Everyone is talking about "code code code, learn to write software, learn to program", but there are many careers in technology for people who don't want to code. You may be familiar with companies like Geek Squad that help home users if their computers break down, or think about all the Geniuses in the Apple store helping people understand and use their iPads and iPhones. Well, just about every company needs "geeks" and "geniuses" helping with the technology the company needs to run the business, and we call those people "Information Technology Professionals", or ITPros for short. A coder might write a web page, but there has to be someone making sure all the rest of the technology is there so you can actually get to the web page. Those people are ITPros.
I don't write code, but I help our customers, who are ITPros, use our products to manage technology in large companies. I have a bachelor's degree in Theater Arts, which may seem odd, but I learned a lot about how to work with people and work towards deadlines, which I've been able to apply in my tech jobs. I don't have a Master's degree, but after college I acquired technical certifications offered by companies like Microsoft and professional organizations like CompTIA, which made me more valuable in the technical world and got me my job at Microsoft.
I've worked at Microsoft since 2002 and I've worked on a lot of different technologies in a lot of different ways. I wrote technical documentation for several products; for a few years I made the little paper with setup instructions you'd find in a Microsoft mouse or keyboard you bought at Office Depot. I helped design what the experience would be as people open that mouse or keyboard box, so they can easily find all the parts and get the batteries in and get it connected to their computers. I wrote classes used to teach ITPros how to make computers talk to each other, and get on the Internet. I wrote the text ITPros see in our product. Right now I run programs to help our ITPro customers tell us how we can make our products better.
There is technology in every field these days - medicine, law, sports, manufacturing, and yes, the arts - and someone has to know how to run the technology. The next time you go to a movie with animation or special effects, look at how many jobs in the credits were running the technology that allowed the animators or effects artists to do their work - you'll often see jobs like "system administrator" or "technical support", and those are ITPro jobs.
Tech jobs require people who are curious and like to learn new things quickly. They are good for people who like to fix things that are broken - sometimes they fix physical devices like PCs or phones or even cash registers or gas pumps that have computers in them, and sometimes they fix things that aren't working with the apps running on those devices. There's a lot of variety in the technical world, so if you don't like one job in technology, you can probably find another one you like better. There's a lot of room for advancement. A simple tech job might be helping customers who call in with technical questions about a product, and the most complicated might be designing how all of the technology at a company will work together - this job is often called a Chief Technology Office (CTO) or Chief Information Officer (CIO). The more technical knowledge you have, the more valuable you become and the more money you can make.
I like working in technology because I like to help people, and I get to help people use our products better. I get to be very creative in how I solve problems. I work with really smart, interesting people.
I work in a really nice environment. Tech companies these days are all trying to get the brightest people so they have nice benefits. At Microsoft we get free sodas and have video games and pool tables and ping pong. Other companies offer free food all day, or massages.
I have a lot of flexibility in my work. I can take off in the middle of the day to do something for my daughter's school and no one minds as long as I get my work done. I have opportunities to travel, but if it's not convenient for my family, I don't have to travel.
Oh, and I still love theater and I still get to do theater - Microsoft actually has a theater troupe that puts on plays and gives the money to charity. I know many people who work in technology as their "day job" and then on the side they are artists, musicians, writers, and actors. We have the money to enjoy the art we do, and not have to worry about teaching or taking jobs we don't like. No one working at a tech company has to play the Hokey Pokey at a wedding unless they enjoy doing that. Artistic people often do very well in tech jobs because we are good at communicating and thinking creatively.
I never dreamed of working at a technology company when I was in school, but I've found it's a great career path for me.
