Getting out of IT

[sagt550]

Yes, thats right, the opposite of what most people seem to be asking on here!

Has anyone done it ? What career did you go into ?

I've been thinking of leaving for some time in the pursuit of something different and maybe more rewarding. My background is in infrastructure consultancy (actual consultancy with real customers as opposed to the "consultant" title that seems to be given to anyone that works on a helpdesk nowadays ;-)). I'm just wondering what types of careers people have gone into and what types of careers could someone like myself move into without starting completely at the bottom (i.e. involve a degree of transferable skills) ??

Obviously at some point I will need to go through the process of identifying exactly what I want to do, what my priorities are etc, I'm just curious to see how other people have made the move.



Cheers

[pgilc1]

I'd be curious to hear views on this one. I got made redundant from a technical specialist position in an IT department of a bank a couple of years ago, really fancied doing something different but couldnt get a foothold in anything that was paying a reasonable pay outside the IT industry, given i'd have to start at the bottom.

Ended up back in IT, though as an IT director now, rather than on the pure hands on technical side.

I'd still love out of IT though. I quite fancy car sales but now is not the time to be making a move there, teaching maybe?

[littlemidgetgem]

I wouldn't bother with Car Sales unless you where to set up yourself there is a certain mentality in the motor trade in general, not saying all garages are like that though. Lots of hours and nearly every weekend too!

I don't have an answer to OP I'm afraid as I haven't the first clue about IT never mind jobs in it!

[pgilc1]

littlemidgetgem said:

I wouldn't bother with Car Sales unless you where to set up yourself there is a certain mentality in the motor trade in general, not saying all garages are like that though. Lots of hours and nearly every weekend too!

I don't have an answer to OP I'm afraid as I haven't the first clue about IT never mind jobs in it!

I used to do it years ago, then i became an underwriter for local dealers. But you're right, its either your 'thing' or not. Its capable of generating a reasonable amount of money if you're decent at it, plus my thinking would be to do it for a couple of years and then once i've the contacts again move back into underwriting.

But thats a very personal thing. Again if sales isnt your thing, its best avoided.

[littlemidgetgem]

pgilc1 said:

I used to do it years ago, then i became an underwriter for local dealers. But you're right, its either your 'thing' or not. Its capable of generating a reasonable amount of money if you're decent at it, plus my thinking would be to do it for a couple of years and then once i've the contacts again move back into underwriting.

But thats a very personal thing. Again if sales isnt your thing, its best avoided.

Couldn't agree more

I was rather "good" at it as such and quite enjoyed it but working so many hours and weekends started to annoy me, that was where my problem lay!

[pgilc1]

littlemidgetgem said:

pgilc1 said:

I used to do it years ago, then i became an underwriter for local dealers. But you're right, its either your 'thing' or not. Its capable of generating a reasonable amount of money if you're decent at it, plus my thinking would be to do it for a couple of years and then once i've the contacts again move back into underwriting.

But thats a very personal thing. Again if sales isnt your thing, its best avoided.

Couldn't agree more

I was rather "good" at it as such and quite enjoyed it but working so many hours and weekends started to annoy me, that was where my problem lay!

I didnt work in a dealers for terribly long before doing underwriting, but then you've odd people turning up at odd times to buy cars from your house which is never ideal....

[amir_j]

I fancy teaching at some point when no mortgage - give something back and all that.

But first make a shed load of money so IT it is for next 10+ yeears :-)

[fade2grey]

I fancy teaching scuba diving next. I've been in large enterprise IT for about 13 years now & you are right.. it wears thin & is no fun when your heart aint in it.

[sagt550]

amir_j said:

I fancy teaching at some point when no mortgage - give something back and all that.

But first make a shed load of money so IT it is for next 10+ yeears :-)

Yeah, this is the only real way I think it is possible to escape the trap that is IT ;-)

I have thought about contracting as a mechanism to achieve this, but I think in the current economic climate it seems a bit risky..

[sirtyro]

Tomorrow is my last day in I.T wooooooohoooooooo

I'm currently working for a software house that does warehouse management software and I was a consultant. I came here straight out of uni and have been here for the last 2 years.

With all the out-sourcing (which doesnt work) to other countries and poor quality I've had enough of IT and am moving into motorsport Got a job with more money and cant wait to start.

[WhoreLex]

I'm much the same atm, I'm about 2 years in with my current company and I'm no longer sure if I want to do IT anymore...

But I'm not sure what else I can do? I love talking to people and helping them - but careers councillers dont earn decent amounts of money.

[GTIR]

I used to do it (web design, Lotus Notes etc), but after 2 years the consultancy I worked for eventually got wise to the fact I didnt know my arse from my elbow and made me "redundant".

You have to wonder why it took them that long!

I drove articulated trucks for a while while seting up a chauffeur company, been going 18 months ago and its great to work for yourself.

So long IT.

[mulletmark]

I've just done it (sort of)

Had been thinking for a while about getting out of IT, not wasn't really sure how to do it. Saw a job going internally for someone to manage online and printed media, thought I'd give it a go and after 8 hours of interviews got the job.

What sold it to them wasn't my technical ability to fulfill the new job - My now boss said that one of the strong candidates had already been doing this job in the same sector with one of our competitors. What won it for me was my attitude and enthusiasm.

Obviously for me making this transition has been made easier as I've moved internally and therefore already had good relations with other staff and managers, but I was dropped in at the deep end, didn't sleep properly for the first week and was coming home feeling totally frazzled. Wouldn't even consider going back into IT now.

[spikeyhead]

I used to ask engineering graduates when I was interviewing them what their ideal job was.

I'd reject the borderline ones that didn't pick the "running a windsurfing school in a club med resort" from the multi choice answers.

[MarkoTVR]

sirtyro said:

I've had enough of IT and am moving into motorsport

You lucky, lucky, lucky bd!

[jack_daniels]

I've been doing IT support for logistics over the past few years and was going to further myself by doing some courses but decided I'd had enough. Even though i'm planning on staying in something IT related I am studying Criminology. When I finish I will be going to uni to study computer forensics. It's a growing field and criminology is a fascinating subject so the two combined should hopefully open quite a few doors for me.

[smutbag]

You could always try moving into IT based sales roles and from then on in elsewhere. Once you have worked in sales and marketing it is generally considered good commercial experience to go elsewhere.

[nigel79]

im in a similar situation, been working in welding for 8 years, and although i run my own business, am thinking of getting out of it, and keeping my equipment just to make some part time money. i went and did some subcontract work which was one of the worse experiences ive had, so boring. i was thinking about going into IT and training but there seems to be so many people in the industry,
what sort of jobs have people moved to once changed jobs?. am 29 now and think it would be a good age for a fresh start.

[dan101smith]

A guy I worked with for a few years had spent about 7 years as a Telecoms guru, then left the City to become a tree surgeon. He used his bonus one year to pay for the course, then pocketed the following year's bonus and made the switch.

OK, so he's not on the same money as he used to be, but much prefers the job, and really enjoys what he does.

[rsole]

I spent 12 years in IT sales, and like some of you guys, it wore thin and i realised it was time to get rid if i wanted any qualilty of life whatsoever!! I sold my house and renovated a gaff in the South West and now (touch wood) have a good and growing B&B/self catering thing going on. Downside, money isn't as good but the lifestyle is spot on. My advice for what it's worth - if you're in that mindset - go for it.