Read This If You’re Interested In Making a Career Transition Into Tech

Whether you’re a teacher or an accountant, making a career transition into tech is possible if you put your mind to it. I started the #MakingTheMove series to share unique stories and advice from people who started off with non-technical backgrounds and ended up in the tech world!

#ICYMI, here are the featured guests that I wrote about! Read the full blog posts for all the great nuggets of advice.

The trees that are slow to grow. Come with the perspective that the hiring manager WANTS you. Imposter syndrome will always be there to make you feel like you’re not doing enough but remember that people are rooting for you and that every situation is a valuable learning experience.

Esther Chen, Business Program Manager at Microsoft
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Try to change or freshen up your career every 2-3 years. The first year is all about learning on the job and setting up a plan for success. The second year is executing the plan and making progress. And the third year is getting that promotion to stay or finding something different to stretch yourself. If your job is constantly changing, then you may not need to change it as often.

Owen Ho, Sr. Business Planning Manager at Microsoft
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In the corporate world, you need to advocate for yourself, ask for feedback, and be willing to accept it and apply it to your work.

Tonya Derieg, Analyst Relations Manager at Microsoft
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It is important to take ownership of your own career development. Figure out where you want to go and create your own plan for growth. Once you’ve determined your goals, don’t wait for your manager to set up time with you. Share these goals with your manager, get feedback, and keep moving towards that goal. If you find that you’re reaching a ceiling or hearing “No”, then it is your queue to move on.

Yanira Sesniak, Sr. Business Program Manager at Microsoft
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Draw your boundaries early. In this world, we prioritize work when it is not the right thing to prioritize. If you’re jumping into a new career, it is not a healthy mindset to put in so many hours. Take the time to recharge and continue the momentum.

Stephen Aubert, Sr. Product Manager at Amazon

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