Career advice: Career Change Question

It takes courage to contemplate a new career; it creates uncertainty, involves change and sacrifice, and sometimes doesn't offer the anticipated results we want. So, we applaud your courage to even consider a new career and at the same time understand your reticence to undertake a full-time master's degree program and give up the steady income on which your family relies. Additionally, as in most things in life, there is no guarantee that this new degree in IT will automatically open the doors you want opened when you've finished it.

• That said, we do think you can accomplish a career change if you really want to do it and end up in a satisfying job. It involves three key steps.
• You need to fully research the IT field and narrow down the possibilities; there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of different jobs in IT and you need to find the two or three job titles that most interest you and fit best with your skills, goals and values. We're not suggesting anything be carved in stone but it is important to be able to focus your energies on those jobs which will best meet your needs. We know from experience that the people who are most successful when making a radical career change are those who are specific about what they want to do and where they want to go. Those who try to cast too wide a net often end up confused and disillusioned and aren't able to talk succinctly about what they want to do.
• Once you have determined a couple of good possibilities, you need to continue your research to determine what skills, jobs tasks and responsibilities make up the jobs you like and see how your current and past experience fits with those requirements. You will find that many skills are transferable and that you already possess some of what is needed. It's not that you need to reinvent yourself; you just need to learn how to tell others the ways in which you are already qualified for this new career.
• After you've gotten a handle on this, it's time to use your network of associates, friends, acquaintances, and contacts to talk with people in the IT field. It's important for you to expand your knowledge about the field and get a good grasp on what's really involved in the job(s) you think you might want to do. The best way to do that is to talk with people already working in the IT field (especially those in the jobs which interest you most) and see what they have to say about how they got started in the job, what they like and dislike, the three key skills and responsibilities and what education is needed. This exercise also allows you to see if you are on track; what sounds good at the beginning of this process may lose its luster once you know what's really involved.

So, ask everyone you know to connect you with someone working in the IT field. Start by talking with everyone whose name is given to you, even if they are not doing the specific job that interests you. Be succinct and ask only relevant questions; don't waste anyone's time. Always ask for the name of someone else to talk with and always (always) send a thank you note or letter to show you appreciated their time and interest in you. Over time (you will get better at this) you will be able to narrow down and get to those who can best help you determine which direction to take. You can do this by phone or in person; keeping in mind for key contacts that a face is more memorable than a voice over the phone line.

In addition to learning invaluable information that will help you hone and refine your own job choice, you accomplish two other things when you do this. You learn to understand key terms in this new field and will be able to speak the "jargon" which gives you immediate credibility; and you will establish connections that may be helpful when you are ready to find a job down the road. The person you talk with today could be the person who is in a position to hire you tomorrow. By showing your initiative and enthusiasm now, you will stand out later on.

You need to determine that more education is really needed, and if it is, what is the best option for you. Your idea of an online degree program may be the way to go, since you can't quit your current job and still feed your family. While we feel it is still a bit early to judge how employers view these degrees, thousands and thousands of people are opting for this kind of advanced education and finding jobs once they have the degree. So, research the possibilities and select the one that is best for you, keeping in mind that the better the reputation of the school you select, the better your degree will likely be greeted by prospective employers.

For a list of interesting articles about this topic, including one written for the Career Journal by Janna Braun, go to http://www.foreignmba.com/area.php?area=172 and check out the news and article section.

We know this might sound like a lot of work — we admit that it is. But everything we've suggested can be done while you continue to work at your current job. We believe that the more homework you do up front, the better prepared you will be to make a change and find success.