EXPLORING NON-TECHNICAL ROLES IN TECHNOLOGY

Image from LinkedIn Post by Oyekunle Issac

There comes a season in our lives when we want to make something of ourselves. We want to be good at a particular thing, and an added plus is that it can fetch us some earnings. Numerous opportunities exist in this new era of technology, and many more are still on the way!

From a computer scientist’s standpoint, finding your path can be challenging because there is so much to learn, and not all of us are interested in technical roles — which we tend to box ourselves in. Some need clarification, and there are only jobs where we code, apply engineering principles, do highly intense calculations, etc. The good news is that opportunities are available to those uninterested in tech’s technical roles. I take an overview of such openings available in the industry.

TECHNICAL vs NON-TECHNICAL ROLES

A technical role is a job with foundations rooted in science, engineering and mathematics. For example, to be a programmer, you must have a good knowledge of the procedures involved, say a thing or two about logic, and, of course, have a good grasp of calculations.

On the other hand, a non-technical role in the tech industry is a position that requires a limited amount of technical expertise or specialised knowledge of programming, system architecture, or other technical aspects related to IT operations.

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NON-TECHNICAL SIDE OF THE INDUSTRY

There are a lot of jobs out there, some you know and some you might not. Nevertheless, a few of such opportunities are discussed.

1. Technical Writing: This involves writing and explaining the “jargon” in tech for people of any class to understand. To be a technical writer, you must love reading and understanding the trends in the industry; you must also be interested in writing and sharing knowledge in a way that non-technical people can understand. Tools that aid you as a Technical Writer are Microsoft Word, Google Docs and Madcap Flare.
2. User Interface Designing: This focuses on designing aesthetically pleasing, intuitive, and user-friendly interfaces for digital products, including websites, mobile apps, and software applications. As a UI designer, you will improve the user experience by creating visually beautiful, intuitive interfaces in line with the product’s and its users’ objectives. You will work with software such as Figma, Adobe XD, and Sketch.
3. Project Management: New ideas and innovations will always come up. And there is a need for someone who can plan, lead, control, and direct the activities necessary to develop the concept. As a Project Manager, you ensure that ideas are brought to fruition by leading a team of technical guys. Tools for project management are Microsoft Project, Jira, and Asana.
4. Digital Marketing: Products and services hit the market daily. Companies require someone to build, advertise, and sell their products/services. And in this new age of technology, more than traditional advertising is needed to reach billions of people globally. As a digital marketer, you leverage technologies to promote goods and services. You will utilise Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Mailchimp.
5. Social Media Management: If you have a passion for creating content that can attract a broad audience and knowledge of handling social media accounts, this job is for you. As a Social Media Manager, it is your job to grow and manage individuals’ and organisations’ online presence. You will learn to use applications such as Hootsuite, Agoraspace and Canva.
6. Graphic Design: Create stunning, appealing designs that capture your thoughts or ideas. You can also make designs that propel an organisation’s brand to the world. Graphic designers are highly paid for their work, especially in the new age of Decentralised Finance (DeFi). You will master tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Indesign, and Illustrator.

CONCLUSION

You now know a bit about the non-technical roles in tech. If you are a person who dislikes programming or math, these roles are available. You can find one that suits your interests.

Credit: Oyekunle Issac

Disclaimer: Due to my high workload and tight schedule. I will not publish anything on the 2nd of February 2024.