How to Transition Out of The Computer Software Industry

Transitioning out of any field successfully takes the right strategy. To leave the computer software industry behind, determine which industry/position you want to transition into, revamp your resume and LinkedIn profile, and identify your transferable skills, and network.

By Brandi Fowler

If you are interested in making a career change, you are not alone.?

Earlier this year, during the Great Reshuffle 's peak, “53% of employed U.S. adults who quit their job in 2021 changed their occupation or field of work at some point [that year too],” a Pew Research survey found.

To stage a successful transition out of the computer software industry, you should start by reflecting, researching, and rebranding, said global speaker and My Marketability executive career coach Diana YK Chan .?

“First step is knowing why you want to make the pivot, why you want to make the change,” Chan said. “Really get clear on what you don’t like about this industry, who you are, what you want, and what is important to you.

“The second phase is research. Research this new industry, understand the key industry trends, challenges, and opportunities, and the language and lingo they use so you can tailor your [branding] messages accordingly. Understand the hiring requirements, key qualifications, key knowledge, skills, and experience they are looking for, so you can look for that in new job postings.”

Next, rebrand and reposition yourself, Chan said. “Overhaul your resume, your LinkedIn profile, your branding to position yourself for success in this new area,” Chan said.?

Develop a Solid Game Plan to Transition Out of the Computer Software Industry

A self-assessment is a big part of creating a strategy for your transition.?

“[Start by] understanding the size of change you are making, the level of difficulty of your change,” Chan said. “There is a difference between when people are just changing and going to [another job in the] same industry, same role versus a change in industry and change role.?

“The bigger the change, the longer it takes. It is something people need to factor in. From a time perspective, it is how complex is your change and the different phases that you need to approach to make the change successfully there.”?

In addition, identify which profession you want to begin a new career in and the roles you want to pursue.

“That will be the foundation of your plan,” said executive career coach Laura Leach . “You have to figure out your finances first and how much it is going to cost you [to leave the computer software industry]. ‘How much time do I have based on my finances and how long can I afford to test and have informational conversations with people in various industries?’

“[Talk to] people who have made the transition before because there are people who have made these types of transitions and radical career pivots.”

Also, figure out how to “market and package yourself differently” for that new field, Leach said.?

Think of it as a product market fit process, Leach said. “Who wants me? Who wants to buy? Who wants what I have?” Leach said. “Because we all are special snowflakes and we all have these amazing abilities and it's just a matter of finding those people who want what you have.”

Remember that you may need to pick up new certifications or take classes to add skills to your repertoire too, Chan said.?

Identify and Highlight Your Transferable Skills?

Identify your transferable skills and feature them on your resume .

For the computer software industry, strategic thinking, decision-making, design thinking, problem-solving, systematic thinking, leadership, teamwork, and conflict resolution are the top transferable skills, Leach said.?

“[Also], somebody that is very process-oriented, like somebody that has design system and user experience goes across so many different industries,” Leach said. “What is that experience like? Understanding the entire software development life cycle, because there's so many different components in it.”

Leach said you should consider your transferable skills your “superpowers.” So, highlighting them in the right way is key.?

“What are the things that you do that come very easily and naturally to you?” Leach said. “Be able to take a look at those skills and then really think, ‘Who needs them, who wants them?’”

In addition, determine the core skills required for jobs you want and think about how your qualifications can match them, Chan said.?

“[Think about] your track record of success, your performance, your accomplishments, and results,” Chan said. “Then from there, you connect the dots of how your track record success is relevant to the core competencies that they are looking for to build a strong business case where you really highlight the benefits of hiring you.”

Network to Transition Out of the Computer Software Industry

Network with recruiters, hiring managers, and professionals in the industry you want to move into.?

“Outside of identifying what your transferable skills are, networking is going to be your path,” Leach said. “It is very rare that there are career transitioners that make huge pivots without some kind of support, champion, or networking source that is going to see their potential, see those transferable skills and have that need.?

“When it comes to career pivots, I think applying online is not going to be their friend. It is not going to be their path to getting that offer letter. It is going to be by networking and by being able to articulate their value and being able for that audience to see that value and why they need it. And that doesn't really translate well on paper.”

Have a game plan to network successfully, Leach said. Figure out how to add value and lead with that when contacting people.

“Don't wait for companies to find you because no one is going to find you,” Leach said. “You have to go identify those companies and figure out who wants to talk to you. Have a plan and a strategy on who you are going to reach out to and how often you are going to reach out to them.

“I always think following employees [is valuable too]. New employees are great people to reach out to find out what their candidate experience was like. If you want to get really sneaky, think about if they have a social responsibility and are volunteering within a particular group. Become part of that volunteer or non-profit and work on different types of committees or projects. You will have a chance to actually mingle with people, rub elbows with people in a casual, comfortable way that you probably wouldn't have access to in any other way.”?

Chan also said networking is key for a successful career transition.?

“A big part of the research is actually conducting a lot of informational interviews to really understand what it takes to be successful and then having people to endorse you,” Chan said. “I think what is really key is having people refer and endorse you. Having a great reputation does certainly help open doors.”

Transitioning out of the computer software industry can be exciting, but also challenging. Determine your transferable skills, revamp your resume to include them, and network as much as possible to help facilitate the process.?

Top Takeaways

How to Transition Out of The Computer Software Industry

• Determine the industry you want to transition into and the roles you want.?
• Develop a solid game plan by reflecting, researching, and rebranding your resume and LinkedIn profile.?
• Revamp your resume and LinkedIn profile. Highlight your transferable hard and soft skills and tailor them to the needs of that new industry.?
• Network with industry professionals, hiring managers, and recruiters.?