IT is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, with an annual growth rate of almost 6% and rising. It’s also one of the most dynamic industries, offering plenty of opportunities for quick career advancement or even a complete makeover. In fact, it’s not uncommon for IT professionals to transition from one career path to another. Often, the change happens almost naturally as tech trends evolve and job responsibilities shift.
In some cases, however, professionals might feel compelled to shift career paths because of other factors, both external, like changing technology trends and economic expectations, and personal, like losing interest in the current job or looking for higher job satisfaction in a new role. Whatever the case, transitioning within the IT industry is possible, even if you want to shift from non-tech to technical roles.
Below, we will offer a few pointers that can make your transition smoother and briefly analyze the industry situation to see which careers might be most promising.
Objectively assess your current skills
This sounds like a no-brainer, but you should always start with a critical assessment of your current skillset — both hard and soft. In fact, you may even focus on the soft skills because even ‘traditional’ tech roles today require soft skills, such as problem-solving, time management, attention to detail, desire to learn, and most of all — ability to adapt. With today’s pace of the IT industry, willingness to embrace change is one of the top requirements for career advancement — and that applies to transitioning, too.
If you have a specific tech job in mind, hard skills are also a must, of course. The good news is that the IT industry is very broad, and plenty of hard skills you may already possess, starting from the obvious coding to a deeper knowledge of specific programming languages, are transferable.
Choose new roles strategically
You may already have a specific career path in mind, or you may be considering several roles that appeal to your interests. If that’s the case, you should try to analyze the current market situation before making any final decisions. Even though the IT industry is prone to rapid change, it’s not entirely unpredictable. The trends don’t just jump out of nowhere; they develop over time.
According to a recent study of the most in-demand IT jobs in 2024, the industry is in dire need of software developers and data scientists — and this clearly is not a surprise. However, based on the same research conducted by SignalHire, a recruiting database that has access to factual searches made by HRs, recruiters, and business developers all over the globe, project and IT managers are also in the top five of high-demand jobs. The data based on very recent info and, more importantly, real searches from recruiters operating worldwide, so it offers unique insights into what employers are truly looking for right now.
At the same time, consider how job demand for your preferred roles evolved over time. Today, all the attention goes to data scientists and AI experts — and these occupations are, indeed, growing at an unprecedented pace. In the US, for example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 35% increase in data science jobs, which is much faster than average. But that was not always the case. Besides, there are jobs, usually in DevOps, that cannot boast such impressive growth projectiles, but show a steady, even if lower, increase year after year. Perhaps, such stability could be better suited for your temperament and career goals. So, choose wisely.
Seek guidance from colleagues
If possible, do not keep your new career aspirations a secret. It’s true that, in some organizations, this cannot be avoided, but in most cases, transitioning to a new role is nothing out of the ordinary. Talk to your colleagues who already work in the positions you seek. This should give you a better insight into the actual situation and the daily work routine in another profession.
Consult your supervisor or the supervisor of the department you would like to transition into. If you work in a relatively large company, it is often possible to transition between jobs without actually changing the employer — which is a way easier path to tread. Besides, if you have chosen a high-demand job, most companies will be more than interested in upskilling and reskilling their existing employees. From an organizational perspective, this makes more sense (both budget- and performance-wise) than hiring new people.
So, go ahead — you may yet get all the help, guidance, and education you need from your current managers.
Acquire certificates if necessary
Digging a little deeper into the topic of education, we all know that, in IT, factual skills always beat paper certifications. But for some positions, a written proof of experience is a bureaucratic must. Fortunately, going back to college is hardly ever necessary because plenty of certified courses, generally available in online mode, can grant you the necessary permits after passing obligatory tests. So, research factual job requirements and apply for any must-have courses in advance.
Update your LinkedIn profile
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile can really boost your chances of future employment — if, of course, you decide to shift not only careers but organizations, too. However, you need to make sure that your current profile highlights the skills and experiences necessary for the job you have in mind. With some high-demand jobs, employers are ready to welcome candidates with little or no experience — as long as they are willing to learn and fit well into their corporate culture.
So, it all goes down to figuring out what you want from a new job and company. When you make this information known on LinkedIn, recruiters will start reaching out to you. And if you want to accelerate this process, start networking in relevant groups and communities. Such a proactive approach is a quicker way to catch the attention of recruiters and employers than sitting and waiting for the right offer to hit your inbox.
Seize every chance to practice
Of course, some waiting time cannot be avoided when transitioning to a new tech career. Use this time to your benefit and grasp every opportunity you have to practice your skills. If possible, create a portfolio and showcase every completed work in it — no matter if it’s a pet project or a paid gig. This may compensate for the lack of employment experience and will definitely help you advance new skills. And, of course, stay updated on the latest industry trends — this will come in very handy when you get to job interviews with new employers.
Finally, keep in mind that persistence always pays off in the long run. No matter which career path you may have in mind, investing in continuous education will help you get there, eventually. IT is one of those industries that encourage adaptability like no other — a statement that applies to tech and non-tech careers alike. Don’t forget that even tech professionals today must possess a set of soft skills, with adaptability falling in the top three obligatory qualities. Considering how dynamic and prone to change this industry is, this is not surprising — so keep adjusting and never stop learning!
