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There are plenty of reasons that a young individual just entering the workplace should aspire to work in tech. It's a booming industry filled with endless possibilities. Computer technology has come to define a large part of our culture for the past 20 years. And, of course, it's only getting bigger. However, before entering the industry, it's also understandable that an up-and-comer might have some concerns about where the tech sector is headed, and what exactly it means to work in tech.
Tech has come to be defined by misogyny and greed as it's gotten bigger and bigger over the years. Should we be worried that tech is a 21st century boy's club? Should we be concerned about its apparent soullessness as more and more companies look for ways to eat up our information? Certainly. But let's not allow these problems to define a whole instead of its individual parts. When that happens, we have a stereotype.
And what exactly are The Biggest Stereotypes in Tech? Read on and see for yourself.
It's a one-stop shop to making millions.
As much as we wish that we could say this is true, tech isn't as glamorous as people might think. Recent studies have even posited that 90 percent of all tech start-ups fail. Doesn't sound so easy now, does it? You have to be original, innovative, and relentless if you plan on diving into tech. Don't try and slap together another version of Flappy Bird. No one is looking for another flashlight app. If you want to make it big in the game, you need to realize that there's a long, expensive, and time-consuming road ahead of you. Are you ready to put in the hours you need to take the next step?
Tech is only for young people.
No industry is immune to the effects of wise and experienced judgment. Likewise, tech isn't the same as sports. You don't suddenly age out of your career. Does it help to be young and hungry? Sure. Having a desire to succeed is the first step towards doing well in any line of work, but it isn't necessarily true that you have to be young in order to have this drive. Suggesting otherwise falls into a tired cliche: you can't teach an old dog new tricks. If you're feeling old or behind the ball in tech, don't psyche yourself out. You're just as able as anyone else.
Coding must be your second language if you hope to enter the industry.
Knowing how to code is a useful skill for everyone in the 21st century, as website design and general programming have become new forms of multimedia and communication in the digital age. However, you don't necessarily have to be fluent in coding in order to work within its industry. There are plenty of ways that you can succeed in tech that don't include sitting behind a computer all day. Every company needs salesmen, managers, and other individuals who are more familiar with the personable aspects of a successful business. Don't count yourself out of tech just because you still think people are discussing coffee when they talk about Java.
Everyone is out for themselves.
This may be the rare case when a stereotype has actually managed to become true. However, it needs to be noted so people can work to combat its effects. Individuality is a great thing. It's what creates leaders, and gives people a vision to succeed. However, in competitive settings, individuality can become a hindrance to progress, as people become selfish for recognition and profits, and refuse to work with each other because of their personal agenda. Would greater advances in technology be made more quickly if everyone could come together and collaborate more easily? It's certainly an idea that's worth exploring.
You have to work in Silicon Valley.
There are a lot of great things about California, but if you want to work in tech, don't think that it's absolutely necessary to pack up your things and move away to San Francisco. Tech culture has moved beyond the West Coast, and start-up communities have begun to crop up all across the country in places like Colorado, Texas, and even Iowa. Certainly the big-time companies have their roots in California, as Facebook, Google, and Apple all have major campuses within the state. However, don't feel the pressure to join the crowd when it comes to choosing a location for your next company. There could be a consumer market or a network of producers right next door to you.
It's devoid of creativity.
No, technology is not just an endless sea of binary. It isn't an impenetrable wall of zeroes and ones. There are plenty of ways that technology has partnered with design to show us its artistic flair. Consider Apple, which has put design at the forefront for well over a decade now. The Cupertino, CA-based giant completely changed the face of the industry, effectively birthing companies that prized aesthetics and innovation along with utility. Almost by definition, innovation can't be possible without creativity. And without innovation, what does technology even do for us?
Nerds only.
Obviously, you're going to have some sort of nerd gene within you if you want to work in the tech industry. That's okay! It's not a bad thing to find computers or apps or electronics endlessly fascinating. However, the idea that only pasty-skinned recluses are able to make their way through the tech sector is a laughable falsehood that has been perpetuated over and over again in America. Who is responsible for these ideas? Probably the same people who don't understand tech at all, and feel the need to alienate the people who actually enjoy it. Don't let them knock your self-esteem. Being a nerd isn't necessarily a bad thing, but you don't need to let people brand you with the label if you decide you want to work in tech.
People who work in tech are soulless.
Yes, the information-hungry giants like Google and Facebook have done their part to give rise to this stereotype. However, they also misrepresent the countless people within the industry who are out to create a noble and helpful product with the technology at their disposal. Not everyone is Mark Zuckerberg. Your friend who is trying to start an app isn't about to be the focus of the next Social Network. Tech has proven itself to be useful in a variety of fields, from medicine to education. Does the person who develops those apps really deserve such a bad rap?
You have to be a prodigy in order to succeed.
In certain ways, Bill Gates has set unreasonable expectations for success in the industry. The multi-billionaire and Harvard dropout earned a certain mythos because of his ascension story in tech. Not everyone is going to be able to drop out of an Ivy League school and go off to start their software empire. Similarly, the stories of Steve Jobs dropping out of Reed College have become cultural folklore at this point. Ignore these trendy narratives and stick with what works for you.
No girls allowed.
The strongest stereotype in tech right now is that women are unable to succeed in the industry. Certainly, the raw numbers reflect a discrepancy in male/female success rates in the tech sector. However, that doesn't mean that women are unable to do well altogether. Look at figures like Sheryl Sandberg, Virginia Rometty, and Meg Whitman, all powerful women who have managed to stake their claim in the male-dominated field. Are there problems of gender equality in tech? It's hard to argue otherwise. Indeed, a recent study found that women are 45 percent more likely to leave the industry after one year than men. However, insisting that women are unable to succeed altogether is a destructive stereotype that does more harm to their cause than good.
