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Returning to IT
I left the IT field about 8 years ago to help a friend with his business (running a restaurant).After years of success in the restaurant business I am ready to return to the IT field. My wife wants a more stable family life and I do not blame her.
I know that the IT field has changed so much. Do you have any suggestion on returning to my old career?
Comments
Returning to a previous career, for whatever reason, is often clouded with apprehension.
What's happened since I left ?
Will I enjoy it ?
Will I be good enough ?
Will I be valued ?
What will I know ?
What won't I know ?
All the little demons will surface and perch disconcertingly on your shoulder.
However, fear not, because you have a proven track record of having run a successful business for the past 8 years and that counts for plenty. Your knowledge may not be completely up-to-do-date in terms of the practical solutions of IT, but nonetheless, you will have kept abreast of developments, because it's your interest.
Returning to your old career is fine. However, don't make the mistake of thinking that it will be returning to your old job. That's very different now, because in 8 years you've moved on significantly.
So apply your business learning to the field of IT and package yourself up as someone who combines both commercial and general management know-how with solid skills and knowledge from the sector. That's a pretty heady cocktail for any organisation with imagination and ambition.
What you MUST avoid at all costs, is allowing yourself to become seduced by unscrupulous agents into competing at the same level that you left the sector.
Charlie - November 21, 2006 10:31 AM
Hi Charlie!
Thank you for your comment. I am in the same
position as the person who want to go back to the IT industry.
Arezki - November 26, 2006 10:16 PM
I returned to work after a long period on the sick. I had to give up my job as I am disabled and the work made it a lot worse. However I wanted to go back to working with the elderly but had to retrain. I started off with a charity as a volunteer and I am now employed by that charity. So maybe looking at retraining in your chosen profession might be a good start to returning to it.
Gwen - November 27, 2006 2:46 AM