Switch Your Career Into Tech, Without A Tech Background

Here’s some food for thought: A McKinsey study found that while few occupations are fully automatable, 60% of all occupations have at least 30% technically automatable activities.

It’s no wonder then that lots of people are taking stock of their current jobs and wondering if a pivot into tech might not be a really smart choice. Then there are all the other benefits of a move into the IT sector, such as higher salaries, great benefits (who doesn't want free lunch and a barista at your fingertips?) as well as endless learning and development opportunities.

But if you’re coming from a more traditional background, is it possible to pivot? It definitely is – below we take a look at three strategies for success.

Get a non-tech job at a tech company

One of the easiest entry routes into tech is to apply for a non-technical position within a tech company that is a match for your current skill set. 

From there, you can use available professional development benefits to learn new skills, you can participate in any mentoring programs or relevant employee groups, and you’ll be able to develop relationships within teams you’d like to be a part of. 

You may also be able to offer to take on projects that will help you to upskill. Making your manager aware that you are willing and able to learn will be a great start.

Take a course

The “interests” section at the end of a resume is often a dumping ground. Make yours count and develop outside interests that are geared towards learning and development and therefore, getting yourself a new job. 

From coding bootcamps to online courses where you can learn a programming language, or delve into data science or web development, you could also start a blog and tinker about with its HTML and CSS templates. Don’t be afraid to build things and break them – it’s all part of the process. There are plenty of tech skills you can learn in your spare time, and it all looks good to a prospective employer.

Re-tool your job

In some cases, it may be necessary to go back to college to gain a professional certification, and juggling everything that an intensive course requires along with a full-time job is going to be tricky. 

Having a chat with your current employer could be a good idea: can you compress your working week so that you can complete five days in four? If you can afford it – and your employer agrees – it may be possible to go part-time while you're studying. 

Ask if there’s any budget for professional development, bearing in mind that employers generally only pay for courses that will benefit them too, and you may be required to stay at the company for a set period afterward.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that there are incredible opportunities out there. With a plan and some determination, you’ll make the perfect pivot. 

Below, we’re looking at three companies that are hiring for a variety of roles, and for plenty more opportunities, check out the Hackr.io Job Board.

Top Companies Hiring Right Now

Shopify

A complete commerce platform that lets you start, grow, and manage a business, Shopify offers an easy way to quickly launch an online store without having to get involved with servers and development costs. It is user-friendly and intuitive and used by over 1.75 million merchants who sell using the Shopify platform. 

The company has added 680,000 new merchants since 2019, and it is used by companies such as Netflix, Sephora, Tesla and Fitbit. 

Open roles at the company include Tax Analyst, Senior Infrastructure Software Engineer, and Data Engineer. See all open roles at Shopify.

TikTok

The leading destination for short-form mobile video, TikTok’s mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. The company now has offices all over the globe and the platform has been steadily growing since 2018. Figures rocketed during the pandemic and have increased from 680 million active monthly users to over 1.1 billion monthly active users in 2021. The platform saw the highest number of app downloads in the first quarter of 2020, driving over 315 million downloads worldwide. 

Right now, there’s a range of roles available, including IT On Call Supervisor, Cybersecurity Controls Assurance Program Manager and Intelligence Automation Developer, and Threat-Led Defense. Discover more open roles at TikTok.

Kraken Digital Asset Exchange

One of the largest and most trusted digital asset platforms globally, Kraken is empowering its users to experience the life-changing potential of crypto. It is trusted by over eight million consumers and pro traders, institutions, and authorities worldwide thanks to its unique combination of products, services, and global expertise. 

The company is hiring for roles including Site Reliability Engineers and Core Infrastructure Engineers. Browse more open roles at Kraken.

Want to pivot your career? Start your search on the Hackr.io Job Board