Four Related Jobs I Wish I Knew Before Graduation
While doing my computer science degree, I thought the only career path was a software developer. After all, I’m trained to become a software developer – how can I become anything else?
No one mentioned other options. I was restricted to one fate.
Whenever I talk to fellow graduate students, I realize that I’m not the only one – many people think they are stuck in the software development path because of their computer science background.
However, this is not the case.
Sure, there’s anroles in software development (backend, front-end, mobile, and more!), but there are other core technical jobs that anyone who holds (or doesn’t have) a computer science degree can pursue.
Don’t limit yourself to software development, especially if it’s not the right career for you.
While roles vary across companies and there are hundreds of tech jobs, here are four common ones and why you’d be a good fit.
This is the list I wish I had in college.
“Quality Assurance analysts are the first to encounter anything that might make the user experience worse.” – Jason Pogue, What is a Quality Assurance Analyst, and what do they really do?
What is involved
Quality analysts are the testers. When developers have finished coding a feature, Quality Assurance puts it to test cases. They are curious about how things work and how to break things down to find bugs.
Day in and day out, quality analysts work closely with developers. They made sure we have enough unit tests and integration tests, and the app works as expected on different devices. Sometimes they write their own automated tests, and sometimes they go through a manual testing process.
Either way, they ensure that the product is ready for shipment to production. They usually serve as the final recording of a long line of contributions from the team.
Why would you be a good fit
Do you have a natural curiosity about how things work? Do you like to take things apart and put them back together? Interested in understanding all the ways someone can use a product?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then a quality assurance job could be the job for you!
“The designer gets a chance to work between the product and product building teams using people. Here in this in-between space, the designer gets massive opportunities to step into different people’s lives to make a product that can solve their life problem.” – Aman Gupta, why did you choose the design?
What is involved
Designers create product mockups by doing user research and focusing on design. These designs are the ones that developers code to fit the product vision.
“Design” itself is a general category, similar to software development. Sometimes, functionality is referred to as UI/UX, which stands for User Interface and User Experience. The difference is simple: UI includes the look and structure of the application, while UX is how the user interacts with the application.
Within design, there are many jobs, such as UX researcher, interaction designer, UX writer, usability analyst, graphic designer, and information engineer.
Why would you be a good fit
Are you a fan of art? Are you passionate about creating an experience for your team’s software users? Do you enjoy psychology and thinking about why people choose to use products in certain ways?
If you answered yes to any of these, then a designer might be the job for you!
“Project managers are agents of change: they make project goals their own and use their skills and experience to inspire a sense of common purpose within the project team.” – Project Management Institute, who are project managers?
What is involved
Project managers are the teachers of organization – scheduling meetings, logistical planning for the project, organizing the team, and keeping the project on time and within budget. They keep everyone on the right track.
Project managers are usually great communicators and leaders. They also “stop non-development work.” [the] Panel the team to let them focus on the product” (Project Management Handbook).
In the software industry, project managers must have a basic level of technology understanding – enough to understand developers and maintain realistic schedules. Having a background in computer science is an uncommon superpower as a project manager.
Why would you be a good fit
Are you organized? Do you enjoy taking notes and keeping others on track? Do people generally refer to you as a “people person”?
If you answered yes to any of these, then Project Manager might be the job for you!
“Product management is about insights and judgment, both of which require a sharp mind. Hard work is also necessary, but for this job, it is not sufficient.”
– Marty Kagan, Inspiration: How to Create Products Customers Love
What is involved
Product managers are constantly thinking about the problem. They seek to understand business requirements and define exactly what the product (app, website, etc.) should be. This often includes talking to users as well as stakeholders.
One of the main responsibilities is to create a product roadmap for the team to build upon. This includes the build features and how they will work together to create one cohesive product. Other responsibilities include defining success metrics, maintaining a product backlog for upcoming development work, and making strategic team decisions.
The product manager role can vary across companies and industries. Some take on the responsibilities that would be typical of a project manager, and others share space with designers. When researching product manager jobs, be sure to understand the responsibilities of the job.
Why would you be a good fit
Do you like to solve problems? Are you excited about translating business requirements into reality? Do you enjoy team leadership and strategic thinking?
If you answered yes to any of these, Product Manager might be the job for you!