What Type Of Person Thrives In The Tech Industry, According To A Director At A Fortune 20 Tech Company
Bill, a Director at a Fortune 20 tech company, identifies three key traits for success in the tech industry: a "strong intellectual curiosity," comfort with constant change ("nothing's ever really static"), and a genuine "passion for technology." The first section one reads in a newspaper often reveals this passion, suggesting a natural inclination toward technology-related news as a strong indicator of suitability for a tech career.
Intellectual Curiosity, Comfort with Change, Passion for Technology, Evolving Industry, Tech Focus
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Bill Casper
Director
Fortune 20 Tech Company
Kansas State 2005
UCLA Anderson
Political Science, American Studies
Technology
Sales and Client Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, Transfer Student, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Strong intellectual curiosity and a love of learning are essential because the industry is constantly evolving.
2. Comfort with change is crucial, as things are rarely static.
3. A genuine passion for technology, whether it's video games, iPhones, or other tech, is a key indicator of suitability for the industry.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
Here's the cleaned transcript:
I would say number one, you have to have a strong intellectual curiosity. For the type of person that really loves learning, and that's kind of core to who you are, this is a great industry for you.
Nothing's ever really static; everything's evolving. You've got to be very comfortable with change. Some people aren't as comfortable with that.
At the end of the day, you really have to have a passion for technology. Generally, that could be for your iPhone, or editing videos, whatever that is. You enjoy interacting with it, learning about it.
I always give this test: when you open up the Wall Street Journal or the New York Times, or whatever your favorite publication is, what's the first section you go to? What are you most interested in? That's usually a pretty good direction that you should go with your job. If you're always looking at tech, reading about tech, you're passionate about tech, and that's something that comes naturally and not forced, then it's a good fit.