Career Change

Hi DarylG1​ ,

First of all welcome to the Microsoft Tech Community, while your question is strictly outside the scope of the Microsoft Tech Community, I wanted to reply with some of my personal views on the industry and how to 'get your foot in the door'.

Let me start with the recent few years have been very hard to work in Tech, especially software. The impact of AI on available jobs has been immeasurable. At the moment unless your a specialist in AI or data & cyber security its a very hard market to get into. 

Many people will tell you that you need to go to college or university, and they aren't wrong - not because the role really needs you to have a degree - but because many of the largest companies won't even interview you without a degree or significant length of service. I often find as well though, never underestimate the power networking into an organization. Attend events, showcase your skills and become known around your target companies and roles.

If you get an interview have some interesting examples of competencies relevant to the role, think about what the company is doing, where are they headed and ask relevant questions about it. Your trying to show you get the vision here. In my experience if your only questions is about the salary you probably aren't getting the role. 

Allot of CV/resume these days first get filtered by AI, so think about your structure of your CV, adjust it for each application and job you apply for. 

I hope this is a helpful first start, let me wish you all the best in your career change!

Allen

hi DarylG1​ here is my view.  Changing career is absolutely possible and having a genuine interest in technology is a great starting point. A career change into IT doesn't necessarily mean giving up your current job or spending years studying before getting your first opportunity.

With a family to support, the safest approach is usually to transition gradually. Keep your current job (if you are working) while building your IT skills in your spare time, then look for entry-level opportunities once you have some practical experience.

A few things that can help:

Start with the fundamentals: networking, operating systems, security, cloud, and basic troubleshooting.

Pick one area initially rather than trying to learn everything. IT support, networking, cloud, cybersecurity, and software development are all possible paths.

Build some hands-on experience through personal projects, labs, or platforms such as Microsoft Learn.

Consider an entry-level certification relevant to the path you've chosen. Certifications can help demonstrate your commitment, but practical experience is equally important.

Start applying for junior/help-desk/support roles once you have enough confidence with the fundamentals. Don't wait until you feel you know everything IT is a field where learning continues throughout your career.

The good news is that you don't have to figure out the entire career path before taking the first step. Start small, build consistently, and reassess as you learn more about the different areas of IT.

Since you mentioned that you're passionate about computer technology, that curiosity will probably take you further than simply collecting certifications. Good luck with the career change!

In all seriousness, type this message into an AI app and let us know what it says.