If you’re ready to leave IT behind, you’re not alone. According to a turnover report from Devskill, the tech industry had the highest current turnover rate in 2022 at 13.2%! Everyone has their reasons for wanting to leave, but not everyone has a plan. So how can you still have a successful career after working in this rather niche industry? Top Applicant is breaking down how to break up with your career in IT.
Your Skills
Before jumping into just any industry, we suggest taking stock of everything that has made you feel successful thus far. There are thousands of jobs looking for people who leave IT because of the skillsets associated with the industry. So as you make your next move, we suggest sharing the skills you already have to write the next chapter of your career!
Tech (obviously)
You didn’t go through all that schooling and certification testing for nothing! Even if your major isn’t directly related to your next field of interest, these accomplishments show that you’re capable of learning and utilizing detailed concepts.
You’d be surprised how many career paths heavily rely on a technological mind. Careers in healthcare, engineering, and logistics all have positions that require technical skills. So broaden your horizons by searching for a career path that uses what you already know!
Problem Solving
One of the most sought-after skills in any career path is problem-solving. No matter your discipline in the tech industry, every position requires some degree of problem-solving. For example, if you’re coming from network engineering, the troubleshooting protocols you’ve learned are great ways to solve everyday problems in other career fields as well!
Teamwork
There are virtually no businesses that run completely autonomously, which is why teamwork skills are important for any career path. To share how you’ve worked well with a team, document your past projects in your portfolio, and make sure to give credit where credit is due. This will not only share a project you’re proud of, but will also share skills you can bring to the next team you’re working with.
Your Value
If you’re part of the millions of workers in this field feeling burnt out, it can be hard to find your self-worth at times. We’re here to remind you that a bad work experience does not mean you’re a bad worker. Knowing your worth is crucial to leaving IT on good terms. So what do you bring to the table?
Experience
At Top Applicant, we’re staunch believers that any work experience is better than none! The key to sharing your experience with a potential employer is connecting your past experience to your future responsibilities.
Initially, IT can seem like a very niche industry, but many experiences can translate into other industries as well! To describe your experience with any future employer, we suggest using clear and measurable examples to explain your experience to managers who may not be familiar with IT terms. In each of your experience examples, we also suggest including an invaluable resource that employers seek IT professionals for.
Willingness to Learn
One of the most sought-after qualities employers look for is openness to new concepts and ideas. Since the informational technology industry is ever-changing and expanding, this is a common trait associated with many professionals leaving IT.
This trait is incredibly valuable for every employee across multiple industries, but for some professionals, numbers come more naturally than words. To describe your willingness to learn, consider your earliest accomplishments in your IT career. No one’s born knowing everything, so it stands to reason that you had to learn some new concepts in your career. Instead of separating one career path from the other, let every experience you’ve had build open, new possibilities as you leave IT behind.
Take the Next Step
Everyone deserves to feel fulfilled in their career. That’s why Top Applicant is always developing new ways to take your career to the next level. Start your career’s next chapter by signing in and putting your best foot forward with our modern hiring platform.
