Stage 1 of 7 · 8 lessons · ~2 weeks
The landscape of non-coding tech roles
What product managers, technical writers and developer advocates actually do, who does well in each, and the adjacent roles worth knowing about. Test your fit with small real tasks before you commit.
Start: What "beyond coding" really meansLessons· one lesson for each topic, in this order
- 1What "beyond coding" really meansLesson
- 2Product manager: deciding what gets built and whyLesson
- 3Technical writer: making products usable through docsLesson
- 4Developer relations: helping outside developers succeedLesson
- 5Adjacent roles: project manager, business analyst, solutions engineer, customer successLesson
- 6Who does well in each roleLesson
- 7The job market, honestlyLesson
- 8Testing your fit with small real tasksLesson
Do this
- Read ten real job postings for your target role and highlight the responsibilities and experience they ask for.
- Write one paragraph each on product management, technical writing and DevRel in your own words.
- List two adjacent roles, such as business analyst or support engineer, that could be a stepping stone for you.
- Do one small real task from your chosen role this week: interviews and a problem page, a README, or a five-minute demo.
- Talk to one person who works in your target role and ask what a normal week looks like.
- Write down what you enjoyed and what drained you in the task you tried.
Start with
- GuideFreeDeveloperRelations.com (DevRelCon)
Hoopy (DevRelCon)
Free guides on what developer relations is and whether you need to be a developer to do it
Keep handy
Before moving on: A one-page comparison of product management, technical writing and DevRel in your own words, with notes on two adjacent roles, ten real job postings reviewed, and one small real task from your chosen role completed.
Do not pick one of these roles because you want to avoid code. Pick it because you like the actual daily work: deciding, explaining or teaching. Spend a weekend doing a small version of that work before you spend months studying for it.