Someone who wants to become a technical evangelist will typically need extensive training in computer science along with good communication skills. These industry professionals promote specific platforms, applications, and programs to fellow professionals and the general public to encourage wider adoption of these systems. Their goal is to help employers dominate the market and to get ahead of the early adoption curve by bringing noted trendsetters on board early. A technical evangelist might, for example, get several celebrities to start using a product to pique the interest of the general public.
This job requires a strong mixture of skills. One is a thorough understanding not just of the product that will be marketed, but the competition, and products that might be used with it, because the technical evangelist needs to be able to communicate clearly and answer questions. Thus, someone promoting a type of server would want to be able to talk about databasing, competing products, how to use the server with different programs, and so forth. A degree in computer science can be helpful to become a technical evangelist, along with certifications in specific programming languages and systems.
Additionally, people need great people skills in this field, because their primary job is about interacting with members of the public. Courses in marketing and business can be helpful to help someone learn how to develop rapport and establish connections. Someone who wants to become a technical evangelist may need to consider building up a social networking profile to establish a presence online and build connections with major players in the industry, for example. Formal training in social media, communications, and psychology can be helpful, as can developing connections through working at major technology companies.
Maintaining connections is important for someone who plans to become a technical evangelist. People should develop reputations in their field so they are regarded as trustworthy and ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. They may need to attend conferences, get published in trade magazines, and use other measures to establish and maintain a presence. This along with a solid grounding in the technology they will be marketing is critical for success in the field.
Employers look not just for people with technical experience and good reputations, but also specifically for people who may already be involved in technical evangelism to some extent. For example, a person who tends to talk about new and emerging technology, promote products, and discuss new developments can be a more appealing job candidate. This shows that someone has the experience necessary to become a technical evangelist, along with a built-in following who trust the applicant and will be likely to follow and disseminate the person’s advice.
