10 Skills From Your Previous Career That'll Help You Transition Into Tech

Congratulations — you’ve decided to transition into tech! 

That’s a smart move, considering that technology is currently one of the fastest growing industries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer and information technology jobs are projected to increase by 12 percent between 2018 and 2028.

Transferable skills

But what about all the abilities you’ve acquired in your previous jobs? The good news is that you can probably leverage some of these skills in your new career, as well. 

These abilities are known as transferable skills — core abilities that you can apply across multiple industries and jobs. They’re often soft skills that you’ve acquired through work experience, volunteering, and extracurricular activities. 

However, they can also include certain technical skills, which include the practical knowledge and abilities you need to complete specific tasks, as the The Balance Careers reports.

When you switch to a tech job, you’ll likely be able to leverage the following transferable skills:

1. Interpersonal skills: The Muse points out that with the growing importance of technology, you’ll have to feel comfortable interacting with everyone from peers and supervisors to customers and industry experts. 
2. Collaboration: Tech jobs are often team based, so if you have experience working with others on projects, it’s a definite plus.
3. Communication: The ability to listen actively, as well as to speak and write clearly, is important for communicating with others on your team, writing reports, and producing outward-facing documentation.
4. Critical thinking: Forbes advises that analytical skills will allow you to logically consider issues or circumstances based on evidence.
5. Problem solving: This is the application of critical thinking to address a specific situation or problem — a skill that you’ll most definitely use in a tech job.
6. Research: Many tech jobs involve collecting and organizing data that you’ll apply to solve a problem, build a product, or use in some other way.
7. Microsoft Office: Many companies use Word, Excel, Outlook, and other Microsoft Office applications.
8. G Suite: Companies that don’t use Microsoft Office likely use G Suite, which includes apps like Gmail, Drive, Sheets, and Calendar.
9. Collaboration apps: Especially with a growing number of people working remotely some or all of the time, apps like Slack and Asana are being used more often to keep teams connected. 
10. Video conferencing apps: Zoom, GoToMeeting, and Skype are all used by businesses around the globe for everything from team meetings to sales presentations to ongoing education. 

When you put together your résumé for a tech job, spend some time thinking about what your transferable skills are. Then, for each individual job you apply to, highlight the skills that are most relevant. And remember — if you find it difficult to do this, you can always reach out to a recruiter and ask for their input.

Source:

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/technical-skills-list-2063775

https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-skills-career-change-tech-software-engineering

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2018/02/09/the-7-transferable-skills-to-help-you-change-careers/#2f539d514c04

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