What Type Of Person Thrives In The Optics Industry, According To A Technical Marketing Manager At Edmund Optics
Success in the optics industry hinges on a blend of technical aptitude—"an interest in science, an interest in technology"—and strong communication skills, as exemplified by Cory's career path in technical marketing. The intersection of technical expertise with marketing or sales offers unique career opportunities, a "gap of people" that translates into a high demand for individuals who can bridge the "left brain, right brain" divide.
Communication Skills, Technical Proficiency, Problem-Solving, Adaptability, Work Ethic
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Cory Boone
Technical Marketing Manager
Edmund Optics
University of Arizona, Graduated in 2016
M.B.A. from University of North Dakota
Biology & Related Sciences
Technology, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Communication and Marketing
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient
Video Highlights
1. A strong interest in science and technology, coupled with solid technical skills (math background) and a proven work ethic, is essential for success in the optics industry, particularly in engineering roles.
2. Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) are highly valued in technical marketing, complementing technical expertise. The ability to bridge the gap between technical understanding and effective communication is a key asset.
3. Combining technical expertise from fields like engineering or medicine with strong marketing or communication skills creates unique career opportunities and opens up diverse career paths, as the intersection of these skill sets is often underserved and highly sought after.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
People who do well in optics, and so I'll cover two things. First, if you do well in optics in general, and then technical marketing. That's my function.
In the industry, an interest in optics really varies. If you go the engineering route, you definitely need an interest in science and technology, and how you can use them to help people. You'll also need some technical chops, meaning a math background, to study a degree like that.
A lot of the work in the field requires rigor. Studying long hours in school is likely necessary to prepare. Building a strong work ethic is important for optical engineering.
For technical marketing, it can be a completely different skillset. It prioritizes communication skills: speaking, writing, and communication in general. You need both the technical understanding and the ability to communicate it well.
There are people who are better engineers, very smart technical people. There are also social media stars and marketing gurus who are experts in their areas. Sometimes, the intersection of these two areas creates a gap in the market, which can be a good career opportunity.
For example, if you studied engineering and became good at marketing, that opens up many paths. The same applies to engineering and sales, or another technical area. Let's say you go into medicine and then specialize in communications or marketing for another area. This opens up unique opportunities beyond just engineering, marketing, or medicine.