Tech companies often top the charts for the best workplaces, which is fantastic if you're already part of their ranks. But if you're an outsider looking in, you might wonder if there's a place for you in this industry—especially if you don't have a background in computer science or data science.
As someone who's been in tech for a decade without a degree in CS or knowing how to code, I can tell you there's actually a plethora of non-coding roles in tech companies, and in fact, they make up A LOT of jobs in this field!
To help you break into tech, let me share with you some of these roles in tech that don't demand coding skills. I'll also throw in some average salaries and tips on how to break into each.
Sales Development Representative (Average Salary: $54,918)
Another common misconception on the path to tech success is assuming that your product is so excellent that customers will magically flock to buy it. However, in most cases, no matter how phenomenal your product is, you actually need to get out there and sell it. This is why tech companies often have sales teams that are even larger than their engineering departments!
This means there's ample opportunity not only for seasoned sales professionals, but also for those just starting out in their careers. Unlike the roles we discussed earlier, sales development typically requires little to no prior experience.
Sales development representatives are the fearless hunters who send the first email or make the initial phone call to a potential client. While they might not bask in the glory of sealing these deals (as they often pass the relationship to an account executive after setting up a demo), they gain invaluable experience interacting directly with decision makers in their company's key target audience. If they decide to switch roles, they can bring crucial insights that would make them a strong fit for product marketing or product management positions. If they choose to stay in sales, they're well-positioned to advance into account executive roles.
So, if you have the audacity to pick up the phone and make a cold call, ask insightful questions, listen attentively, and push hard for results, you likely have what it takes to kickstart your journey through sales development.
Product Marketing Manager (Average Salary: $98,713)
Once a development team is formed, the natural question that comes up is: "What should we build?" Since creating innovative products is at the core of the tech industry, companies are always striving to generate groundbreaking ideas.
To lead this quest, tech firms bring in a special kind of marketing maestro—the product marketer.
While they do handle traditional marketing tasks like crafting ads, their pivotal role comes earlier in the product development phase. This is when they reach out to their audience, which could range from students to CEOs, to glean crucial insights. They ask questions like:
What's your ultimate goal?
What's the most formidable challenge you face?
What would help you overcome that challenge and reach your goal?
They then share this invaluable information with their counterparts in product management, who handle the technical aspects of developing new products. The ultimate goal for everyone is to create the next game-changing product—something customers genuinely want to buy!
So, if you're an astute observer of human behavior, a fantastic team influencer, and an all-around proficient marketer, product marketing might just be your gateway into the tech world.
Tech Recruiter (Average Salary: $69,146)
The tech industry is experiencing rapid growth, with thousands of new job listings popping up everyday. To fuel this expansion, the tech industry needs an army of talent scouts to seek out exceptional employees. That's where tech recruiters step in: They scour the web for top talent, conduct initial phone screenings, and then work to convince the ideal candidate to come on board.
What sets tech recruiting apart is that the roles you'll be filling are always evolving. You might find yourself hunting for growth hackers, blockchain developers, or self-driving test leads—jobs that didn't even exist a decade ago.
This role demands a unique blend of research and interpersonal skills. In a matter of hours, you could be meeting with a hiring manager to understand their needs, sending out cold emails to numerous prospects who match those needs, and then negotiating with a star candidate over compensation and stock options.
So, if you're up for meeting and impressing amazing individuals—even if they work in fields the rest of the world is still trying to wrap their heads around—definitely consider this avenue into tech.
Customer Success Manager (Average Salary: $76,248)
After a tech company has successfully grown its team, developed a product that people want, and introduced it to the world, you ask what's left to do? Only the most crucial thing in the tech industry today: Keep customers subscribed.
We're now fully immersed in a Software as a Service (SaaS) world. Gone are the days when you'd buy a new copy of software every few years; instead, companies like Microsoft, Adobe, Google, Salesforce, and many others offer their products on a subscription basis. This shift is fantastic for cash flow since it means satisfied customers keep paying every month. But it also means that unhappy customers can walk away at any moment. This is where the customer success team comes into play. Focused on understanding new customers' goals, overseeing their software rollout, and proactively reaching out to preempt potential issues, customer success managers are dedicated to keeping customers content—and paying.
Just to clarify, this is not customer service—the team that reacts to incoming queries and problems. Customer success is about taking initiative and driving results.
So, if you're someone who relishes in understanding others' goals, providing top-notch training to adult learners, and efficiently managing complex rollouts across large organizations, customer success might be your ticket into the tech world.
Business Development Associate (Average Salary: $60,312)
While understanding your audience is a great start to launching a successful product, it might not guarantee a massive hit. Sometimes, you need to collaborate with other organizations to provide the best possible experience for your customers. This is where business development associates come in.
Unlike traditional salespeople who focus solely on selling, a tech business development pro is all about forming partnerships. If you're someone who thrives on building new relationships, exploring partnerships, and negotiating mutually beneficial deals, business development could be your perfect fit.
Other Tech Jobs that don't require Coding
Here's a list of other tech jobs that don't require coding:
Product Manager
IT Project Manager
UI Designer (User Interface Designer)
UX Designer (User Experience Designer)
Information Architect
IT Business Analyst
No-Code Developer, aka Citizen Developer
Software Quality Tester or Test Engineer
Technical Writer
Support Specialist
Community Manager
Marketing Automation Manager
Content Manager
Social Media Manager
SEO Specialist
Growth Hacker
Data Analyst
Web Analysis Specialist
Software Sales Representative
Operations Manager
Business Analyst
AI operators
How to Land One of These Jobs
It should be clear to you by now thriving in the tech industry isn't confined solely to coders and data scientists. It's a field wide open to individuals with diverse skills and experiences.
If you've excelled in marketing, chances are you can excel in tech marketing. If you've demonstrated prowess in talent acquisition, you can likely do the same in the tech sector. And even if you haven't held one of these positions in a different industry, you can leverage your past experiences and showcase your adaptable skills to prove you're a great fit.
For those envisioning a career at one of the big tech FAANG companies, explore these roles. Identify one that aligns with your abilities and interests, and take proactive steps to secure it.
To kickstart this journey, I highly recommend connecting with professionals currently in these roles. Engage in a few informational interviews to gain insights into what these positions entail at specific companies. This ensures a good fit before you fully commit. Moreover, these interactions can lead to valuable connections who may serve as references and guides during the interview process.
Next, send a letter that conveys your intention to learn from their expertise, emphasizing that you're not just seeking a job.
Engage in conversations, network, and be sure to pose insightful questions. After a few of these discussions, you'll find yourself one step closer to transitioning or making a full-fledged career change into this dynamic industry! For more resources, check out inohq.com.
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