Are you suited for a career in technology?

These three surprising qualities will set you up for success.

Career paths are rarely straight – but it might be even more common for technology professionals to have taken a nontraditional route to a career in the field. Natural strengths lead people unexpectedly to the field, and because technology has grown so rapidly, opportunity abounds.

One thing is certain, a career in technology is full of possibilities. During the Raymond James Women in Technology panel discussion, the participants shared advice for exploring a role in technology and other insights they’ve gleaned from their own experiences.

If you’re interested in a career in technology, these three indicators might be the sign you need to pursue it.

1. You have interests other than technology.

People tend to think working in technology means sitting behind a computer screen and coding, but there are so many other opportunities in the field. The technology field needs communications, marketing and finance professionals, for example. And the functional experience from these sectors is complementary to the technology field. It’s not uncommon that people working in technology have a nontechnical background.

A recent report by the Interactive Advertising Bureau found that the internet-supported economy over the past 10 years has shifted from jobs that related to technical internet function to jobs that delivered information and facilitated communication through data. Overall, the internet-supported economy now accounts for 12% of US GDP, up 2% from 2008.

While technical skills are necessary to advance products and services, the soft skills and other expertise ensure smooth operations and thriving growth.

2. You have excellent communication skills and build genuine relationships.

Soft skills are essential for success in the technology field because these jobs usually require solving complex problems. You must possess interpersonal skills, working with others to generate ideas and implement them. Communication is key when it comes to collaboration to avoid any misunderstanding.

Often serving internal customers, those in technology must be good listeners and be able to communicate clearly. There is a lot of cross-departmental cooperation required in the field, so you’ll need to work on nurturing relationships across the organization. If you like being a go-to resource and someone people learn to rely on, a career in technology is worth exploring.

3. You’re future-focused and agile-minded.

The pandemic was a true test of preparedness for technology teams around the world. They were either ready to start operating in a virtual environment with no notice or they weren’t. IT teams are expected to plan for outside events – from sudden cyber-attacks to new consumer expectations. They must have continGency plans and anticipate potential incidents.

Even the best plans can’t account for everything that might happen, so technology professionals are expected to be problem-solvers as well. What comes across their desk might need quick action or be unprecedented. It also means that you may need to jump in and help wherever help is needed. By finding a gap that needs to be filled, you might just position yourself for a new role.

How to get started

If this has piqued your interest, you might be wondering how to get started. Of course, you could go the route of formal education and certifications but consider a conversation first. Find someone or a few people working in the technology field and conduct informational interviews. Learn more about what they do and how they got into it. You’ll be able to determine if it’s a field you should explore further.

One way to dip your toe into the technology field is to volunteer for stretch projects at work so you can see if you like it. Another is to consider volunteer work that incorporates technology. These are opportunities that will offer a hands-on learning experience before taking the leap into a new career.

There’s a role in technology for a wide range of skillsets and interests. Don’t let common misconceptions steer you away from the field. Instead, learn how to transition your skills and expertise into the technology career of your dreams.