How to build a career in tech (even if you aren’t a coding prodigy)

At Eficode, we believe that building a great (software) company is about more than just the lines of code you write. It’s about the people, the culture, and the often unpredictable paths we take to get there.

This year, we began partnering up with the coding school Hive, which recently welcomed us for a session focusing on tech careers. We are genuinely glad to support the rising tech stars by sharing our "real-world" insights beyond the visible job titles and industry trends.

Why your "soft" skills are tech superpowers

The heart of the session featured Dan Khurram, a senior consultant who specializes in coaching and product management. Dan’s career is a perfect example of a non-linear path, moving from studying civil engineering and leading teams to advising organizations.

Working in IT, Dan doesn't spend his day in a code editor. Instead, he uses his "superpower," talking and connecting with people, to help companies transform how they work.

Dan’s message to the students was clear: you don’t have to be the world’s best coder to reach the C-suite. By combining technical awareness with other skills such as business acumen and high empathy, you can lead high-performance teams.

"It's very refreshing to hear about non-technical aspects of working in tech." - Hive student feedback.

The truth about "non-linear" career paths

In Dan’s presentation, we looked at diverse, real-world IT profiles to explore what a career path actually looks like. We explored the "why" and "how" behind a seemingly straightforward list of titles, revealing the reality that success is rarely a straight line.

We discussed how titles don't always reflect daily tasks. For instance, a "software developer" might spend years primarily on client configuration and support rather than core coding.

Understanding these paths means recognizing that progress often requires:

• Managing high-pressure transitions: Moving to a smaller startup might offer a higher title, but it comes with significant stress and responsibility.
• Navigating non-linear timelines: A "senior" role or a C-level position might take over twenty years of diverse experience across various roles and industries to achieve.
• Leveraging "unseen" skills: Behind the technical milestones are human struggles, like managing team burnout or navigating an industry where your manager might not fully understand your technical work.

Behind every professional milestone is a human being figuring it out, one step—and sometimes one pivot—at a time.

AI is a career expander, not a job killer

You can’t talk about software development in 2026 without mentioning AI. We don’t want to shy away from the fear that "AI will take my job." While some tasks are being automated, we view AI as a major opportunity for new roles. We are seeing an explosion in the need for people who can design, govern, and implement accessible AI infrastructure. This isn't just theory; the demand for AI integration specialists has grown significantly as companies move past the "hype" phase and into actual implementation. To us, that means more work and more exciting career paths than ever before.

As one student noted: "It was inspiring to look at the development of AI as an opportunity for more jobs in IT."

Better is always possible

Whether you are a "people person" like Dan or a deep-dive technical specialist, there is a place for you in this industry. We don't just build software; we build software companies, and we are proud to help the Hive community find their unique superpowers.