Career

Career Changers — A Detour to Your Dream Job

24. June 2020

Career changers are those who make one or two detours on the way to work. Be it because the course of studies does not provide a clear job description or because after a few years in the chosen profession something completely new has to be found. The chances for career changers in the most diverse industries are not bad at all - even in IT.

Our career paths are often set in stone as early as our teenage years. However, when they are 30 or 40, many of them wish to take up a different career path from the one they were originally thinking about in their youth. It's perfectly understandable - our values and needs change, we develop further and want something new in our careers. And sometimes you have just finished learning, then it's no fun anymore.

Typical for career changers is that graduates from a wide range of disciplines work here. Career changers think differently, bring diversity to the team and experience from other industries. But the more specific the knowledge required in a profession, the harder it is for career changers. Anyone who wants to work as a software developer cannot avoid acquiring knowledge of common programming languages. For professions in which an academic education prepares only to a limited extent for the activities required in the job, such as consulting, basic skills such as an analytical mindset or good time management are more likely to be decisive. Candidates who are able to learn and quickly adapt to new situations are often sought here. Other skills are often taught on the job.

Career changers often bring along relevant skills that they have acquired in a non-subject related study or practice. Anyone who believes that a career change is not possible in such a special environment as IT is mistaken. Here, too, career changers have a good chance of getting their dream job under certain conditions. Acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills yourself is possible in principle. However, you should be aware that this path can be very labor-intensive and also involves costs. With the firm goal of further development in mind, the chances are not bad. The short and medium-term acquisition of additional qualifications ensures that one is recommended for greater professional requirements and thus the next career level. In some cases, a part-time course of study or training may also be the right path to take. The offer of further education opportunities and your own perspective should therefore be discussed in the job interview, especially for career changers.

The lateral entry into IT is particularly promising, since hardly any sector can manage without IT today - thanks to increasing digitalization. Competent specialists have been sought here for years and this development will not change in the foreseeable future. Those who are technically adept and do not shy away from the great retraining effort have very good chances of finding a job as a career changer in their desired industry.

Also with us work career changers who have now found their luck.

You can find out more in our series "5 Minutes with..." or click through the gallery and learn more about our employees.

If you have any further questions about career changers, please contact us.

Your Coopers Team