4 Pathways to Use Your Tech Skills for Purpose

Are you a data or tech professional who was recently let go in this market downturn? Are you burned out on a corporate job and looking to make a bigger impact in the world? There are a number of ways you can leverage your skills to make a difference in the world, but there are some traps to avoid as well.

Here are 4 pathways to creating a career full of purpose that can leverage your technical skills and experience.

#1: Work for a Nonprofit

This one is fairly obvious but there are tons of nonprofits that actually hire people with data and tech skills. The very skills you have been using in data driven marketing or building features for social media platforms can be used in helping nonprofits target donors more effectively, build platforms that help connect people in need to healthcare, or drive more people to engage on the causes you most care about. Check-out groups like Tech Jobs for Good or Good Tech Fest for opportunities.

#2: Work for a Company That Provides Goods & Services to Nonprofits

There are many companies that provide goods and services to social impact organizations that need your help. From fundraising platforms to data science consultancies focused on impact organizations, there are opportunities to apply your skills in companies that work alongside nonprofit and other impact organizations.

#3: Join a Government Agency

The government desperately needs good technologists. There are opportunities across all levels of government to apply your skills for civic good. From the USDS at the federal level to your local municipality, there are opportunities to bring your skills to civic change.

#4: Join a Social Enterprise

Nonprofits are certainly not the only ones that are driving positive social change in the world. Climate tech, health tech, and more are seeing tons of growth and provide great opportunity to apply your skills for positive social change.

But there can be challenges moving from a traditional tech company into a for-purpose career that you need to be aware of.

#1: Different Constraints

All kinds of impact organizations operate under different constraints than the big tech companies. They don't have the same level of resources as most enterprise companies. This means you have to often think more creatively and develop solutions where you might have just bought one before. Beyond financial constraints, many organizations in the impact arena face operational constraints that enterprises don't often face. Simply put, there are often good reasons why things are the way they are and to be successful you need the humility to understand them.

#2: Different Level of Support

Most impact organizations don't have the same internal supports enterprises do. You aren't going to get the HR supplied growth programs or tracks, but you will be given a lot of opportunity to grow and lead. But it's up to you to take advantage of those opportunities.

#3: Different Sense of Urgency

Enterprise tech can certainly create a sense of urgency. With impact organizations the urgency isn't driven by investor calls or quarterly earnings reports but by the work itself. When you are driving for real change in the world it can lead to a sense of urgency that can be unsustainable and burnout can be a real challenge for those that don't regularly practice self-care.

We are in an exciting moment! I would love to see a large group of technologists and data scientists use their skills to address some of our world's most pressing challenges. Reach out if I can be of any help on your journey to impact!