Hey Whit,
I'm looking to change career tracks a bit - I’m currently working for a small business in a [redacted niche business] doing ERP/CRM stuff. Practically speaking, this is salesforce architecture and implementation + GSuite knowledgebase, but entirely from a small business perspective and without any certifications or proper training. This industry is no longer really conducive to success as a small business, and scaling effectively is an uphill battle.
In whatever’s next, I’d like to make more money and build a network — thus the interest in building my technology skills (I’m taking Harvard’s online comp sci 101). But I have no background in tech, all my undergrad courses were soft science. I'm very interested in future-proofing myself as much as possible and looking to the next two or three rungs on the ladder.
I wondered if you would mind weighing in with your thoughts on what may constitute the most valuable/high-impact areas to focus on?
My general advice is this: Your fastest path to a job in tech is to leverage the skills and knowledge you already have to get a role in the space you’re familiar with. I think about it like hopping across a stream — it would be hard to hop from bank to bank directly, but if you can hop from rock to rock all the way across, you’ll have an easier time. Like Sir Didymus in Labyrinth, you may have to plug your nose, but if you’re curious, kind, hard-working and strategic, you’ll get where you want to go.
Sir Didymus modeling what it’s like to interview in tech
Sir Didymus modeling what it’s like to interview in tech
To put a concrete examples on this: it would be very hard to go from restaurant manager to FinTech product manager, you almost certainly can go from restaurant manager to person-who-supports-restaurant-managers at a point of sale software company, then product manager at point of sale software company, then product manager at a fin tech company.
Since you’re interested in looking at two- to three-rungs up from this first role, I’ll suggest that you be strategic about your first job. Let me explain: I think there are ~three categories of jobs at tech companies, and it will help you to pre-think about which track you’re likely to enjoy the most, and go for the entry-level job that you think gets you networking with the folks on the track you want to be on. All three tracks are extremely important, and there’s paths to high wages on all three tracks.
Once you determine which of these tracks you’re most interested in, start doing informational interviews with people in them. Ask how they got their start, and if they know anyone hiring, or who else you should talk to. People want to help people, you just have to make yourself easy to help.
Side note: You asked about comp sci classes — that’s an interesting field and will definitely help you understand some of the underlying concepts in the Build the Product roles. However, the sell the product and run the business roles don’t rely on them, so if you hate the comp sci classes, do not fret! If you do really want to learn to code, I recommend learn python the hard way, I think it’s the best book I’ve ever seen that takes you from “I have a computer and two hands, now what?” and to “oh I can run a small program that DOES something, cool!”
What should you do right now, though?
Given that you, writer, already have a marketable skill, I will suggest that you double down on your salesforce administration, ERP / CRM skill set. I suggest that you get some kind of official certification from a reputable certifier (do not pay more than $500 for this!!!) and then make it your goal to help 5 other companies in your space with their ERP/CRM. You’ll very quickly build a network, you’ll have seen how 5 companies do it, and you can put all that experience on a resume under a “consulting” heading and you can begin applying to CRM administration roles. Or you’ll be wildly successful with your consulting, and you’ll never need a “real job” anyways. Happy hunting!