IT Careers For People Who Dislike Tech

Linux, SQL and JavaScript are Martian for “scary.” You’re far from being a technophobe, but IT ain’t your cup of tea. Except the computer jobs in technology pay so damn well. And they’re as countless as stars in the sky. Surely there are specialized careers here for non-techies, beyond traditional roles in marketing, sales, finance and administration.

There are! Feast your eyes on a few examples.

Jobs in technology for non-techies

1. User Experience (UI)

Ever used clumsy software, or struggled through a satanically contorted video game? Nothing flows naturally. Each step seems disconnected. Controls are hard to reach.

Don’t blame the designers or coders entirely. Complain to the User Experience specialist. They make sure the human factor’s fine-tuned. Takes empathy for the typical person using this program, app, website, or product. (Sociopaths look elsewhere.)

This role necessitates an eclectic set of skills. Design and psychology. Ergonomics and human-computer interaction (HCI). Testing on people and communicating needed changes. Advanced tech knowledge not required.

2. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Every website owner wants to land first in searches. It guarantees more eyeballs than chumps’ pages. Getting to the top takes wizard know-how of white hat trickery.

SEO involves insights into how Google, Bing, Yahoo, and Duck Duck Go operate. Also figuring out what words searchers type when looking for porn helpful info. Then tinkering with HTML and keyword placement in content to lure bots.

Work in ad agencies and marketing departments. Talk about Adwords and page load speeds. Horseplay compared to coding a program or wiring a mainframe.

3. Software trainer

Bloatware has assumed control. Yesterday’s simple software has morphed into monsters. Used to be a user manual could transform newbs into prodigies. Now you need a full-fledged course.

Employers hire trainers to teach staff new stuff. How to make spreadsheets sing. Mastering dedicated software. Grasping mobile apps. These instructors go by several names: Training and Development Specialist; Organizational Learning Manager; Employee Development Consultant.

Like the idea of being an Agile Coach or database educator? Marry your arts degree and speaking acumen with user-level software sophistry.

4. Business analyst (BA)

Here’s another one of those jobs in technology that straddles two worlds. Business analysts are the link between clients and techies. Must be bilingual – standard speak and geek.

Clients demand software features as end users. Richly remunerated nerds in IT make it so. First, however, the BA must translate user requirements into specs. Walking this tightrope demands customer-centricity, and ability to talk tech comfortably. There are lots of posting available for this role.

5. Complementary careers

Obviously, any job interacting with IT needs at least some related talent. Like with technical writers. Their tool is concise, descriptive prose. Applied to exhaustive documentation for all things tech.

Project Managers use Gant charts and timelines effortlessly. Resource planning and sourcing are their bread and butter. These pros are in demand anytime new software, or technical products are being developed. Keeping schedules and costs on track. If you were the glue in group projects at school, this career might fit.

Other non-techie jobs in technology are out there. Keep scanning the ads on Monster.ca.