Can You Transition to a Career in Tech?

With the huge growth in companies providing IT infrastructure, computer systems, design and product management, not to mention Silicon Valley’s explosion of tech startups, it’s a great time to make the change to a career in tech. Thanks to free or inexpensive online tools and resources, it may not even require going back to school for a full degree.

But how do you change paths mid-career? We asked career experts, employment coaches and tech recruiters for their best advice.

YOU CAN PIVOT CAREERS

If you have work experience of any kind, that experience has tremendous value to employers in the tech industry. While you obviously need to gain the technical expertise through either self-study, a college degree program, or a coding bootcamp, that expertise will be worth very little if you don’t also possess some of the many “soft skills” that all employers are looking for. These are things like ability to meet deadlines, communication skills, emotional intelligence, conflict management, and countless other skills that one can only learn on the job.

Dr. Art Langer, Director of the Center for Technology Management at Columbia University

Positions in project management, quality assurance and business analysis are easiest to transition into tech because of the skills acquired in those positions. But with the right training, any person can develop the skills needed to transition into tech.

WHAT SKILLS CAN YOU BRING FROM YOUR FORMER CAREER?

The most important skill is being logical. Tech is a logical field, so having a logical mind is critical. Project management skills are also key, as is interacting with tech as a user as well.

David Armendariz, GM of the technology division for Lucas Group 

Soft skills are transferrable in any industry: communication, ability to collaborate with others, problem solving and taking initiative.

CAN YOU TEACH YOURSELF? HOW DO YOU DEVELOP SKILLS?

Its imperative individuals utilize workforce development organizations to develop and hone tech skills if they don’t have many. The nonprofit I founded, Workforce Opportunity Services, develops the skills of untapped talent from underserved and veteran communities through partnerships with organizations dedicated to diversifying their workforce. In addition to providing soft skills training, we offer hard-skills education as well in skills like writing code.

It may be surprising that such a focused career doesn’t require a four-year bachelor's degree. More emphasis is being placed on skills and inherent value, which can be acquired through alternative, concentrated educational or workforce development programs, which are available online and in person.

Artur Meyster, CTO and co-founder of Career Karma 

In the Internet age, anyone can learn how to do just about anything through online self-study. Further, the online tech community is truly astonishing in its wealth of resources and willingness of experienced tech workers to share their knowledge with aspiring coders, data scientists, and others. And yet, there’s definitely something to be said for the structured approach offered in a formal tech education program. Coding bootcamp, in particular, can cut down on the amount of time required to get up to speed and gain the confidence and skills required to be successful in the tech sphere.

GET CERTIFICATIONS

If you focus on just one thing, focus on either Microsoft Amazon or Google, a few of the largest companies and cloud providers in the world.  They support employment ecosystems. Hundreds of thousands of technology professionals run their entire business based on providing value-added services based on only those technologies. if you focus on Microsoft, start by watching online videos about specific applications. Learn not just what the application does, but how it's being used by companies to add value to their bottom line. How do they use Microsoft Teams to become more productive? How did they use Microsoft SharePoint to collaborate across the organization?

NETWORK WITH OTHERS IN TECH

Go to meetups and other technical networking groups that support and encourage the type of tech you are interested in. Not only can the people there help you network, but they could also help you acquire more knowledge in the areas you are trying to master during your transition.

Mitchell Robertson, VP of Code Fellows in Seattle:

Meetups, are big but honestly there are no limits to how to network. Go to company events, use Linkedin, go to hack-a-thons. It really is about being genuine and going after really networking relationships.

GAIN EXPERIENCE

Be open minded: When transitioning into a career in technology, be open to looking at entry-level roles, internships, contract, paid or unpaid positions because you need to gain experience. Don’t look at it as a step back. Look at it as a step forward in the right direction. Identify your transferable skills, get some certifications under your belt, and know who you are and why you’re transitioning. This is critical because you need to be able to sell the reason you’re making a move to potential employers.

Mitchell Robertson, VP of Code Fellows in Seattle:

Online education may work for some, but just like learning a foreign language online, it will only take you so far. In the end you need to interact with others, learn from senior engineers, and expand your ability to translate your skills to others. Degrees aren't necessary anymore - companies are looking for individuals who can do the work and who fit the culture.

EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FIRST JOB

Expect to work hard and be challenged. Use your experiences and failures to better develop and hone in on gaps in your skillset, or better yet, identify a missing skillset in your company and become an expert in that area. Learn as much as you can and keep up with the rapidly changing technological landscape to stay relevant.

Mitchell Robertson, VP of Code Fellows in Seattle:

Be willing to put in the hard work to show you are a team contributor and expect to learn a lot. We tell our grads they must have grit and determination to be able to outpace their peers.

Artur Meyster CTO, Co-Founder of Career Karma 

Expect to learn by doing. A lot. No education program can fully prepare even the most promising student for all the things she will encounter in a new tech career. But the great thing about working in tech is that you will be surrounded by colleagues that are at varying stages of learning, as well. And, in my experience and that of most people I know in the tech industry, tech workers are among the most generous people when it comes to sharing their knowledge and working to solve problems as a team. It’s this communal aspect that makes the tech sector such a lively and energetic environment to work in. All that is to say, there will be a steep learning curve; however, most of the time, you’ll find some incredible people who are willing to teach, demonstrate, solve, and—most importantly—learn right along with you.