How To Make a Mid-career Move Into IT
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We talk about leveling up, about geting ahead in your career and about excelling where you are right now.
Mid-career moves can be daunting. Don’t let your hesitancy or anxiety stop you from discovering what could be another enjoyable profession or industry, like the ever-progressing field of IT. Those looking to transition into IT and tech should lean into their transferable skills, learn as much as they can, and seek out companies that welcome IT newcomers.?
IT stands for information technology and is a growing career field. With so much potential in this particular industry and field, you may already be contemplating the best ways to become an IT professional and finally make that career change .?
“But I’m in my 40s/50s, is it wise to make a mid-career move?”?
“If a career in IT requires a college degree, I may as well retire in my current industry.”
“I’m ready for this career change. How do I make it happen?”
These are all questions that may run through your mind as a mid-career-level professional.?
As we previously reported on #GetHired , “Information technology jobs are the wave of the future and offer exciting career opportunities.”
The information technology field, or IT, is vast, with jobs typically focusing on the support, administration, security, and design of computer systems and networks. Also, IT professionals often have the flexibility to work remotely or in person.?
Thankfully, IT is a fairly forgiving profession, with lots of opportunities to build transferable skills beyond college — through learning courses, certifications and hands-on training. And changing professions mid-career is not as uncommon as you might think.?
You’ve already built years of relevant experience and skills , so harness them to your advantage and make the leap into IT.
Getting Into the Tech Industry
We spoke with Mikayla Bailey , a tech recruiter at Resource Wranglers , who states that getting into IT from any professional level, from entry to mid, is all about skills and learning.?
“At any stage, learning and having the proper skills is critical. Some companies do want to see a Bachelor's Degree in IT or Computer Science, whereas other companies are okay with a bootcamp or self-education,” she says.
It’s a similar sentiment Wonsulting CEO Jonathan Javier recently shared with my colleague Brandi Fowler when discussing how to change careers at 40 or 50 years old .
“You have to identify what job you want and skills you have,” Javier said. “I hear some people who say, ‘I want to switch from sales to engineering.’ It is a little more difficult if it is not transferable skills, because that is from a non-tech role. You have to identify first the role that you want to get into and if it is actually feasible for your skills to be transferable.”
So when getting into the tech industry (specifically IT), focus on your skills, both hard and soft , which are equally important. You want to have a balance of necessary technical skills , which can vary depending on your desired role:?
… along with the ever-desirable soft skills that many employers are currently looking for. As you prepare for what’s going to hopefully be a successful transition, Bailey offers her list ofsoft skills and qualities that she sees often in her tech recruiter role.?
“Problem solving is key. Every interview for tech will ask you questions around your problem-solving methods. Communication is super important in tech. You have to not only understand the technology, but be able to explain and communicate it to people that are non-technical (like recruiters ) as well as key decision makers and stakeholders,” she says.
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In her personal experience, job candidates who can break down technical concepts during a phone screen are a plus that will be mentioned to hiring managers. Additionally, those candidates looking to make a mid-career shift into IT need to display their ability to do research and some self-learning.?
And be honest about your knowledge … or lack thereof.?
“Being okay with saying that you don't know something is a great skill. In the beginning of your career journey, you feel pressure to know everything and that won't be the case. It's okay to be honest!” says Bailey.
Your mid-career change into IT is likely driven by your passion for the field or love of skill-building. Lead with that enthusiasm (along with your existing transferable qualifications ) during the job search process.?
Gaining Key Skills for IT
As you begin your mid-career journey to becoming an IT professional, Bailey offers the best steps to take — before applying for jobs. Her helpful steps are listed below:?
Learn as much as you can about your desired IT career path (computer support specialist, information security analyst, database administrator, etc). Platforms like LinkedIn Learning or even community college courses are a great starting point. Check out Bailey’s other learning resources:?
Networking is going to be essential, given the competitive job market and as more people look to pivot into tech. “With that being said, there are lots of groups on LinkedIn or Facebook where people looking to pivot into tech (or who have done so successfully) are providing support and community and sharing job opportunities,” says Bailey.
Make sure your resume and LinkedIn profile are complete. Add in all the learning, certifications, and projects that you’ve done. This is something that you can do over time, as you complete each learning element.
Circling back to certifications, CompTIA A+ offers a basic understanding of IT. Bailey states that this industry standard is good for any person who isn't in IT yet but wants to learn. She also says that mid-career professionals can learn about job-specific issues/solutions that could arise through case studies.?
And remember, IT certifications can be particular, so do some research and self-assessment, to determine which IT career path you want to follow. You’ll save yourself lots of time and effort.
Read IT Job Descriptions
Every employer is different, with some requiring IT-related college degrees or a certain level of experience. If you’re making a mid-career move to IT, look for companies that welcome IT newcomers.?
“Make sure that you understand the role you're applying to and get specific with your job search. It's okay and acceptable to start very broad in your IT journey because you learn a little bit of everything,” says Bailey. “As you grow, figure out which one of those areas you like the most and niche down into that. See what projects you can take on and books you can read to dive into that specific area and become an expert in your niche.”
Top Takeaways?
Mid-career moves into IT require some thoughtful preparation. Here’s what to know: