Advice on entering IT career after a few years out


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Hello. I am currently an ICT Technician working within a school. I am considering a change in career and moving to a more manual labour job for a few years. How would this affect my employment opportunities in the future if I wanted to re-enter a career of ICT Technician within the school environment after say, 5 years?

 

I know it is a random question, but I feel it is important before I make a choice about making a career change.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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I think stepping out of any career for a period makes it difficult to get back into, but IT is probably one of the worst as there is always 10 other guys waiting in line to snap your job up.

 

I think if you really want to do this, you need to be prepared that you might not be able to get back in. 

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I think if you really want to do this, you need to be prepared that you might not be able to get back in. 

 

Don't be ridiculous. What'll happen more than likely is you'll be given an entry level job or internship if your resume is extremely outdated, that'll let you build it back up. Not to mention most places will have a skills test they'll score your knowledge of relevant experience. However, if you were only out of it for a few years you might not even have to worry about it.

 

Those 10 other guys waiting to snap up your job are also probably straight out of college with only booksmarts and no real world experience.

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Don't be ridiculous. What'll happen more than likely is you'll be given an entry level job or internship if your resume is extremely outdated, that'll let you build it back up. Not to mention most places will have a skills test they'll score your knowledge of relevant experience. However, if you were only out of it for a few years you might not even have to worry about it.

 

Those 10 other guys waiting to snap up your job are also probably straight out of college with only booksmarts and no real world experience.

 

I'm sorry but I don't think I am, I don't think the UK (where the OP is from) has fully recovered in terms of jobs available so there are more experienced people sat waiting for a job then just those fresh out of college/University.

 

Additionally, I have no idea what kind of position the OP is in, but I could not even dream of giving up everything I have worked to achieve and the wage I now earn through the years of working and settle for an internship/entry level job. Maybe the OP can handle that but even if that was an option, I'd struggle to look at it as a viable option.

OP mentions 5 years, in 5 years a hell of a lot will change, perhaps because of the school environment it will be slower so it might not be as big of an effect. Where the company I work for is now, compared to where they were 5 years ago could not be much further apart and I certainly wouldn't have had the opportunity I have now or countless others if it wasn't for the reputation I have earned myself and the years I've put in.

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It is completely up to you.  Remember, this field changes very frequently.   I don't think there is a field out there that changes as frequently and abruptly.  What you learned today may not apply in 5 years...the modern ui will no longer be the modern ui in 5 years.  The entry level jobs are the easiest to get into because they are the most out there.  I could probably get a few people a job in some entry level positions in the tristate area....higher level techs are a bit harder to place because the jobs are not out there in abundance. 

 

Why are you leaving?  If you are trying something new, great, but don't expect to come back making considerably more than what you are making now.  If you are looking to make more money right now, keep looking for jobs that make you more money, you will need experience to gain you more money and you won't have that when you come back in 5 years. 

 

If you are looking to make more money now, look for another job in the field.  There should be plenty out there if you know how/where to search.  You make your own salary, it will go up as you push yourself, you learn, you change, you change environments.  Every time that I have left a job, I have given myself a 5-10k/yr raise.

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I would say, if you do leave the career and take a break to jump back in later, keep up with your knowledge. Im looking to change jobs and so far my interviews have been "you have X number of years in enterprise, but overall you have X+ number of years." One of the interviewers said that they really liked the fact that in my current job some of the technology listed on my resume I don't use, but I do at home and help people everyday. So they were happy to know that it wasn't just to bump up my resume, its actual things I know and work with everyday even if its not for my day to day job.

 

So, I would say, if you do take a break, keep up with technology. This way when you come back into it, the 5 years you took of doesnt feel like 5 years to your and/or the interviewer.

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