Honey

It’s hard enough to figure out what kind of career might be worth pursuing, let alone how to actually go about landing a job in the field of interest. Agent just finished the Oregon Tradeswomen program here in Portland. Her positive, propelling experience has reminded me of how few resources exist for folks who have a vague idea of a possible opportunity in computers and technology, but don’t know how to take the next step toward reaching their ultimate goal.

I was a really lucky kid. I had a supportive family who guided me toward my interest in technology. I wasn’t quite sure if working with computers was the right thing for me, especially since I had no idea what that would be like in real life. I had the opportunity to go to school and pursue a degree in computer science, and so I did. I told my boss, the director of human resources at Providence St. Peter Hospital, that I wanted a project that was in line with my academic pursuits. She offered that I undertake the development of a human resources intranet web site. It wasn’t long before I was working on other web sites throughout the hospital, and I was hired as a web application developer immediately after graduation. I started programming in ColdFusion in 1999 and I’ve been evolving as a programmer ever since.

I have met a number of people who absolutely have the capacity and the potential to have a successful computer-related career. Usually, they just don’t know how to go about breaking into the industry. A lot of people are unable to start from scratch, shifting their entire life to pursue a degree in computer science, perhaps because they can’t afford it, they already have a degree in something else, or because their busy schedule does not allow time for such an endeavor.

The computer industry is just like any other industry, really. The best way to land a job in technology is to know people who have already established themselves. So many of the opportunities in our lives are possible because of our connections to other people. Let people know about your interests and make an effort to establish new relationships. Look for industry related events, forums, and activities to join. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of those who have the career you want to pursue. I love to talk about my job and would gladly tell you everything you’d want to know.

Be on the lookout for opportunities that would provide a smooth transition into a new career. In my short time in the workforce, I’ve seen many possibilities of transition from having a business role into an IT liaison, for example. Your expertise in your current line of work is invaluable and can absolutely be applied to a new career in technology. Most companies these days seem to have an IT department of some kind. You may be able to work out a transition plan between the two departments.

Build an excellent resume that highlights and emphasizes the skills that would be in demand by hiring managers seeking IT professionals. The best thing I ever did for my career (besides having my own Agent) was to have my resume professionally written. I don’t know about you, but I struggle, even slightly, with saying wonderfully positive things about myself. It’s hard to come up with other words besides “implemented” and “designed”. I relieved a ton of pressure and landed so many interviews just by shelling out 150 bucks to have somebody else do the work.

Deciding to pursue a new career is one of the scariest and most exciting things I can imagine someone can do. There are so many awesome opportunities in the computer industry, and for anyone who likes this kind of stuff, years of endless satisfaction awaits. Good luck in whatever you do and let me know if there’s anything I can do to help!

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