Career Switch to Tech or the Challenges of the Big Leap
In March, I was invited to the “Girls in Tech — Armenia” event which was a panel discussion featuring HR managers from different IT companies. We had to share our ideas regarding the career switch to tech with nearly 200 people who came to listen to us.
That’s pretty great because a lot of people these days try to make the switch. With that in mind, I have decided to sum up my ideas here for those who didn’t make it to the event or who just need a second round of advice.
But before that, let me tell you something. I usually ask people what drives their desire to move to tech. Ask this question to yourself first. Some people want to make the leap because of the high salary or job benefits. Others want to learn something new by changing their domain or specialty.
So, before you make up your mind, ask yourself the question, “Why do I need this?”
Working in IT is fun and empowering. But I just have to warn you that the transition won’t happen overnight. And it won’t even happen once you receive your first certificate or even the second one. It takes time just like everything awesome does.
So, don’t expect to land on your dream job within weeks or even months after making a decision. It will take months (in some cases years) of hard work and dedication to achieve what you have in mind. Just deal with that.
Each transition scenario will differ based on who you are and where you want to appear. So, there is no algorithm to success that you can use. However, there are a few tips you could follow. Here you go:
- As I have said earlier, determine the main reason behind your desire to join the tech community. There can be many reasons. Do you hate your current job? Do you want to learn something new? Trust me, defining the main reason why you want to switch to tech will determine your further development direction.
- Ask yourself what you want to do in tech. The possibilities are endless. Conduct your own research first. Tech professionals are in huge demand here in Armenia. Product Owners, Project and Product Managers, JavaScript, Java, PHP Developers are the professionals that are being searched for by different companies.
According to staff.am, in nearly 40% of job postings, tech professionals are being looked for.
So my advice here: Just read. Read about everything related to tech, find out what JavaScript and Java are, understand the difference between Front-end and Back-end development, find out what Agile and Scrum are and what’s the difference between the Product Owner and the Product Manager roles.
- Next comes the question “What to choose?” Lots of technologies, product and project related activities. You just have to choose the one, the best one for you. That’s the most challenging part, I know ;) you have to consider two main points here: what you do well in your current job or in general and what you would like to do in the nearest future. You can also ask tech HR people what is in high demand now. That can help you while making a decision.
- Once you make up your mind as to what you are going to do, next comes concentrating on your action plan. Remember that the process can take longer than expected and accomplishing your goals won’t be easy too. Be prepared for the ups and downs.
- Set up an informal interview with someone working in the industry. Ask them about the tech skills you need to develop. Reach out to people who work at your dream companies and ask them if they’d be up for chatting over coffee.
- Once you feel you are ready, start applying for internships and job vacancies. Yes, HR people don’t always shortlist the candidates who don’t have relevant experience. But I suggest that you write a small cover letter with every resume you send and elaborate on why you want to change your profession. It will help the HR team in determining whether you a good fit for the company or not.
Bonus tip for companies* If you are only hiring tech people, maybe it’s time to reconsider that approach. In fact, non-tech employees (whenever you can afford to hire them) can become your company’s secret weapon by bringing in a new quality of culture and making your company more diverse.
Summing up
Switching to tech is a long journey. You might have a lot of fears; you might not know where to start or what to do at the very beginning, the unknown might scare you and make you wonder whether you have made the right decision or not. It will be hard to come home after work and study hard instead of watching your favorite TV show. And there can be a lot of other obstacles too.
However, there is only one solution to all your fears: focus on the big picture and the main goals. Consider your long journey to tech as a journey where you will experience interesting stuff and gather a lot of new skills.
And keep in mind that it’s never too late to switch to tech. Don’t hold yourself back just because you don’t have a traditional tech background. Instead, focus on what you can add to what you have now.
Follow your passion.
And become.
Check out our open roles at https://sflpro.com/job/.
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