Most people assume that you need to have excellent coding skills to successfully work in IT, but this is actually a misconception. It’s true that many IT jobs require some level of experience with coding or programming, but many IT jobs also don’t require any experience in these skills at all. Here are some tips for getting a job in IT without coding skills.
Practice Using Assistive And Alternative Tools
You don’t necessarily need to go into an IT job that requires coding or programming skills having already developed those skills. There are certain jobs available for beginners and entry-level coders. If you’re upskilling or learning to code while you’re still working at your current job, you can begin by practicing as much as possible and utilizing assistive or alternative tools, such as low code. Low code is a type of development platform that allows developers to use Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) to create apps rather than writing the code from scratch.
Focus on Related Skills
The IT industry encompasses many more skillsets than just coding and programming. There are many related skills that are important in the industry, both for support and for other business processes. Many of these related skills feed into different IT careers. If you’re more comfortable with liberal arts skills, such as writing and research, you may wish to become a technical writer. If you feel confident using software but not developing code, then you may choose to work in software testing, search engine optimization, network engineering and administration or acquisition. Most IT companies also boast robust sales and marketing departments, which require people skilled in those areas.
Become a Web Or Data Analyst
Analytics is equally important as software development and programming. There are also many opportunities to get involved in analytics. The main two types of analytics are web and data analytics. These analytics specialists gather, organize and analyze data to develop predictions and insights for future projects, advancements and campaigns. These positions are essential to the success of an IT business because analysts are able to detect patterns and follow them to determine what courses of action will be most beneficial to a company.
Consider Freelance Work
Freelancing provides you with the opportunity to seek out jobs related to IT that you might not be able to access through traditional application options. You may choose to become a gig worker, a freelance employee or a consultant. A consultant is someone with unique skills who is brought in to troubleshoot or provide advice. A gig worker may only assist on a single project or task before moving on while a freelance employee is a contractor hired by a company but who works for an employment agency. Freelance work allows you to build your skills in coding and other areas of IT while getting paid.
Become a Designer
Another excellent choice for people who wish to work in IT without developing coding skills is to become a designer. IT Designers tend to work in one of four areas: User Experience (UX) design, User Interfaces (UI) design, web design and mobile design. Web and mobile design refer to the planning and designing of websites and mobile apps. UX designers plan the experiences you want your users to have when they use your products. UI designers focus on designing the layout and framework of a product.
Focus on Management Career Tracks
Some people feel more comfortable managing than working on details. These people may be interested in becoming product or project managers in the IT industry. Roles such as these require you to understand the overall needs of the project or product and the broad strokes of how the work is done. They also require good time management and communication skills. However, coding is typically not necessary.
Above all, know your own strengths. If you know you don’t want to code or if you dislike it when you attempt to learn it, then start looking at other options. Think about whether careers in technical writing or product design interest you, for example.