3 Surprising career fields that easily transition into tech
Published on 14 September 15
Kayla0
So you've been in your career field for years and you're tired of the same old slog. You'd like a change of pace - something different, something fresh. Where do you go and what do you do? Changing industries is not exactly as easy. Or is it?
It's become extremely easy to break into the tech industry. You don't have to pay thousands of dollars to attend a university or college. You can simply head over to YouTube for in-depth tutorials, or hit up one of the many online coding schools; they're either free or charge a small fee. Then, you can take on some freelance work when you've acquired the skills, working from home on your own time.
It might sound too good to be true, but it's not. Many people are doing it, and it's working out well for them because the tech industry is constantly expanding, which means new opportunities open up every day. Even better, most tech jobs are in high demand, which means the income is often impressive.
It begs the question: How difficult is it to transition into a tech career? What about if you've been working in another field such as construction, manufacturing, healthcare or even customer service? What industries or fields can expect to easily transition into a tech career?
Liberal Arts
One of the best things about having a degree - even one in liberal arts - is that it makes you a better candidate than most. Unfortunately, once you enter the job market, you'll need experience to go along with your degree, which is why many people have trouble finding a position these days, aside from there being a lack of opportunities, of course.
Don't panic if you're having trouble finding a position in humanities or the arts. You'll find some great opportunities in the tech market, and you don't need to spend boatloads of money to earn another degree.
Believe it or not, you'd make a great designer or graphics editor. You likely have a knack for visually striking material. To break out as a web designer, you'll need experience with graphics editing software and web development. You'll also need to generate a portfolio of your work.
Once you have the skills necessary, which you can easily acquire from online educational programs and hands-on experience, you can take on freelance work. You'd be surprised how many companies, brands and individuals need help designing a website or blog, and are willing to pay good money for it.
The internet is constantly expanding and changing, so you'll always be able to find work. If you manage your time and gigs correctly, you should be able to make a sufficient income, maybe even more than you would in a traditional liberal arts career. If freelance isn't right for your situation, you can begin applying for other positions after you build your resume. In other words, it can be a great stepping stone.
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medical Services, or EMS, is a remarkably fast-paced world. Before you can get started, there's an extensive amount of training and care that goes into your preparation. You must ensure you're ready for any scenario that might occur out in the field. Your equipment must be in proper working order, including your transportation. Your supplies must be stocked and you need to have the right medical tools.
Despite how rewarding a career as an EMS may be, at some point you might decide it’s time for a change. You'll be pleased to know that you have many options in the tech field. With prior healthcare experience, you can begin working with a software or hardware company in the medical industry or EMS management tools tied to tech. These opportunities can become a possibility after a small amount of time pursuing a certification. You don't need to go back to school for years, and you already have a lot of experience and skills that will transition well.
Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice
You’ve probably heard of cybercrime. Law enforcement agencies focus on high-profile crimes of this type in the digital space, but smaller crimes happen all the time. The internet has created many opportunities for unscrupulous individuals who are looking to prey on others, ranging from an elderly individual who doesn't know much about computers or a corporate entity that makes billions a year.
Security and privacy are a big deal when it comes to modern tech. The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) published a report that revealed through September 8, 2015, nearly 541 data breaches have been recorded. Those breaches have accounted for the exposure of more than 140 million personal and private records.
We need people to look out for our best interests and create and maintain tools and software that will protect us against the inevitable. These services include:
- Virus and malware software
- Cloud-based encryption and security
- Preventative maintenance to clean up a dirty system
Most of the career options fits neatly into a field called Information Technology or IT, but it's a broad space. If you're looking for work in the tech industry, IT or programming is the way to go. You can learn the required skills from online code schools, video tutorials, certification programs and, of course, hands-on experience.
Security and IT professionals are in high demand, so you won't have any trouble finding work as long as you have the appropriate credentials.
Transitioning to a Tech Career
Even if the careers listed here don't apply to you, don't be put off by the idea of a career transition. Breaking into the tech industry is not as difficult as it seems. There is an endless supply of portals to find knowledge and information on the topics. For relatively cheap - compared to the cost of attending a college or university - you can enter the tech career field.
Plus, people working in the tech industry tend to make an impressive salary. For example, Paul Minton took a three-month course and entered the space working for a startup making $100,000 a year. He went from making about $20,000 a year as a waiter to a six-figure salary.
What are you waiting for?
Image by tookapic
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Development & Implementations
, Digital Media & Games
, Project & Service Management
, Quality Assurance & Testing
, Mobility
and IT Compliance & Audit
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