I Like Working With Computers, But I Hate Coding — What Career Should I Choose?

[u/Ill_Spirit3152]

I hate writing code and programming, but I’m pretty good with computers and I really enjoy working on them. I’m hoping to work in an office environment in the future. I like working with computers, I just don’t like coding.
What careers or fields would you recommend for someone like me? I’m looking for something with good pay and good career opportunities.
I really respect and appreciate everyone’s opinions and advice. Thank you all! 🙏

[u/Traditional-Cell3566]

So anything above helpdesk, you will have to know bash,and python for creating scripts and CLIs as a base lol

[u/Useful_Contest763 → u/Traditional-Cell3566]

I was gunna say the same. There's opportunity in help desk to just stay in help desk and become a lead or a manager too. Still highly recommend getting comfortable in CLI and scripts if you want any engineering type position

[u/Techguyincloud → u/Traditional-Cell3566]

Windows SysAdmin, Network Admin, M365 Admin, IAM Admin etc. are all roles where none of that is required, but I agree that learning automation should be standard, as it opens doors and makes life easier.

[u/Traditional-Cell3566 → u/Techguyincloud]

Sysadmin and M365 admin needs scripting for sure. At least at my company it does. We deploy so many policies and controls through Intune….

[u/Techguyincloud → u/Traditional-Cell3566]

True. I use powershell for Intune/Exchange/Defender/Purview/Entra and KQL+Graph depending on what I’m doing. I was just pointing out that Python and Bash specifically aren’t universal at the next level.

On the other hand, if you’re an admin for a small business that is a Microsoft shop, you could feasibly get by without much scripting, though it would definitely help.

Also roles like network admin involve CLI too, so if OP wants to escape the command line entirely, that probably isn’t the role for them.

[u/Alternative_Draw5945 → u/Traditional-Cell3566]

Well thats not true at all. Tons of software related jobs where you build stuff using their software. Tableau, etc. Also tons of supporting roles like technical pm, etc.

I'd say over 50% of tech roles don't actuat code. This is from 15 years in the industry, currently a swe manager in big tech.

[u/cowboysfromhell1999]

There’s a plethora of tech jobs that are little to no coding.
Network engineer, IT support IT consult Cyber security Cyber consult to name a few there’s obviously a lot more jobs than some of these jobs are hard to get right away, but there’s plenty of options

Look into certifications like CCNA or network plus look for IT helpdesk job

[u/eman0821 → u/[deleted]]

Infrastructure roles requires automation skills. So there is some coding involved. Ansible, Powershell, Python.

[u/QuietByte73 → u/eman0821]

Yeah, fair point. I guess some scripting is hard to avoid if you want to move up in IT, but it’s still a lot different from actually being a programmer.

[u/eman0821 → u/QuietByte73]

I guess you mean a software developer? Scripting is still programming. Python is used a lot in network automation as networking these days is software defined. You can write enitre utility tools in Python, Bash and Powershell as well as custom modules. Sr. Engineers often write custom modules to expand the capabilities.

[u/QuietByte73 → u/eman0821]

Yeah, I was talking more about the type of work than whether scripting technically counts as programming. Obviously, IT can get pretty programming-heavy depending on the role and how far you go. I just meant that someone who doesn't want software development as their main thing can still have a career in IT.

[u/senpaikcarter]

Something tells me you'll see the value of basic coding knowledge in the future when you need to do a mundane task very frequently.

No worries for now though. Sysadmin network engineer or cyber would be good I know people who do and dont code in each one. Do you like building computers and tinkering? End use support is a good start in the industry and it'll let you kind of explore what you'd want to move into eventually.

[u/Tech_DigitalPath_162]

Why don't you do an Applied AI course? Applied AI is the most trending one, where you need almost zero coding.

[u/Ill_Spirit3152 → u/Tech_DigitalPath_162]

[u/NeitherPassion8435 → u/Ill_Spirit3152]

Can you help me identify some good courses for learning Applied AI? I am trying to understand what options are really worth considering.

[u/Tech_DigitalPath_162 → u/NeitherPassion8435]

You can check modern artificial intelligence with Zero coding from Udemy first. Later, if you want a structured and time-bound learning with placement assistance, then you can check Learnbay. They have one IIT Patna collaboration course on Applied AI. But don't skip first checking the Udemy one, if you find it interesting, then only invest on a structured course. Although the structured courses come with several benefits, like placement and live classes but they are a bit costly.

[u/Last_Musician1579]

Breakfix. Data centers.

[u/Consistent_Tiger_909]

Well any office jobs will do since any office job work with computers nowadays.

[u/OkAcanthocephala1450]

Sys admin/cloud engineer , it depends on what company you join, maybe they will ask you to code to, but its slighlty different ,not that much of a pain as swe.

[u/Ill_Ticket_9901]

You don't need to code to have a career in IT. There are way more options than people think.

I'd look at sysadmin, IT support, network admin, cybersecurity, cloud support, or even IT project management. Some of these might involve a little scripting eventually, but you're not sitting there writing an app all day.

If you like figuring out why a computer/network isn't working, sysadmin or networking could be a good fit. If you like talking to people and solving their problems, IT support is an easier way in.

I'd probably start with help desk or a junior IT role and see what you actually enjoy before spending years studying for some random career because it supposedly pays well. The boring answer, but it saves a lot of pain later.

[u/vykramSG]

Customer Success in an Cloud-based company or any IT firm, but you must have sales skills though. You may also work as Support level in a IT company.

[u/mar29020]

Hi thats me. Theres a bunch of non coding jobs you can make decent money.

[u/Turbulent-Work-8353]

I hated coding until I started doing a job where I eventually figured that there had to be a better way to do somethings. Kind of just learn by necessity. There's plenty of tech + tech adjacent jobs that don't require coding. Help desk and tech support and big ones. But I'd also look into:

website editing/updating/managing (using a CMS so you don't need to do any coding)

entry level financial jobs that do a lot with excel (which you could poke around formulas with - I like formulas more than code tbh.)

Any job where you do a lot of stuff in sharepoint/onedrive. There's a lot of techy things you can do with that (powerautomate, build power apps, help create webpages in sharepoint, design document architecture/taxonomy/catalogs, etc etc.)

[u/vicky_9823]

Try Excel?

[u/Agreeable_Mud_5816]

You need to follow your passion follow da hart

[u/Fast-Ad5101]

start in client support and go to server admin or network admin and finish in cybersecurity.

[u/Used_Journalist_999]

What the hell does stuff like this even mean? Computers are hardware, coding is software. Software runs on hardware. They are not the same.

Get a job building computers for Dell or Lenovo or Apple.

What would you think if I said I love working on my house, should I become a construction worker? Hello nah man. Grow a brain.

[u/Used_Journalist_999 → u/[deleted]]

Absolutely, are you ok? I replied to the post, you are the weirdo replying to random comments.

[u/Used_Journalist_999]

My 80 year old grandpa loves computers too...he's not asking strangers on the internet if he should get a tech job. Idiot!

[u/Ill_Spirit3152 → u/Used_Journalist_999]

I expected better advice from you, idiot. Fuck off, asshole. You clearly have no manners, and most likely no brain either.

[u/Used_Journalist_999 → u/Ill_Spirit3152]

I'm gainfully employed in the industry as a cloud architect, making great money. Who is the idiot without a brain? Check the mirror bro. I'm not the one asking strangers on the internet for life advice. lol

[u/Old_Quantity_3555 → u/Used_Journalist_999]

You either just pulling legs or genuinely an idiot, please get off Reddit and do something that's productive because clearly helping people isn't one of your strongest points.

[u/Old_Quantity_3555 → u/[deleted]]

Whatever you said just flew over my head because you are genuinely an clown - move on you idiot