Guest Post by Chelsea Lamb
With offices opening back up and abundant remote working opportunities, there’s never been a better time than now to make a change in your career. Explore these tips to see if the time is right to make a career change into tech.
Spend Time Researching
If you want to switch professions (or even companies), you must do your research first. Especially in the tech sector, architecture, administration, and management of operating systems frequently change, meaning that your technical knowledge may be irrelevant or outdated. Alternatively, you may find that an industry has grown or shrunk over time – understanding these variables can help you better understand whether you’re over or underpaid and whether you can expect the same, worse, or a better quality of work-life if you switch jobs.
It helps to have a clear goal in mind if you’re changing careers, especially if that goal is to join a particular industry. You can define yourself as a candidate by learning the industry’s standards, requirements, and desirable skills. For example, aspiring cyber security professionals will often need certifications, top-notch communication skills, and active listening skills. Check out Tech Radar’s article before entering the application process as an attractive prospect.
Invest in Retraining
After some research, you may find that a career change requires new qualifications or knowledge. Fortunately, the popularization of remote learning means you can often learn new skills without physically attending classes. Many industries don’t demand formal certificates – this puts learning channels such as Coursera or LinkedIn Learning in the spotlight for a cheap (sometimes free) cost. However, more challenging to acquire while in full-time employment, traditional degrees and diplomas are still available to those with the right work ethic. You can complete many bachelor’s degrees remotely and on a part-time basis.
Start Your Own Business
Suppose you don’t have all the required qualifications but have a working knowledge of the industry. In that case, seek other ways to prove your value. For example, many start businesses to advance their careers. Your first step will be to create a business plan that details your business idea, marketing strategies, how you’ll structure your business, funding needs, and more. Review this ZenBusiness – Start a Business Guide to learn more about the details involved.
Enhance Your Resumé
Every successful application contains a strong resume but writing and designing one is often more complicated than you’d expect. If you’re struggling with formatting or are not confident, it’s worth bringing in a resume writing expert. The right individual will help your application stand out from the others, highlighting your best attributes and customizing the copy to suit your industry. Just remember to check online reviews and testimonials.
If you want to stand out from the competition, try the suggestion from Indeed for inserting a few extracurricular activities into your resume. Volunteering shows you have a powerful drive; some hobbies may prove professionally relevant (such as ethical hacking in a cyber security role). You never know when the hiring manager will share a particular interest.
Changing careers or starting your own business is no small undertaking. Still, suppose you’re willing to take the time to read up on your industry and spruce up your resume. In that case, there’s no reason you can’t have an enjoyable and profitable career change into tech. When you’re ready to begin your job search, visit FocusITstaff to find the best tech jobs!