Tech is, unquestionably, the industry of the future. If you’re one of the millions of young adults about to dive into the first leg of your career, you may be wondering what to do if you don’t like coding.
Programming isn’t for everyone. It requires a very specific kind of quantitative, analytical mind, and the learning process can be a tough one. You don’t need a name-brand degree to find success, and there are plenty of computer science jobs without coding involved to choose from.
The good news: you don’t have to be discouraged if you still want to be a part of the tech industry. There are plenty of non-coding tech jobs. If you’ve got the brain and the drive, you can get involved with any of them. Here’s how to find the best tech jobs without coding skills.
UI & UX Designer
Some of the most obvious no-coding tech jobs are in User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) development. Careers in UX and UI have the potential to be some of the most fulfilling and meaningful tech careers that don’t involve coding. If you’ve ever asked the “I don’t like coding what should I do?” question, a career in UX or UI design might just be for you.
When websites, programs, and apps are being developed, UX/UI specialists sketch out wireframes and mockups. They then test them on users, enabling the development of guidelines for designers to complete the user interface to make it feel whole and optimally functional. It’s a great way to get involved as a professional without coding software courses or other investments of that nature.
Several roles fall under this category, each related to how users interact with a website, program, or app. These roles involve skills in design, psychology, human-computer interaction (HCI), and others.
Scrum Master
Scrum Masters keep the Scrum team on track and moving in the right direction. They must be familiar with Agile principles and Scrum methods, which typically requires certification. Scrum Masters support the product owner, to guide team members throughout the course of a project and step in to resolve conflicts. Skills of a good Scrum Master include strong leadership and a knack to motivate people.
The scrum master’s non-technical (or non-agile) counterpart is the project manager. Both of these roles focus on the “how” of getting work done and solve workflow problems through process and facilitation. So do you need both? Likely not.
Both a traditional project manager and a scrum master are responsible for helping their teams get work done, but their approaches are vastly different. The project manager sets and tracks timeframes and milestones, reports on progress, and coordinates team communication. However, they do so from a place of control, in a more traditional management role.
The scrum master helps the team enhance and streamline the processes by which they achieve their goals. They do so as a team member, or collaborator, ideally not as someone in control. The best scrum teams are self-organizing, and therefore don’t react well to top-down management.
Business Analyst
A business analyst understands where the organization aims to go, and the problems it struggles with to get there. Armed with this knowledge, this individual proposes ways for IT to help an organization achieve its goals. Business analysts regularly meet with managers, executive leadership and end users to define project needs, and make software and hardware recommendations based on this feedback.
Business analysts possess strong data analysis skills, can draft statistics-based reports that illustrate their findings, and communicate well both orally and in writing. They must also keep up to date on the latest tech developments that may apply to their organization’s specific context.
Technical business analysts align information technology systems with business operations by analyzing and developing innovative integrated software solutions. Their duties include providing internal IT support and managing web-based services and customer support. They are also required to regularly report to management.
Big Data Analyst
Similar to Business Analysts, Big Data Analysts tend to focus exclusively on analyzing “big data” to find insightful information. At its core, Big Data analytics centers on uncovering and analyzing useful data like hidden trends and patterns so companies can make more informed business decisions and gain a competitive advantage. It’s the job of a Big Data analyst to study the market by identifying, collecting, analyzing, visualizing, and communicating this data to help guide these future decisions.
A Big Data analyst wears multiple hats, frequently switching gears from conducting research to mining data for information to presenting findings. This makes versatility an important skill for anyone interested in this field. Problem-solving skills are also essential for a Big Data analyst, as is the ability to think critically and logically while also using creative reasoning skills. A successful Big Data analyst should also have programming knowledge, quantitative and data interpretation skills, strong oral and written communication skills, and experience with multiple technologies. Data mining and auditing skills are also a must.
Tech Salesperson / Technical Sales
Tech sales is the act of connecting customers with technology that can provide a solution to a specific problem or challenge. Different technology companies and organizations might sell varying products depending on the type of sales they work with, such as unique technological hardware and specialized computer software. For example, a computer company might sell different types of computer hardware, such as laptops and desktops, while another company may focus on computer software, such as operating systems and business tools.
Technology salespeople fulfill several responsibilities throughout their workday to help consumers find the technology that can benefit them the most. To help them fulfill these responsibilities, salespeople must understand the major benefits and functions of the technology that the company sells. Other job duties they perform can include:
- Talking with clients to discover their needs
- Putting together technology packages
- Creating deals or promotions for consumers
- Finding technology that offers clients helpful solutions or benefits
- Answering questions about technology products and company services
- Preparing sales invoices and contracts
- Informing customers about hardware and software features
- Reporting to managers about sales numbers
Software, Apps & Video Game Testers
Another dream job in software development without coding skills: software, apps and video game testing. This covers all manner of apps and services, from tools for managing industrial machines to games on the newest and shiniest gaming systems. Testing can be one of the most competitive tech jobs that don’t require coding, especially if you want to test video games. Not surprising, given the perks.
Testing any type of software includes running through various scenarios within the application and checking for correct or incorrect responses. You need to find bugs and report them so that developers can resolve them. The only skill you really need is being able to take a screenshot or accurately note an error code.
These can both be very tempting non-coding tech jobs to the layman. A word to the wise: while it sounds like a lot of fun, testing means more than just playing the latest and greatest and calling it a day. Work is work, no matter what you do.
Technical Writer / Journalist
Whether it’s for instruction manuals, web guides or how-to videos, technical writers explain complex concepts in a way that’s easy to read and digest. They get to know their target audience, whether it’s consumers, developers, integrators or installers, and structure their messaging accordingly.
Technical writers deeply understand the products and services about which they write, including intricate design specifications and advanced features. Like business analysts, they keep up with technology trends to understand and explain why they are relevant or not to the business. Depending on the organization, technical writers may be required to copy and edit the work of others on their team. This position may be internal or on a contract basis.
Obviously, good communication skills are essential in a technical writing role. An understanding of information modeling and formatting such as XML also is helpful. Technical writers should be knowledgeable with Microsoft Word and Adobe Photoshop, as well as apps commonly used in technical writing such as RoboHelp and MadCap Flare.
Technical Recruiter
This role regularly meets with managers and HR leaders to identify the organization’s recruiting needs as they pertain to IT. They also work their network of potential candidates to fill open positions. These individuals participate in the interview process to discern applicants’ technical skills level. They are also involved in the onboarding process once a candidate is hired.
Technical recruiters must continuously build and work their networks, which includes attending industry events to expand their contact base. They also stay abreast of talent acquisition and recruiting trends, and understand the talent sourcing tools that streamline this process. Another key part of this role is to follow best practices on how to attract a diverse workforce.