Expert: Sharon Reed Abboud - 10/5/2007

Question
HI,
   I am 27yrs old BSc graduate in computer science 2004 batch with ups and down in academics.Actually i was a self employed person i do business in consumer products for 4yrs,Due to some personal problem i had to join this business at any cost as the situation demanded at that moment even though i was not interested and now the business is back to normal and my dad looks after it,but now i feel i am caught in a wrong job as i always wanted to work in IT field. so thinking to change the job now.Has i am interested in S/W testing i am thinking to join the course and purse my career in this field.SO my question is do i get the oppur in IT field as there is long gap after the academics and also i am 27yrs.Do these factors come in way.

And also i am confused how to give a perfect answer to the question in the interview when they ask
1.What did u do all these days and why do i want to change the career?
2.Also i have ups and down in academics....

So please help me in getting the right answers. I am out of the businesses so there is no way of going back i have decided.Any how i have to get into the IT field so please help me, what should i do in getting the job in the area of my interest.

Please do reply ASAP

Thank you

Answer
Thanks for your question.  It sounds like career change is a definite option for you.  This is not unusual--people change careers 5-6 times during the course of their professional lifetime these days.  At 27, you are just starting your career.

I would recommend that you consider taking a course or two at a local community college or computer training center to get up-to-date in IT and bridge the gap in your resume.  

Here is a link to a Microsoft web page on how to prepare for an IT career:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/training/careers/prepare.mspx  Be sure to click on “Contact Trade Associations for Your Chosen Field” to find links to professional associations.  Their websites usually include career information that may be useful to you.

As for interviews, I would recommend that you tell them that you are looking to make a career change because you are now very interested in a career in IT.  Explain how some of the skills you are using in your present job would be beneficial as well in the new job, if possible.  I would not fret about your ups and downs in academics because you cannot change that it now—just try to do your best in future courses.  

Good luck.  I hope that you find the job that will make you happy.





FOLLOW UP:

Hi.  Thanks for your follow up question.  I suggest that you consider writing a functional rather than a chronological resume.  The chronological resume is the more traditional one where you include all of your job experience in reverse chronological order.  Since you have an employment gap, you can instead use a functional resume.  Functional resumes list all of your experience in skill clusters and will minimize emphasis on an employment gap.  For example, you could write: “Computer Skills” and list relevant jobs and coursework under that heading and also include other categories such as “Management Skills.”

Be sure to explain your career change goal in your cover letter.  Your experience as a self employed person in the consumer products business for 4 years will be impressive.  Explain in your cover letter how some of the skills that you used in that job will be relevant to the new job.  Also, emphasize any courses you took that are relevant to the new job.

As for your interviews, I would suggest that you emphasize your skills and competencies related to the prospective job.  Be enthusiastic!  Potential new employers will be impressed if you are extremely enthusiastic about the possibility of changing to the new career in IT.  It is important to project confidence and to be positive.

As for the interview questions, I suggest that you be honest and explain that you were helping your father out with his business.  Employers should be impressed by your character and, as I wrote, it sounds like you gained valuable professional experience in that job.    

Learn as much as you can about an employer before your interview by doing research online.  In your interview, be sure to ask questions about the organization that show that you did your research.  Do not emphasize any negatives, including your “ups and downs in academics.”  Instead, focus on projecting enthusiasm and discussing your strengths and what you can do for the company.  If they ask about your academic performance, just explain it honestly and then try to change the subject back to your strengths, successes, and what you can do for the company. “Be positive about the negative” and emphasize what you have learned from any mistake, for example, less than desirable grades, and then try to get the conversation to your skills, abilities, and what you can do for the company.

Here is a link to a website with many pages on interviewing tips:
http://www.quintcareers.com/intvres.html   I would suggest that you check out the link to “Interview Questions Collections” to learn about the types of questions that an interviewer may ask.  You can practice the type of answers that you might give and therefore develop confidence before your interview. By practicing, you will be less likely to be tripped up by surprise questions.  

Is this helpful?  If not, feel free to ask a follow up question.  

Good luck!