Several years in the past, I utilized for a advertising job at a tech firm. I obtained referred to as again for the cellphone screening and had a pleasant dialog with the recruiter. The subsequent day, I obtained an e mail from the recruiter saying that I used to be not “technical” sufficient to maneuver ahead to the following spherical of interviews. I used to be shocked.
I had at all times been the one my colleagues would name on for technical assist and suggestions. Understanding and utilizing know-how got here naturally to me. By that time in my profession, I had change into much more proficient and technical inside my specialty. So how might the recruiter assume that I’m not “technical”?
I wrote a letter to the recruiter explaining why the hiring supervisor shouldn’t dismiss me simply but. Sure, I didn’t have expertise within the tech business (I had at all times labored for corporations in shopper items and retail), however isn’t each firm a software program firm as of late? I additionally wished to alleviate any considerations about my lack of coding skills. Between managing web site migrations, weblog redesigns, product merchandising, and fixing that annoying indent on a very finicky touchdown web page, I felt that I had that “in the weeds” troubleshooting apply just like that of a programmer.
The letter satisfied the hiring supervisor to deliver me in for an interview. I used to be so completely satisfied that they’d get the prospect to satisfy me in particular person.
How to interrupt free from dangerous labels
I not too long ago learn Correspondent Dawn Parzych’s sequence about liberating us from the labels of “technical” and “non-technical” roles within the tech business. I noticed that I had not been alone in feeling undervalued for a non-traditional set of technical abilities.
In her first article, she tells us why these labels are dangerous and he or she offers three suggestions for transferring away from them:
- Find various phrases
- Embrace a development mindset
- Recognize everybody’s contributions
Next, Dawn supplies examples of non-engineering jobs, together with technical author, product supervisor, information analyst, and developer relations. There are loads of different roles that match this class, like undertaking supervisor, neighborhood supervisor, product marketer, editor (me!), recruiter, and extra. Remember, in case you work within the tech business, you’re technical.
Dawn closes out her sequence with four key pieces of advice from business leaders for many who have been mislabeled as “non-technical”:
- Be your self
- Know your value
- Find the place you may add worth and assist individuals
- Diversity of thought results in success
Moving ahead
Ultimately, that advertising job didn’t work out, and it’s for one of the best as a result of I is probably not the place I’m as we speak with out that have. I don’t remorse making a case for a “non-technical” particular person to get a good shot at a “technical” job, however it took me some time to achieve my confidence again. I hope that others will take the recommendation and steerage from Dawn’s sequence to see that they are technical and have worthwhile abilities wanted on this business.