I would like to work in tech but I am not very good at maths
Hi,
I am a student and I am not very good in maths. I am very interested in technology, love being on my phone but not that good in maths. I don't think I would be a very good sales person either. What are the other jobs possible then?
#technology #engineering #career
Thanks,
Nic
8 answers
Asim’s Answer
Just to kick things off, remember that "Tech" is a vast and diverse field. It's not just a single role but an entire industry, teeming with a multitude of job opportunities that don't necessarily require a math whiz. You brought up Sales, and as a team of seasoned sales reps, we can confidently say that while basic math skills are handy, they're not the be-all and end-all of a successful sales career. Knowing your way around a calculator should do the trick!
A piece of advice we'd love to share is to explore various internships or traineeships across different teams or domains. This hands-on approach will give you a clearer understanding of the job and its demands. For example, an internship in Human Resources will quickly show you that math isn't a major player, yet you'd still be part of a "tech" company or setting.
During this exploration, it's crucial to keep asking yourself "WHY?". Why is a particular aspect important in this role? Why do I need certain skills? This ongoing self-reflection will guide you towards the right path.
Lucky for you, you're in California, a global hotspot for tech innovation. This puts you in an advantageous position, surrounded by a wealth of opportunities. You're definitely in the right place at the right time. To put things in perspective, California's GDP is on track to surpass Germany's, indicating a prosperous economic environment.
We'd also recommend networking through LinkedIn. If you haven't got an account yet, it's time to create one. LinkedIn is a great platform to connect with successful individuals in the Tech industry. Find a company that piques your interest, be it a gaming company if you're a gaming enthusiast, or a software company if that's your cup of tea. Once you've identified a company, reach out to the people working there. Don't hesitate to message Sales managers, Vice Presidents, Project leads, and the like. Not everyone will respond, but don't let that discourage you.
Finally, here are some intriguing companies to consider:
- Salesforce
- NVIDIA
- APPLE
We hope this guidance proves useful. Best of luck on your journey!
John’s Answer
If you're not into sales, you can still be in a sales enablement role, ie. train the sales team on products & services available in the company, and and your performance is measured accordingly to how well the sales do in their roles
If you're not into math, that's not a blocker too. Many roles in tech esp. front-line customer/supplier-facing don't require heavy-duty math.
You get the flow?
John recommends the following next steps:
Luis Carlos’s Answer
Hi Nic,
Dont worry. Not loving math is not the problem. Tech is basically the way in which we solve problems. Remember, that there are many parts of tech as illustrator, programer, designer, project manager and many more. I am from a small village in Honduras and tech was not an option. So I had to move to the industrial city in order to study tech,
Greetings,
Luis
Affan’s Answer
Hi Nic,
Being great at maths should not be a hinderance to what you want to acheive.
I believe a university education instills a way of thinking, if you decide to opt for technical sciences, its usually a logical way of thinking.
While maths is required, it is not compulsory to have a great career in tech.
Su’s Answer
Hi Nic,
In my experience very good at maths are not necessary. Logic thinking is more important for daily job in tech industries.
Alejandra’s Answer
Nic,
Math should not be a stopper. Try to identify which strengths you have that could fit in the tech field. I work in the Tech industry as a people manager. I have been around for almost 8 years and I barely use complex math (Excel does it all LOL) . Ask yourself what is what you like about technology and then identify from your strengths what could fit on it. I'll be glad to continue the conversation with you if you will.
Best,
G. Mark’s Answer
First off, Einstein reportedly had trouble with arithmetic and said so in a letter to a young fan as well. Second, there are a wide variety of types of mathematics. You may find, like Einstein, that there are some areas you find that you perform quite well in. Third, I personally used math much more in my schooling than in my various jobs. Some parts of mathematics are theoretical, some a conceptual, some deal with geometry, some, like finite mathematics, rely on logic. And sometimes, you just need to have an idea of what you want to achieve and then enlist others or possibly computer programs to do the calculations.
In one of my particular jobs, I was involved in tech, but it was in computer systems architecture. While it was math-related, it was mostly conceptual and logical. The few times I actually used mathematics itself, I could have easily simply asked someone to do it for me.
Some technical jobs strictly require very little math. But if you like those particular areas, you probably will have little trouble grasping the mathematics of the related principles. An example I often use with students is auto mechanics. This field is filled with mathematics. But if you ask a technician if he felt he was "doing math", he'd likely say no. Even though that field is extremely technical. The same could be said for baseball. Most players don't consider themselves "technicians" or "mathematicians", but they most certainly use technology and mathematics all the time without thinking about it.
Faraz’s Answer
Focus more on the types of problems you'd like to solve and which industries you'd like to be a part of. Creativity in how you approach solving problems, curiosity in what you want to learn, and passion for what you want to do are far more important than whether you have math skills or not.