Member Avatar for pandawatch

I'm currently in my first semester in law school, but I’ve decided I don’t want to be a attorney. So I’m going to drop out now before it’s too late and I’m $150k in debt.

Since middle school, I’ve had a strong interest in computers. I really enjoy fixing software problems and finding ways to use computers to make life easier. I'm the go-to IT guy for family, friends, and my dad's non-profit company. I read books about cloud computing and computer security for fun. I figure if I enjoy this type of thing, pursuing it as a career seems to make sense.

I also have a strong interest in productivity. I know this is kind of weird, but I enjoy revamping things to make them work more efficiently. I like working directly with people, and I'm a strong writer.

I graduated from college a couple years ago with a B.A in History and Political Science and a 3.8 GPA.

I've never enjoyed math or programming. So I don't want to go the programmer route. I prefer the “soft” side of tech, the “end-user” side, if that makes any sense.

So, my questions are:

1. What career paths should I look into?
2. What kind of education should I look into?

Edited by pandawatch because: n/a
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Given 's background - BA in History/Poli Sci, strong writing, a taste for productivity and helping people, and an interest in computers without a desire to program - several practical, non-developer tech careers fit well. Roles to consider include technical support/helpdesk (end-user troubleshooting), customer success or solutions consulting (translate user needs into tech solutions), technical writing/documentation, business/IT analyst or process-improvement specialist (map workflows and recommend tools), IT project coordinator/ITSM roles, and entry-level cloud or site-reliability support (operations-focused rather than development).

's mention of network and database management is worth noting: networking roles are often approachable with hands-on practice and focus on connectivity/troubleshooting rather than heavy math, while database administration typically requires SQL and occasional scripting and can trend more technical. Consider middle-ground roles such as reports analyst or data steward if the goal is to work with data without deep programming.

Education and entry routes that work well are short, recognized credentials plus practical experience: examples include CompTIA A+/Network+/Security+, an entry-level cloud cert (AWS Cloud Practitioner or Azure Fundamentals), ITIL Foundation for service management, and basic PM/BA certificates. Gain experience by volunteering at the family non-profit, doing freelance/helpdesk gigs, or building a simple home lab (virtual machines, basic cloud accounts) and documenting concrete before/after improvements as portfolio items.

Actionable 90-day plan: pick one target role, earn one focused certification, spend 4-8 hours/week on hands-on labs or volunteer work and convert those activities into two case-study bullets showing measurable productivity improvements, update LinkedIn/resume to highlight communication and process wins, then apply to entry-level helpdesk/cloud-support/customer-success positions. This leverages existing strengths while keeping programming optional and opens clear career progression.

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Member Avatar for pandawatch

Options I’m aware of: (1) get certifications (2) take classes at a community college (3) MBA with concentration in Information Systems. Are there other options I’m leaving out?

Member Avatar for AndreRet

Network and database management comes to mind that is closer to the "soft" side of IT.:)

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