Thinking of Venturing Into Tech? - Mastering The Art of No Limitations

I got a lot of reactions from my previous post on switching industries and many of you wanted to know more about how to go about it.

You may have thought, it's impossible or highly unlikely to make that switch if you've spent a long time in your current field or industry, but that's not true. 

First, make sure you're switching for the right reasons. Such reasons could be personal and career growth, connecting with people outside your scope of expertise, seeking better opportunities and pushing boundaries by dealing with complex but interesting challenges. 

If you've been considering a role in Tech, you might want to consider these key steps:

1. Write Down Your Soft Skills and How They’ll Help You in Tech - Getting the right certification is a necessity for a notorious and competitive job market but what also gives you an edge are your soft skills. Are you an effective communicator? Does your presence in a meeting lighten up the room and encourage the ideation process? Are you approachable and friendly? 
2. Check Out An Industry That’s Related To What You're Passionate About -  Dear reader, know thyself; this gives you a chance to offer value to the company beyond the raw tech skills you’re bringing to the table. For example, if you’re coming from finance, banking, or accounting and yes, even marketing, a FinTech company could be a natural fit for you. If you're great with numbers and have insightful knowledge of the regulation of the industry, you’re off to a good start.
3. Networking -  This sounds too cliche but you have to make it a matter of course to know people! Attend Tech programmes (virtual and physical) and career fairs. Having a conversation starter means you have to do your research. That way you always have something relevant to say. So, always stay fresh by being open-minded to learning new things. Simply talking to the right people about your passions will usher in the much-needed support to keep you motivated.

Here's a bonus;

Harnessing the power of LinkedIn: It will be great to know that I got my current job as well as my last 2 jobs all thanks to this platform. Prune and polish your experience and make it sound as applicable as possible to the new industry by focusing on transferable skills. Add new skills or courses you've recently participated in. Cut out any jargon from your previous industry if it might confuse Tech employers.

It really goes beyond coming online to like a post or make a comment. You have to position yourself for the right opportunities. Go into the right places. Talk to the right people.

Take the job search aspect of LinkedIn seriously, as I did. Such focus can change your life.

That's the 411 on switching to Tech. I've been in the Fintech space for six months now and it's being an exciting learning curve. I'm loving it! 

So, what roles have you been considering lately?