Career Change Guide: Breaking into a career in IT


Career changing may be more common than you think. In 2020, about 86% of interviewed people said they were dissatisfied with their jobs and were looking for something different.

More and more people are choosing IT

The barriers to entry in IT are lower than most people think. 
Please, do not get overwhelmed.

As stated in the Indeed report, most of the time, “breaking into the IT world” feels more like a natural progression than a total career change. 
Consider a personal assistant that learns databases and MS-Office to make her manual data entry tasks easier and faster.

There are a ton of tech jobs out there that can build on the skills you’ve developed in a past (or current) career. That means you don’t have to start at the bottom, and you only need to add a few more skills to your repertoire to make a smooth transition into a job you love.


Moreover, there is a good chance that many of the soft skills you already have apply to a career in IT. One of the best things about IT careers is the sheer number of them. You just have to identify the right one for you and make a plan to acquire the experience and/or training you need to market yourself.

Read on to see how you can do it, step by step.

Find job security in tech

The Office of National Statistics has released that roles in tech reached an astonishing 1.58 million in the final quarter of 2020, the highest ever. By expanding your skill set towards a tech career you're immediately on the right track to find job security in the current pandemic climate.
Salaries within tech have also remained impressive throughout lockdown; 54% of tech workers have seen salaries remain the same while 28% have seen an increase over the last 12 months. 
According to Indeed, 81% of tech career-changers recouped their financial investment after making the switch. 

STEPS TO FOLLOW

1. Determine What You Want out of an IT Career Consultation

What are you passionate about? How much money do you want to be earning? What makes you happy in a professional sense? Being able to show off your creative side?  Solving problems?  Helping people? These are questions you should ask yourself as you begin to research possible career options. 



2. Learn the skills OR Fill the gaps

Decide whether a coding bootcamp, college degree, or self-learning is right for you, and get started on your learning journey. For most individuals with little to no experience, the best option is to enroll in a course taught by an expert with real-world experience so you can ask questions and really understand the topic in depth. 
Especially if you are from a different industry, it is highly probable that you have little technical knowledge.

Information Technology bootcamps have become extremely popular these days. These bootcamps both online and offline help you in learning coding skills. This can help you get versed with common programming languages like Java, Python, Javascript, PHP and the necessary skill sets.


3. Get Industry Certifications

Getting certified may be the fastest way to break into information technology. While a tech degree can take 1-4 years, certifications can be studied for and earned in just a few weeks. 

By getting certified, you'll show potential employers that you have the skills they need. These credentials have the potential to help you out significantly and make up for your lack of experience. For some roles, the right certifications will put you higher in the stack than applicants with limited experience and no certifications. 


TIPS

Be Open to Starting at the Bottom

It is important to note that you may have to "start over" in IT. You may have been a school principal or a top manager in your old industry, but remember — you're leaving it for a reason. Be prepared to start with a lower-level position and work your way up. The experience you get working at the bottom will be valuable as you grow into a more challenging and higher position.

Don't worry too much though - on the low-end, you are looking at starting out right around $40K per year in a help desk position for example. It really depends on your willingness to move forward and the extra learning time you put in to master your craft.


The Power of Networking

You may be surprised by how powerful your connections can be. When looking to fill a job role, most employers are more interested in hiring somebody based on a recommendation than taking higher risks with a bunch of total strangers.

Make sure to use social media (especially LinkedIn) and everyone in your address book and reach out to anybody you know who is associated with the tech world. Simply putting a post out there letting your connections know that you are looking to get into tech may bring out an opportunity that you never expected. The right connection can give you a huge head start over the competition — and might even spark a career passion that lasts the rest of your life.

Be Patient

Remember that changing careers takes time, patience and practice. You also don't want to overwhelm yourself by trying to take on too many new things at once. You can learn new skills in small doses over time. Everyone learns at their own pace, and no one has ever become an IT pro overnight.


EXAMPLES

Finance → Data Analyst

If you have a background in finance, then becoming a data analyst is perfect for you. It is all about taking data and turning it into insights that business can act on. It is great for anyone who’s used to working with numbers, and analyzing and interpreting trends.
Whether you’ve been an investment advisor or a loan officer, your background and experience will give you an edge over others applying for the same jobs. Just be sure to emphasize your analytical and data-wrangling skills!

Learn more about working in data analysis and VCA Data Analytics Bootcamp.


Engineer → Web Developer

Engineers are all about solving problems. Often within a strict set of rules that need to be adhered to. And guess what? So are web developers and full stack developers!

Programming websites and apps is one giant exercise in problem-solving, from coming up with the best solution for your users to finding the best way to create that solution to troubleshooting bugs along the way. The skills you developed as an engineer will certainly serve you as a developer. 


Switching careers into IT may seem daunting, but having a plan helps. 
VCA IT Bootcamps and IT Courses would be the tight solution for you!

VCA Can Help You Open the Door to an IT Career!

Sched­ule a con­ver­sa­tion with Vijay Computer Academy TODAY to see how we can help you learn new skills and build your pro­fes­sion­al net­work for your best career.


If you are serious about learning to program, VCA is here to help!
  • VCA provides DEMO / TRIAL classes for each of the bootcamps and IT certifications we offer. 

To know more about our work and activities, make sure to follow VCA in our social media channels! 

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