can use your existing skills set and where you can learn and grow as you go.

Design 

The design discipline covers a wide variety of jobs, including UX and UI design, web design, mobile design and graphic design, just to name a few. Basically, a designer’s job is to ensure that the overall look and feel of a product, be it a website, mobile app, marketing material or packaging, are effective enough to lure the audience and ensure user-satisfaction. 

If you have a good eye for engaging and usable design or have a visual art (or related) degree, design could be your entry point into the world of tech, where the average salary per year is around $40,000-$70,000.

Marketing and sales

Many well-known tech companies owe the success of their products and services not just for their innovation, purposefulness and quality. It is also the result of aggressive marketing that makes people take notice and encourages them to take action, which in turn generates conversions and sales. 

Marketing can take on many forms, including content production (blogs, vlogs, podcasts, etc.), search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, and social media advertising, among others. However, they all share the same goals of spreading awareness about a product or service, driving traffic, getting qualified leads, and generating revenue for the company.

You can be a good fit for marketing if you have a strong grasp of what people want or an innate gift in naturally promoting products or services to prospective customers. If you are good at writing, being a content marketer may also be a role for you. Getting into a marketing and sales role can earn you as much as $30,000 to $45,000 a year.

Strategy

Leveraging the power of technologies within an organization requires thorough planning and implementation to ensure successful integration that not just aligns with the organization’s objectives and goals, but can also effectively support the business as it grows. This job falls on the shoulders of tech strategists. 

Being a tech strategist could be right up your alley if you have good business acumen and are knowledgeable in drafting and executing plans and strategies. Project management, consulting, leadership and accountability, and in-depth understanding of business drivers and regulatory controls are some of the core skills that can help you excel in this career. A tech strategy job can command you a salary of $80,000 - $120,000 a year.

Growth hacking

One of the biggest challenges for early-stage startups is gaining traction among their target audience. To help propel their business to the next level and drive remarkable growth, they rely on the expertise of growth hackers. The role uses a combination of skills in marketing, business, data and technology to come up with out-of-the-box solutions to gain new users. Key functions of the role include setting growth objectives and goals, identifying different channels for customer acquisition, and measuring results. 

A role as a growth hacker demands proficiency in statistics and data analysis to fully understand patterns and trends from tests they conduct. Taking on this role can earn you as much as $75,000 a year. 

Other non-coding tech careers

Apart from the ones mentioned above, there are a number of other notable careers in tech that do not need coding skills. These include project and program management, data analysis, system admin and general IT jobs, technical writing, software and game testing, technical customer service, accounting, and human resources. 

Jumpstart your tech career with the help of Speedy Mentors.

Finding work in tech does not necessarily mean you need to have coding experience or in-depth technical skills. There are plenty of jobs in the industry where you can apply your existing competencies. However, if you are having a tough time breaking into the field or want to take your tech career to the next level, Speedy Mentors can be the way for you to connect with a mentor who can help you in realizing your career goals.