Finding Your Niche in Tech: A Guide for the Confused but Curious

Over the years, I’ve met countless individuals eager to transition into tech. They’re motivated, they’re taking courses, and they’re networking. But there’s often one key piece missing: they don’t know what niche in tech they want to go into.

Recently, I participated in a webinar as a guest speaker, and this topic arose again. A recurring pattern emerged. People are diving into tech without a clear understanding of the diverse opportunities available or what roles suit them. And without that direction, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, lost, or like an impostor.

If that sounds like you, I want you to know you’re not alone, and it’s okay not to have it all figured out right away. But the earlier you start exploring where your strengths and interests align, the easier it becomes to carve out your path.

So, How Do You Find Your Niche in Tech?
When people reach out to me for mentorship and I sense they’re uncertain about their direction, I always ask one simple question:

“What do you naturally enjoy doing?”

This is where your journey should begin. Your tech niche should complement your interests and personality. Here’s a framework I recommend:

1. Identify What You Enjoy Doing
Are you someone who:

Loves reading and writing?
Thrives on solving math or logic problems?
Enjoys designing or building things from scratch?
Gets a thrill from investigating issues or solving mysteries?
Prefers working with people over working with code?
Your answer to these can steer you toward a field that will feel less like work and more like purpose.

2. Map Interests to Tech Roles
Once you identify your strengths or preferences, try mapping them to tech niches like so:

If You Enjoy… Explore Roles In…

Writing & Storytelling – Technical Writing, UX Writing, Content Design Math & Problem Solving – Data Science, Cybersecurity, Backend Developer Designing & Creating – UI/UX Design, Frontend Dev, Product Design Investigating & Analyzing – Cybersecurity, QA Testing, SOC Analyst Teaching & People Skills – Developer Advocacy, Customer Engineering

The list goes on.

3. Do Targeted Research
Now that you’ve narrowed down a few possible directions, dive deeper:

Watch YouTube videos about a “day in the life” of people in that role.
Join Slack or Discord communities where people in that niche hang out.
Take a short beginner course or tutorial.
Follow professionals on LinkedIn or Medium who share insights in those fields.
Your goal here is to test the waters before committing.

4. Talk to People in That Niche
Don’t underestimate the power of a 20-minute coffee chat. Reach out to people doing what you’re curious about and ask questions like:

What do you love about your role?
What skills are most important in your job?
If you could go back and learn one thing earlier, what would it be?
You’ll be surprised how generous the tech community can be with their time and advice.

5. Give Yourself Permission to Pivot
Your first tech niche doesn’t have to be your final destination. Many people start in one role and evolve into others. The key is to start somewhere aligned with your current interests, build real skills, and allow yourself to grow.

Final Thoughts

The tech industry is vast, and that can feel both exciting and intimidating. But clarity comes with exploration and action. Don’t pressure yourself to have all the answers now, just take the next right step based on who you are and what lights you up. Find what feels like “you,” and let that be your compass. If you’re currently trying to find your path in tech, I’d love to hear from you. What interests you? What are you struggling to decide?

Drop a comment or connect with me.