9 Tech skills you can learn that doesn’t require coding

Tech industry is one of the most innovative industries in the corporate space. This explains why many people want to enter the industry. However, a good number of these people don’t have the flair for coding.

If you are interested in tech but not in coding, here are 9 skills you can explore that are equally as valuable, challenging, and lucrative as any tech skill out there. See you inside.

1. User Interface Design

Another pivotal part of user experience. User interface designers create interfaces in software or computerized devices which users find easy to use and pleasurable. They focus on making the user’s visual and navigation experience smooth, effortless and simple.

Rather than coding, they use tools like patterns, spacing, colours, fonts, animations, icons, scroll bars, and touch points to guide the user. UI designers try to inject some personality into their software, website, or computerized devices.

2. User Experience Design (UX Design)

If you can conceptualise, iterate and execute ideas, then, this is the tech skill for you. Users experience designers shape the products and services we use every day. They try to blend user’s desires with technical feasibility and business viability. Basically, they design the entire journey and interaction of users with an app or website.

What UX designers primarily do include testing, iterating, developing content, analysing competitors, carrying out research on customer needs or behaviour, creating product structure and strategy, collaborating with developers and user interface designers, etc.

3. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Specialist

SEO specialist is a relatively young but lucrative career path. Apart from tech start-ups, every organisation that has a digital presence online requires an SEO specialist. The SEO specialist ensures a website ranks high to optimise them on major search engine.

This is the career choice for anyone who possesses a competitive streak, is interested in digital marketing, sales and digital marketing. They ensure the visibility and growth of site traffic, brand awareness and leads generation. SEO specialist tests, analyses, tweaks websites, conducts keyword research and leverage SEO tools (Google Analytics, Semrush, Ahrefs, etc) to ensure search results are relevant to their organisation’s content.

4. Data Analyst

One of the skills of the future of work. Data analysts collect, clean, analyse and interpret data to help inform effective business decisions. This is a skill that is valuable in different industries. They proffer solutions to business problems by gleaning insights and eliminating inefficiencies after studying data.

Some business problems they help managers and decision makers solve include which product to develop, what market to enter, which investment to make, what customers (demography) to target, which ad is most appropriate to use, etc.

5. Growth Hacker

Growth hacking is using low cost strategies to quickly scale up a start-up. A growth hacker employs various cost efficient tools like referral rewards, rewards for using services, etc. In growth hacking, the singular metric which matters is rapid growth.

Growth hackers possess a combination of skills in product marketing, digital market, persuasive marketing, sprinkled with a little bit of product engineering knowledge. Although it's also a new career path, it offers an opportunity if you want to break into tech.

6. Technical Writer

Technical writing could be the field for you if you enjoy writing, sharing, and explaining your ideas on paper. Technical writing can be defined as conveying your ideas, views, an instruction, explanation or suggestion in a logical and technical manner.

Technical writing has to do with press releases, reports, announcements, business proposals, product descriptions, press releases, white papers, user manuals etc. The skills required for a career in technical writing are excellent communication, storytelling, and a good grasp of English grammar.

7. Technical Recruiter

These are the human resource specialists of the tech industry. They are in charge of sourcing, shortlisting, screening, and recruiting top tech talents. They are also in charge of on boarding, employee relations and retention, compensation, learning and development, and other basic HR duties.

To succeed in a technical recruiting role, you need a combination of soft skills and technical knowledge. They include negotiation, analytical, organisational, critical thinking, interpersonal, ATS software proficiency, Microsoft office proficiency, etc.

8. Product Manager

This is one of the most lucrative professions around the globe. Here’s a description of what product managers do - they identify a customer need, aligns it with the business objective. Ideate and articulate a product that will meet that need, then, mobilises a team to turn that vision to reality while maximizing returns on investment.

Some of the things product managers do is talking to customers to identify their needs, strategic planning, documenting specific product features, data analysis, etc. Some of the requisite skills needed to thrive as product manager include empathy, communication, grit, ability to learn quickly, ruthless prioritization, etc.

9. Technical Project Manager

One of the less known skills in tech. A technical project manager plans, schedules, and manages IT related projects. They ensure the smooth running of complex IT or IT related projects, within a specific time frame and within a budget. To get this done, they brainstorm ideas, plan a project, schedule and designate projects, execute by collaborating with unit leaders, manage the different teams and budgets.

Some of the skills needed to perform excellently as a technical project manager are excellent organisation, communication, leadership, ability to motivate a team, negotiation, initiative, time management, problem solving, critical thinking and analytical skill.