What the jobs actually are.
WHAT BUILDING ROLES COVER
- Frontend: what users see and interact with
- Backend: data, logic and systems behind it
- Full stack: both, to some degree
- Mobile: applications on phones
- Embedded: software on devices
WHAT OPERATING ROLES COVER
- Infrastructure and platform: the systems software runs on
- Site reliability: keeping services available
- Security: protecting systems and data
- Database administration: data systems in production
WHAT DATA ROLES COVER
- Analysis: answering questions with data
- Engineering: moving and shaping data
- Science and machine learning: models and prediction
WHAT PRODUCT AND DESIGN ROLES COVER
- Product management: deciding what to build
- Design: how it looks and works
- Research: understanding users
WHAT OTHER ROLES EXIST
Quality assurance and testing Technical writing Technical support Solutions and sales engineering Project and delivery management
WHY PEOPLE MISJUDGE THIS
They assume technology means writing code.
WHAT THE REALITY IS
Many well-paid technology roles involve little or no coding.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT YOURSELF
What kind of problem you enjoy Whether you prefer building, operating, analysing or deciding
WHAT TO DO
Try several, cheaply, before committing years.
