As Gen-Z enters the workforce, young adults are faced with a challenging decision: where do I start my career? The question is even more pressing for people who want to join the vast world of tech, especially those without a traditional tech background.
Technology is a highly diverse industry, however, and the people who work here have a wide range of skills and experiences. That’s why a group of passionate Gen-Z employees started Tech-Z, a new video series featuring insight for peers and anyone looking break into the world of tech. We sat down with Autumn Black, a social media manager at Oracle and a member of Tech-Z, to discuss how she broke into the industry with a non-technical background—and how you can do the same.
Unconventional path
Autumn’s journey to Oracle was seemingly unconventional. In 2020, she graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism. Almost two and a half years later, she’s thriving at one of the world’s largest tech companies.
Though she pursued a non-technical field of study, Autumn had always had a passion for technology. When it came time for her to select a career path, she discovered that her interests were not mutually exclusive.
“I realized that I could actually be a little bit more creative and take on a marketing career within the technology industry,” she shares.
Social Media Manager
Pursue your passion
Autumn points out that the technology industry has more opportunities now than ever to apply your area of expertise. For example, business development consultants gain sales acumen creating sales opportunities for our cloud solutions, while product managers bridge engineering and business skills to help our products evolve. She also has advice for anyone looking to secure a tech role without traditional tech experience.
Firstly, you don’t have to know exactly what you want to focus on right away. For most people—including Autumn—getting to that point requires reflection. She recommends thinking about your core competencies. What do you enjoy doing every single day? What are you passionate about?
“For me, marketing was a great space that I landed on. I knew that I liked to be creative. I knew that I liked social media. I knew that I liked writing. Marketing is what encapsulates all of those different disciplines,” she explains. “Think about what it is that you’re passionate about and then land on a specific topic from there.”
Enhance your skills
Even if you don’t have a technical degree, enhancing your skills can help you stand out. Tech knowledge is more accessible than ever with training programs like Oracle Learning Explorer. We offer entry-level courses and accreditation to help you develop IT skills that will set you up for success in tech—and you can get started today.
You can also gain exposure to tech by looking for opportunities to explore your technical curiosity. Work on a special project, dive into new coursework, or take up a volunteering assignment. There are countless ways to grow your experience while doing something that interests you.
Early career programs
For people who are just graduating or recently out of school, Autumn highlights Oracle programs that cater to early career professionals. These programs include our Class Of Program to launch a career in sales, solution engineering, or consulting and our Global Tech Program to launch a career in engineering and development—both offering robust training and support to set you up for success. There are also opportunities to help people re-enter the workforce, like our Oracle Career Relaunch Program and programs for veterans and military spouses seeking a new career.
“There are so many different things that really cater to entry-level positions so that you can be able to launch your career, and that’s exactly what I did,” she says. “I took on a role with an undergraduate early career professional program, and that’s what landed me here at Oracle and really propelled me forward.”
Make your mark
The world of technology is rich with opportunities to make your mark, regardless of background. In fact, many of our most impactful roles are non-technical. Ultimately, passion, creativity, and a drive to learn will set you up for a successful career in the tech industry.
Watch Autumn’s video and check out more from our Tech-Z series to hear more from Gen-Z employees at Oracle.
Are you ready to use your background to make an impact on tech like Autumn did? Apply to our open roles and join a workplace that celebrates your passion.