So last week I talked about finding jobs in today’s IT industry, I want to continue that this week with a focus on changing careers. Finding jobs in a new career requires that you understand the kind of companies hire in the careers and where jobs are located. Some careers may require relocation or a lifestyle change. There are tons of job sites that can help you research, like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor. As I mentioned last week finding networking groups where you can meet people in these careers and learn the local market from them. But to get where you want to be in the industry, you need to know where you want to be in the industry!
While you are doing your research, remember to look at the job postings. Make notes on what skills and certifications employers list. Knowing what skills employers list will help you determine what skills or certs you should work toward and highlight on your resume. When you are changing careers don’t focus on what you don’t know. Your focus needs to be on the skills you have earned in your current position and how they can relate to an IT career. Soft skills are extremely important in IT. Let’s face it, you are dealing with a person whose computer is broken. You need to be able to talk to a user to gather information, as well as help them understand how to ensure problems do not reoccur.
If you’re hoping to transition to an entirely different field that requires an entirely different skillset, you may need to enroll in training courses or a school to get yourself up to speed on the technical skills related to your field of choice. Internships or volunteering are great ways to get experience on your resume. Employers will notice these on your resume.
Now, I’m not going to lie, changing careers in your 20s is a lot different than in your 40s or 50s. Keep your age and lifestyle in mind as you plan to launch your new career. Remember if you have senior job experience, you’ll want to make sure potential employers know about it – if you have the right skills at your disposal, you might not be vying for entry-level positions.
Set and reach goals to make the change, this does not happen overnight. Commit to take a course or obtain industry certifications that will help you get in the career you want. Set dates for these goals. Remember success results when preparation meets opportunity – the more prepared you are and the more you stay on the right track with your goals, the more likely you are to succeed.
Don’t forget CompTIA has not changed their prices yet, but they will have an increase in certification prices in 2025. If you have a plan to take a CompTIA certification this year, you can save by purchasing a voucher before they increase their prices. Set goals and find way to ensure you reach them.
Talk to you next week!
Mike
CompTIA will raise certification exam prices soon. Buy your voucher now and save money on your 2025 certification.
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