Do you want a career in the tech industry but don’t consider yourself technical?

This article is part of our Opinions section.

Whether people are starting their careers or looking to change paths, there has never been more interest in the technology industry than now. Little wonder when you consider the importance and interest in technologies from AI to blockchain to the Metaverse.

The trouble for potential recruits is that the emphasis is often placed on obtaining skills such as coding or engineering to have a successful career in the industry. I’m here to dispel the myth that you must love computers to excel. 

A variety of roles available

Many non-technical roles, particularly within the data centre sector, are crying out for new and diverse talent. Often there is the vision of a ‘techie’, a male person hunched over a desk in a dark room working on some new code.

However, many roles within the industry rely less on technical skills and focus more on organisation (project managers), creativeness (PR and marketing), processes (HR) or people skills (sales). In fact, research found that 43% of roles within the technology industry are non-technical, and that value is placed on these roles just as highly as the more technical counterparts. 

Attending events is a great way to pull back the curtain on the digital infrastructure industry. You’ll meet different organisations, as well as individuals with varied academic pathways. This can open up the variety of career opportunities available in the tech sector that don’t hinge on having an interest in the technical side.

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Driving a diverse and inclusive workforce

Today, there must be recognition that diverse and inclusive workforces are not just HR objectives: they are vital for business to survive and thrive. Organisations must focus on building a sustainable model for their workforce and it is a responsibility that should lie with every single employee.

With the data centre industry citing the skills gap and talent crisis at almost every event I attend – and in every article and across all social media platforms and podcasts – the industry clearly needs new and diverse talent in the workforce to develop the next generation of professionals. 

Teams need much more than just technical skills to innovate. We want and need people from different backgrounds and a mixed skill set to encourage new perspectives and direction. The most successful companies appreciate this is the secret to their success.

It is a great time for those of us without technical skills to apply for all these non-technical roles. The industry has never been more exciting and the opportunities are endless.

Related: Moving beyond token gestures in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts

Want a career in the tech industry? Consider these next steps

I have yet to meet anyone who said they had flawless career guidance as a young person, and whilst there are arguments to be had, it is easy to blame others. In the data centre and digital infrastructure industry, we must work harder to expose roles, departments and skills to those people looking for their ‘next step’.

My rallying cry is to stand up and make yourself known. There are so many ways to help be part of the solution. My advice to young professionals is to remain open and be mindful of ‘writing off’ roles and industries based on your current exposure. Be aware that roles that exist now did not exist when I was a teenager, and the same will be true as you develop your career. 

Fifteen years ago, several tech roles were common but have since become obsolete due to rapid advancements in technology. For instance, Flash developers were in high demand for creating interactive web content. Similarly, data entry clerks were once essential for manually inputting information into databases, but advancements in automation and AI have significantly reduced the need for this position. And network administrators who focused solely on maintaining on-premise servers have seen their roles evolve or disappear with the rise of cloud computing. The advent of AI will bring jobs we have not even thought of yet, and the need for greater sustainability in the industry will also, I believe, create roles that don’t yet exist.

Critically, don’t feel the pressure to narrow your options too early. There is no reason to panic, rather remember everyone’s career timeline is different. Instead, focus on the next steps you believe will develop you as an individual and think about transferable skills, as those are what any industry (tech or otherwise) will be looking for in the future. 

In the meantime, while you might not need ‘techie’ skills, it’s still wise to be aware of all the different technologies and to develop an interest and understanding in them. Technology drives change and the pace of technology development is becoming increasingly rapid and opening so many new career opportunities for us all.