Six surprising skills that could lead you to a STEM career 

When you think of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), your mind probably jumps to images of developers writing complex code, data scientists building predictive models, or engineers designing cutting-edge systems. While these are undoubtedly STEM careers, the reality is that you’re likely using STEM skills every day without even realising it. 

FDM Director of Skills Lab, UK and EMEA, Gangotri Bhatt says: 

“STEM isn’t just for scientists or coders. It’s in everyday stuff, like using logic to plan your spending, looking at data to make a smart choice, or finding a better way to do something at work. We even have senior developers who started out in music!” 

UK employment in STEM occupations increased by 22% between 2013 and 2023, compared with just 7% growth in non-STEM occupations, demonstrating the rapid expansion of opportunities in this sector. Let’s explore the hidden STEM skills you’re using right now that could translate into a thriving tech career. 

Video editing and content creation  

Editing requires you to understand frame rates, resolution, compression and rendering – all computational and engineering concepts that underpin how digital media works. 

When you trim clips, adjust playback speed or add transitions, you’re using technical knowledge about codecs, bitrates and aspect ratios. 

Beyond the technical side, content creators analyse performance metrics. This is data analysis in action. You’re collecting data, identifying patterns, testing hypotheses (does posting at 9 am get more views than 7 pm?) and making data-driven decisions to improve outcomes.  

Potential career paths include:  

• Software Developer building video editing tools and streaming platforms  

• Data Analyst working with user engagement and content performance metrics  

• Machine Learning Engineer developing AI-powered video automation and recommendation systems  

• Cloud Engineer optimising video storage, processing and delivery infrastructure  

Gaming   

Games are built on complex physics engines that simulate real-world mechanics like momentum, gravity, collision detection and fluid dynamics. Every time you judge whether you can make a jump in a platformer or calculate the trajectory of a shot in a first-person shooter, you’re applying mathematical and physical principles.  

Competitive gamers optimise their system performance by adjusting graphics settings, frame rates and network configurations to minimise latency. This requires system engineering and IT knowledge. Additionally, when you troubleshoot why a game is lagging or crashing, you’re debugging complex systems exactly as software developers do.  

Recently a team of FDM developers and business analysts built a searchable dashboard to flag high-risk casino patrons within the gaming industry. They added features for uploading evidence, approving actions, and sending email alerts via Docker-based workflows. In just five weeks they created a working user interface aligned to the brand, and a technical architecture diagram. 

Potential career paths include: 

• Software Developer creating games, applications and interactive systems 

• Systems Administrator optimising IT infrastructure and network performance 

• Quality Assurance Tester identifying bugs and ensuring software reliability 

• DevOps Engineer building and maintaining scalable cloud gaming platforms 

The demand for these skills isn’t slowing down. The UK’s STEM workforce is projected to grow between 6% and 10% from 2023 to 2030, creating thousands of new opportunities for those with digital and analytical capabilities. 

Graphic design and digital art  

Graphic design blends creativity with mathematical precision. Vector graphics – the foundation of logos, icons and illustrations – are created using mathematical formulas that define points, lines and curves.   

These tools run on graphics rendering engines that perform millions of calculations to display your artwork. Understanding concepts like RGB colour spaces, hexadecimal colour codes and opacity calculations is rooted in mathematics and computer science.  

Potential career paths include:  

• UX/UI Designer creating intuitive digital interfaces for applications and websites  

• Front-End Developer building visually engaging and responsive web experiences  

• Game Developer designing assets and environments for virtual worlds  

• Data Visualisation Specialist transforming complex data into compelling visual stories

Social media analytics   

If you’ve ever checked your Instagram insights, analysed which posts performed best or experimented with different posting times, you’re already working as a data analyst.   

Understanding why certain content performs better involves recognising trends, testing variables and drawing conclusions from evidence. When you A/B test different caption styles or compare the performance of videos versus static images, you’re conducting experiments using the scientific method. You’re forming hypotheses, collecting data and using evidence to inform future decisions.  

Behind the scenes, social media algorithms use machine learning to personalise content feeds. When you start to understand what makes the algorithm favour certain posts, watch time and engagement you’re essentially reverse-engineering a recommendation system.   

Potential career paths include:  

• Data Analyst extracting insights from user behaviour and engagement metrics  

• Digital Marketing Analyst optimising campaigns using data-driven strategies  

• Business Intelligence Consultant translating data into actionable business recommendations  

• SEO Specialist improving website visibility through analytical optimisation

Cybersecurity  

Understanding the importance of strong passwords, recognising phishing attempts and being cautious about what information you share online demonstrates security awareness.  

When you check if a website has HTTPS before entering payment details, scrutinise suspicious emails or question whether an app really needs access to your contacts, you’re performing risk assessment. This is fundamental to cybersecurity roles where professionals evaluate threats and determine appropriate security measures.  

Understanding concepts like encryption, secure connections and data protection regulations (like GDPR) shows an awareness of how digital security works.  

Many people also use VPNs, password managers or privacy-focused browsers to protect their data. This technical knowledge about security tools and protocols directly translates into cybersecurity careers where protecting organisational data and systems is paramount.  

By the end of 2025, 3.5 million cybersecurity roles are expected to go unfilled globally, making security awareness skills increasingly valuable. 

Potential career paths include:  

• Cybersecurity Analyst monitoring and protecting systems from security threats  

• Information Security Consultant advising organisations on security best practices  

• Penetration Tester identifying vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them  

• Security Operations Centre (SOC) Analyst responding to and investigating security incidents  

Automating repetitive tasks and workflow optimisation  

Have you ever thought, “there must be a quicker way to do this”, and found a shortcut, created an email template or set up automation rules in your inbox? That instinct to eliminate repetitive work is the foundation of process automation and business process improvement – key areas in corporate digital transformation.   

When you create email filters that automatically sort messages, set up auto-responses or use scheduling tools to batch similar tasks together, you’re applying automation principles. In the corporate world, this scales to robotic process automation (RPA), where businesses automate entire workflows to improve efficiency. Understanding where automation adds value and how to map processes for optimisation is crucial in technology consulting roles.   

Potential career paths include:  

• Business Process Analyst identifying and implementing efficiency improvements across organisations  

• Automation Consultant implementing RPA solutions to streamline corporate workflows  

• IT Consultant advising businesses on technology strategy and digital transformation  

• Change Management Specialist helping organisations adopt new technologies and processes 

How FDM supports your path  

At FDM, we believe that many people already have STEM skills, what they need is a bridge to applying them in tech/data/consulting contexts. That’s why we support graduates on their journey into tech. Immersing consultants into realistic, hands-on scenarios that replicate real-world challenges. Working in cross-functional teams to develop their professional and technical skills ensuring they are immediately impactful in their roles. 

Gangotri believes: “We are often amazed by how many graduates come from non-tech backgrounds but still bring really useful skills. Someone from hospitality might be great at managing projects, someone from retail knows how to solve problems quickly, and teachers are often fantastic communicators. These skills are super valuable in tech, even if they’ve never written a line of code.” 

Summary  

If you’ve ever looked at yourself and thought “I’m not a STEM person”, pause for a moment and consider that you already might be using STEM skills every day.  What matters most is recognising your potential and taking that next step. These are exactly the traits that flourish in software development, data analytics and consulting.   

If you’re ready to explore your next chapter and apply your existing strengths in a new direction, let’s talk. Your journey into STEM might already have begun.  

Discover Explore our Graduate Programme here.