Technical Roles

These types of roles design, program, build, test, release and maintain products within the technical area. This could be in any sector, it might be within power networks, health and safety products, finance, manufacturing, healthcare, multimedia or gaming – to name just a few! 

Larger companies have their own tech teams due to the variety of products or numbers of clients that they have. But some might only employ one, and this could be on a contractual basis, so once you’ve got the right experience you may also decide to work freelance and be your own boss. 

Skills, behaviours and knowledge 

Let’s look at the transferable skills for these roles first. Here are some examples of what these skills, behaviours and knowledge might look like. 

Time management skills:

The ability to see a project or piece of work through from start to finish and being able to identify when something needs to be done to achieve the deadlines or release dates, meet deadlines for items of work in general or attending meetings.  

Attention to detail:

Being able to deliver high quality work products, monitor, troubleshoot, identify and resolve issues or identify where more work needs to be done.  

Problem-solving:

Enjoying the challenge of being able to resolve issues and find ways of solving problems, talking to internal or external clients to find solutions and resolve them.

Communication:

Working with end users, reporting on issues or how work is progressing, speaking to other teams (project managers, graphics departments and technical writers), or managing a team (for more senior roles).  

Patience:

Bugs and issues can’t always be fixed immediately, and it may take patience to deal with the pressures of getting something back up and running, especially if what you’re working on is something the public uses. 

Role specific skills, behaviours and knowledge:

Software Developer 

• Knowledge of coding and programming languages (e.g. Python, Java etc)  

• Experience of SQL and coding in C# 

• Specific developer tool knowledge would also be an advantage, as would skills in mathematical/logical thinking (problem-solving more than pure maths).  

UX Designer 

• Ability to research – you need to be able to learn and understand about your intended audience (the end users) and keep them in mind during the project, always considering the user experience.  

• Knowledge and experience of design processes; research, design, user testing is a simplified version of this.  

• You don’t need to know how to code but having some basic knowledge around this will help you communicate with those who do.  

• Knowing what ‘wireframing’ (the bare bones of a website or app) and ‘prototyping’ (experimental process taking ideas to digital formats) are and start learning more about these.  

• TIP – You might have also heard of a UI Designer. This role focuses on the visual experience, instead of the user journey or how something works.  

QA Analyst 

• Knowledge and understanding of data and analytics (some maths skills needed).  

• Excellent eye for detail and problem-solving skills to identify bugs, or issues, in software and know how to remove them.  

• Ability to write reports, feeding back on the quality of a product and informing of any changes required. 

• Programming knowledge is an area to build.  

Game Developer 

• Ability to create immersive and realistic environments – whilst you don’t need to be an animator or designer you do need to have some basic knowledge of these areas to help bring your imagination to life.  

• Time management – it’s mentioned above but is particularly important for game development, while a game can take several years to complete it’s important for all the individual tasks to be completed within specific time-frames so that there are no delays.  

• Attention to detail and concentration; you’ll need these to make sure you’re getting everything to the high-quality level needed.  

Web Development

• A combination of technical skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities

• Knowledge of programming languages for coding for both front-end and back-end development

• Understanding database technologies involving storing and retrieving data, such as MySQL and MongoDB

Cyber Security

• Curious, analytical problem solver with resilience to handle high pressure situations

• Ability to think through what could possible go wrong and the severity of threats and potential impact - risk management

• Use critical thinking sills whilst adapting, adjusting and continuously learning to keep up with (or stay ahead of threats)

Relevant qualifications or experience 

• Trainee programmes and apprenticeships, entry level positions from which you can grow your skills and progress, as well as possibly gain a qualification. 

• College qualification or diploma in IT or computer science.  

• Look at online courses through Open University or websites like Udemy or Code Academy to learn at your own pace.  

• Own research, there’s plenty of tech know-how online these days for you to learn some skills through this route.  

• Work experience within a tech team, where you can/have asked questions, shadowed others in the role. 

Don’t worry if you didn’t get the chance to do any coding if you did work experience, the chance to see and support others within the role is just as valuable. If you have already coded or built your own software, make sure it’s linked to your CV and social media channels. An online portfolio shows future employers what you’re capable of.