The first and most important step is to be ready to start everything from 0, whether it’s an IT career or education in that direction. Like everything you enjoy doing, IT needs enthusiasm and constant motivation since you chose the new road and until you reach the set goal.
If you already have work experience, regardless of your current professional status, get used to thinking that you are going to take a few steps back. Even if you have experience or are good at what you are doing now, you will have to demonstrate the same skills in the new field you want to conquer.
There are useful courses
When you do not have IT experience, the field courses are your “best friend.” Participating in specialized courses proves interest and commitment to the new chosen field, but above all, represents the foundation on which you build your career. Then you can have the option of choosing best technology companies.
Invest your time in courses that are really useful, otherwise time becomes your enemy. Choose programming or design courses where any theoretically taught practice has immediate practical applicability. If scheduling helps you get important IT certifications and internationally recognized, the better! These will be added to the practical skills employers are following in the interview.
Have the patience to gain working skills
As I was telling you, there are no wonders overnight in IT. For example, if you want to learn to programme, it takes about six months to start thinking from the perspective of a software developer, following a logical process that is specific to the domain.
The most important element in an IT career is the work skills that you learn through experience and training. In your case, the emphasis will be on training, so you need a study program in which to acquire the skills needed for a job entry level.
Find a trusted study program and follow it all the way, even if it takes longer than you expected. Some skills require a longer time to be appropriated, so do not lose your patience.
Use the skills you have acquired in the past
Past work skills can be transferred to your career as an IT specialist. The fact that you can concentrate on work under the pressure of the deadline, the ability to achieve and prioritize tasks, or creativity is also highly valued in IT.
In addition, IT specialists are required in a variety of fields, so you can combine the knowledge you have gained with IT. Past experience can be the basis of a unique project that you can implement and become familiar with in both areas where you are trained. Read here.
Choose an IT job you like
You want to feel fulfilled in your career, so choose the job you are doing with pleasure, and when it comes to IT specializations you have a lot of alternatives. Make a list of those kinds of activities that seem more interesting to you and focus your attention.
As an IT specialist, you have the opportunity to work either as an employee or as a freelancer, both for companies or projects in the country as well as for those from abroad. Once you know how you want your career to evolve, realize and remain loyal to a plan of action that takes you closer to achieving the goal.
Find new ways to find jobs
Those who see your resume or meet you for the first time may not understand why your past is so different from plans for the future. So share your story with the world, why did you make this transition and what motivates you to start on this road. Yes, the experience is important, but you can gain trust, ambition and personality.
If IT specialists are needed in your company, tell your superiors about your reorientation. It’s easier for the employer to recruit people for different functions internally, and you already understand the company’s culture, internal procedures, and have gained experience in the field you have worked so far.
Companies of all sizes always look for people with proven skills that they can rely on. To increase your chances of being the one you choose, build relationships with people who can recommend you, or who can help you get an interview. Whether you are in a business environment, specialty fairs or meetings with friends, tell them about your plans and increase your chances of being recommended. The magic word is “networking.”
Successful transition from another domain to IT takes time, so do not lose your enthusiasm and patience. Start with small steps, where you are. Even small steps made in the right direction can be of great impact for your future in IT. Do not be discouraged by the obstacles or those who think you will not succeed.
Check this out: https://www.wikihow.com/Switch-Careers
When you start looking for an employer, you can have two approaches to identify those companies where your potential is:
- Structure Approach – you have to choose an industry for which you have a certain interest and you would like to work (eg Auto, IT & C, FMCG, etc.) and do a thorough research using the press or sites to find out which are the main players in the industry and especially which of these actively employ graduates. Other good starting points can be industry events that also offer you the chance to interact with people working in the field, and you can also get insights from inside.
- The Chaotic Approach – involves applying to different companies in different industries without knowing basic information about each (market position, the field of activity, ideal looking profile). The major disadvantage – you can lose points during the interview to some key questions like – What do you know about our company ?, Why did you apply for our company?
One last element that you should consider is the organizational culture defined in particular by the team and working people. Try to find out what the atmosphere of the company is before you get hired from friends or people already working there. Although it may seem like a minor thing, you should not forget that you will spend 8-9 hours a day at work, a time equal to your family, so this final criterion should weigh heavily in your choice.