Deciding Your Niche in the Technology Industry
A guide on how to choose a niche that is perfect for you.
Choosing a niche in the technology industry is a difficult task. There are so many options, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But, it can help if you start by deciding what interests and motivates you about technology. If you’re passionate about something — whether learning new things, interacting with people, or earning tons of money — it might be worth exploring further as part of your career path.
Here are a few tips that you can apply when deciding on what niche you would love to focus on
Do Your Research
Researching is essential for finding out what you are interested in. If you don’t like to do something, then it is best not to do that work. Although, it is always advisable to step out of your comfort zone occasionally. You may be surprised by your interest in new topics.
However, if much research is involved and your time is better spent elsewhere, it may not be a good fit.
You can start by identifying the niches of interest that are most popular in technology. The following table lists a few examples of currently trending and profitable niches:
- Web and Mobile Development
- Cybersecurity
- UI/UX Design
- Blockchain and Web3
- Product and Project Managing
- Technical writing and UX Writing
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Programming Languages
Once you have identified the particular niches, research by looking up keywords associated with each field and reading posts and articles about them. Keep track of your findings to create a detailed list that you can refer to.
Figure out how you learn best.
One of the first steps in deciding your niche is figuring out how you learn best. There are three main learning styles that we would concentrate on:
- Visual
- Auditory
- Kinesthetic
Visual learners like to think in pictures and use their minds’ eyes to see what they’re reading or hearing. Similar to how designers use visual hierarchy to emphasize certain design elements, visual learners thrive with clear pictures of information hierarchy.
Auditory learners prefer auditory stimulation, such as reading, listening, or speaking out loud. Their preferences are inclined towards information presented to them vocally and work best in group collaborations where vocal collaboration is present. They tend to be good at public speaking, writing, and communicating verbally. But may have trouble being quiet for long periods or working alone on tasks that require them to focus on something visually (like looking at a computer screen).
The other big part of a learning style is whether you process information kinesthetically (by doing) or analytically (with your head). It helps make sense of things that otherwise might seem confusing or abstract. Taking a physically active role, they thrive by engaging all their senses, allowing them to connect the dots between what’s happening in their brain and what is physically happening through movement.
Figure out what motivates you to keep learning.
- Why do you want to keep learning about this niche of technology?
- What do you hope to accomplish in your career by acquiring this skill set?
- How will this help you achieve your goals and get a promotion, raise, or other benefits?
When considering what technology you want to specialize in, these are questions you should ask yourself. The answers will help you determine how much time and effort you should invest in learning.
You don’t want to spend years learning all about something that isn’t going to be useful for your career.
When thinking about this question, keep these tips in mind:
- Do I enjoy using the technology? Is it fun or exciting? If not, then why do I want to know more about it? This is where passion comes into play. Suppose something doesn’t excite you at first glance. In that case, chances are that it won’t become fascinating once you start digging deeper into its details.
- Can I talk about this stuff intelligently? Have you learned enough from reading books and articles (and maybe even taking classes) on topics so that when asked for advice, you can give them a confident answer based on your experiences rather than just saying, “I think so”?
One way to start thinking about your ideal niche is to consider the most significant source of frustration in your current role. You should ask yourself, “what technologies do I love using, what technologies do I hate using, and what’s the biggest source of frustration in my current role?”
Suppose you talk with someone who works at a company that does exactly what you want to do. It would be an opportunity for them to pass on some knowledge and connections that kickstart your career.
Think about the people you most enjoy working with.
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a niche is who you enjoy working with. You should also consider who you want to learn from and who you think will be able to help your career in the future. This can help you narrow down your interests and find something rewarding for yourself and others.
Decide which skills are essential for moving forward in your chosen niche.
Understanding what skills are needed to flourish in that niche and how to acquire them is essential. If you still need to gain the required skill set, it would be best to learn them as you explore further into the selected niche.
If you’ve chosen a niche, it’s time to learn more about it. Take classes and read books and articles on the subject. Meet with mentors who have experience in your chosen field, either online or in person.
If there are meetup groups for your niche, join them!
You’ll meet people with the same interests as you, which will help build your network of contacts that could lead to future opportunities.
If you don’t already know anyone in the technology industry, try volunteering at an organization, interning, or contributing to open source. The skills learned from these platforms will help prepare you to work with others outside the industry. Maybe even lead to some leads on new job openings once word gets around about your skill set and personality traits!
Thinking about where you’d like to work or what projects would suit you will help clarify your ideas and structure them.
When thinking about the kinds of jobs that might be available in technology, consider if there are specific skill sets or educational programs that appeal more than others.
By taking the time to consider your interests and motivations, you can find a career in technology that fits your style and helps you grow.
