I’m in the process of switching careers mid-life. It’s terrifying, to be honest. Is what I want to do even possible? How do I get back into academia, after being out of the loop for over a decade? How do I enter the hyper-competitive AI research field, if that’s even the place for me? I’m sure I’m not the only one struggling with these questions. Here’s how that's going for me, how I waded through the ambiguity, and how I eventually got into an exciting PhD program.
I don't think I want to do IT anymore. Not as a job at least.
The problem is I don't have a degree and I've only ever trained and been educated in IT. I've dipped my toes in real estate and it's interesting but I'm not sure if it's "new career" interesting.
The catch here is I make mid to upper 5 figures and need to maintain that level of income.
What else could I do with my life/career? To stay within IT I'd have to go into management and I'm not sure that's for me.
Sitting miles away from home in #vancouver, BC pondering what my next #career move should be. I'm currently a Web Content Manager, I was an Art Director in another life, and in 1987 after reading about Richard Garriott as a kid, I wanted nothing more than to be a game designer.
The whole game designer thing never worked out. I loved being a Graphic Designer at an agency, even though I worked hard to pay my dues. Web Content Management has made me money, but at the cost of happiness? #work
Are you a #software developer looking for a new #job/#career? Hubby works at #GE and his boss is looking to hire 9 software developers/#engineers. Power systems.
A lot of the work is remote, some in-office time (may vary depending on the position -- you have to ask the person doing the hiring).
I don't know more details than what's in the job descriptions. You might even get to spend some time working with hubby if you're on the same projects. He's clever, and easy to work with -- you'd like him. He's been there 25+ years.
Do me a favor - apply. Hubs is a overworked these days, and more team members would help.
Are you a #software developer looking for a new #job/#career? Hubby works at #GE and his boss is looking to hire 9 software developers/#engineers. Power systems.
A lot of the work is remote, some in-office time (may vary depending on the position -- you have to ask the person doing the hiring).
I don't know more details than what's in the job descriptions. You might even get to spend some time working with hubby if you're on the same projects. He's clever, and easy to work with -- you'd like him. He's been there 25+ years.
Do me a favor - apply. Hubs is a overworked these days, and more team members would help.
New policy: If I see you toot that you’re looking for work, I’m gonna boost it.
I’m not checking creds, nor vouching for anyone. But if someone says they need work, I will lend my signal.
My own career took a bad turn ten years ago this month, but from February 2014 onwards, I have been very fortunate, jobs-wise. A boost to anyone who hasn’t been as lucky as I have is literally the least I could do.
Q: "I want to get into a #cybersecurity#career. How should I start."
A: "Go to school and get a degree in cybersecurity or computer science"
Q: "I spent 4 years and $60,000 to get a degree but companies won't hire me. How can I get a job in cybersecurity?"
A: "Degrees don't mean anything, half of us don't have degrees. You should get a cert."
Q: "I have my degree and spent 6 months and $8,000 to get a certification but companies still won't hire me. How can I get a job in cybersecurity?"
A. "Certs only prove you passed a test. You need to get some experience. You should build a home lab and do independent learning."
Q: "I have my degree, a certification and just spent 6 months and a few thousand dollars building out and learning technology in my home lab but companies still won't hire me. How can I get a job in cybersecurity?"
A: "Well you need on the job experience, you should find an internship. It'll probably pay very little but you gotta pay your dues."
Q: "Are you f'ing kidding me?"
This is literally what we put people through when they want to join our industry. Now do you wonder why they aren't showing that "passion" you expect? Why perhaps they're skeptical of the next thing you tell them they need to do to get a job? Stop telling the job seekers they're the problem. Start looking at how you hire and see that hiring practices and workforce management are the problem.