(Photo credit @sammiechaffin)
How do you overcome two common fears about pivoting into tech?
I work with clients on a daily basis who are accomplished high achievers — and yet, many are completely terrified of taking the leap to transition into tech. They don’t think they are technical enough, have enough background in tech, are the ‘right’ fit, etc, etc, etc. It’s ok - everyone has these fears. It’s natural to be cautious when making a change. Just name the fear and it’ll make it easier to move forward.
Here are 2 common fears I’ve heard from clients that might resonate with you, along with actions you can take to get over these fears.
MYTH 1: I heard I need to know how to code to work in tech.
Nope. You do NOT need to know how to code to work in many jobs in a tech company. Those jobs include marketing, sales, business operations, finance, customer success, people operations, market research, program management and more! Tech companies need people with many different skill sets – in fact, 43% of roles posted at tech companies were non-coding.
What tech cares about: you are able to understand tech trends, to solve ambiguous problems, to work collaboratively, and to use digital workplace tools.
CAVEAT: Now I’m going to be honest with you: despite all I said above, it is still worth it to take an intro coding class – simply for you to learn the lingo. The better way to think of it is: what tools do I have in my toolbox to succeed? And what tools do I need to get or learn?
ACTION: Read up on the tech industry. And go take a coding class. Purely for fun.
Start reading daily articles on Techmeme to start getting familiar with industry news.
For coding, I would start with CodeAcademy. It’ll only take a couple hours and add immense value to your resume.
You could also download the grasshopper app from Google to get started with learning simple coding concepts while on the go. You won’t be fully fluent in coding, but you will have picked up beginner level skills which can help you feel a bit more confident.
Myth 2: You have to live in Silicon Valley to work in tech.
If you already live in California or really want to move there, plenty of opportunities exist for you at tech firms. BUT – while many of the largest tech firms are headquartered in the Bay Area, there are SO many opportunities to work in tech across the country – and across the globe. And these days, the number of remote-friendly jobs in tech has continued to increase.
ACTION: Think about where you want to live and work.
Consider both the type of lifestyle you want to have and the career trajectory that you’d like to pursue. For some tech companies, you need to be in HQ to advance to higher positions. Be sure to consult any relevant decision-makers (partners, family members, friends, etc) to help you review your goals and criteria.
Then look to see what companies/opportunities exist in the cities you think best fit your career & lifestyle needs.
Check out the free 2021 Global Startup Ecosystem report to see where startup ecosystems are growing in the US and around the world. This serves as a great proxy for forecasting potential tech company growth in a particular city/region.
We dive further into dispelling these myths and more in my Tech Search Compass course, which is designed to help you chart your successful pivot into tech. Check it out!
