You want to switch career to tech and need encouragement? Here it comes.

Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash

Right now, I’m in the middle of the process of changing my career and taking a step into the tech industry. I’m attending a boot camp for frontend developers and also had the opportunity to get a career mentor for support and guidance on my way. Last week we met for the first time and he said some really encouraging things that I want to share with you — maybe you already think about going into tech and programming, maybe this is the first seed to let the idea grow.

My mentor has been working in the IT industry for about 25 years, has been leading projects and recruited a lot. These are some of his reasons to call it an advantage when you apply for your first job in tech / development and at the same time have a background in a different industry.

1. By actively changing your career you’ve already shown initiative and that you’re willing to develop yourself.
2. You’re probably more motivated than someone who has started to get tired during years of working or studying.
3. The most important thing is not what you already know, because you’ll have to learn new things anyway. The important thing is that you are a quick and motivated learner and that you can work together with others.
4. By completing a bootcamp or similar fast education, you’ve already shown that you’re a quick learner.
5. When applying to junior jobs and competing with others who are coming directly from school or university, you have an advantage just because you have worked before. You know what it means to take responsibility and to work together with colleagues.
6. (This isn’t true for all of you but still it matters): It’s an advantage if you’re a woman. He said that they in their company would love to have more women in their teams but that it’s really hard to find them.

So if you question your skills only because you don’t have the “classic” university background — just don’t. If you’re comparing yourself with all the Bachelors, Masters and Diplomas around you and start doubting yourself — just don’t. And if you think about changing career but don’t know if you dare to — just do it :)