AIBU it's nearly impossible to break into IT industry if you don't have previous experience?

[jobsearching2024]

I'm a project manager working in engineering/manufacturing. I want to switch to IT as it's easier to commute to London where most of the IT sector jobs are offered and would appreciate flexible hybrid working hours which is very common in IT.

But since I started looking at the job boards on several websites, nearly every single job post in IT requires:

• either experiences in software development
• or certain particular technology/software/platform, some specific skills

I just don't see how it's possible even to be considered for a chance. Am I wrong?

I'm very capable in what I'm doing in my current industry. But even with the experience to manage technical (engineering) contents, I can't see how I could even go through the first stage screening just by key words and the lack of those particular skills.

Thinking back previous job hunting experiences, I often had similar impression. The particular "basic requirements" are very specific to meet unless you are already at that level within that environment. It seems more so in the IT.

My understanding is that maybe the talent pool in IT is vast and people constantly move around. So maybe because of this, the employers are always able to find enough right candidates who meet those criteria?

Stretching the truth can be an option to reach the interview stage. But then what? If I don't have the experience, then I don't. I feel very uncomfortable to bend the truth. But then for all those jobs out there, are all viable applicants good matches?

Im in the opposite position to you.
I spent 10 years in manufacturing, moved into a IT role and hate it. Ive got no interest in the products and its all so confusing and although im quite a senior role i feel like im 12 years old just not getting what the services are.
Desperate to get back into manf.

The IT industry is somewhat slowly reaching out to talent from other industries especially around project management where there are often similarities. But its a slow process as they tend to recruit inwards. Keep going and you will find a forward thinking company.

You want an IT job but don’t have the IT skills? Yes, that will make it a little harder.

IT is generally one of the easier industries to break into… get a certification in the platform and do some projects on your own to showcase your ability.

@jobsearching2024 can I ask if you think it would be reasonable for an IT Project Manager to move directly over to project manage an Engineering or Manufacturing project?

Some skills and experience are eminently transferable, but most professional occupations have core essential requirements that can’t be just wished away because someone fancies a change in direction. If you want, for example, to work in software development and you have no relevant experience, knowledge or qualifications then yes, you’re going to find it very difficult if not impossible to be considered as a credible candidate for employment.

or certain particular technology/software/platform, some specific skills

Project management in IT is full of buzzwords/fashionable methods - you just need to spend some quality time on Youtube/the internet and learn them. In my experience very few people know more than the basics anyway.

If it's not project management you're looking at, then yes, you'll have a problem - and even then, managing software projects is different to managing engineering projects (for instance). Sure, there's overarching principles I'm sure, but the day to day nitty gritty, you need to understand (and that's before even getting into which particular industry you might want to be an IT PM for)

I think you could put in some speculative applications and use them as information interviews. Do you have experience in agile etc? That will probably be key. It is difficult to project manage in an area where you don’t have domain expertise, in my opinion. I’m actually in that position myself.

Could you move sideaways within your own industry? We would recruit admin and similar staff into business analysis etc roles if they showed an interest in IT and were logical and organised e.g. in user testing, or working with analysts on processes and development of new software. From this rather would gain exposure to IT skills.

Just randomly looked at an IT project manager vacancy and the IT specific things that it mentions are qualifications in Prince2 and/or Agile project management methodology. Those are listed as ideal, so not quite "required".

Is that the sort of thing you mean?

I work in IT and been in the industry for quite a few years.
It is possible for you to transition to IT but having knowledge of one of the PM methodologies would be more desirable and improve your employability. Agile in particular would be an advantage. PRINCE2 certification is quite expensive and will demand quite a lot of time.
There’s nothing worse than a PM who doesn’t understand the steps because the project isn’t managed properly and puts it into jeopardy.
if you’re serious about going into IT I would at least look at doing a course to understand the basics and terminology. There are free ones online on sites such as Coursera.

Hi all, you guys really make me rethink if it's for me. Honestly, I dreaded the idea of working in IT for ages. Lots of show-people (I absolutely hate) and lots of people who talk in technical jargons just to make you believe them are genius.

When I was young, I really like IT stuff in RL, but over years I lose interest - probably due to disapproval of the overtaking trend by everything digitalisation.

@Woofappreciationday What you described is exactly my fear too. I don't think my head can get around to catch up with all those trendy 3 or 4 letter abbreviations and they keep popping up new ones. DH works in IT for years and he really encourages me to switch and thinks I can be good at it. But I don't know!

Plus, I'm passionate about engineering. I'm not from a technical background, but the time when I started working in the industry, I became fascinated. That really made a difference in terms of learning, being motivated and also being inspiring to others.

Thank you for all the wake up calls! I think I will try to find a balance and not particularly too clung to the idea of going into IT.

Thanks again for giving me some sense of reality. I looked up online for what it's like to manage projects in IT. But the online information is rather the usual stuff and not very easy to visualise.

For those who suggested qualifications, I do have Prince2 and Prince2 Agile. I did the former with my company and found it really easy and got a fantastic result. For the latter, I did it on my own with just the books and some online material, but struggled a bit as never worked in an agile environment. I did pass the exam, but not with flying colour this round.

Anyway, qualification is less of a problem. The problem is really who would give you a chance at all when you have no experience in the sector while other candidates do. 🙄

That would be a good suggestion years ago. At one point, I did consider it seriously and thought I'd enjoy the contents of responsibility. But I think I passed that point to start from business analyst.

I did enjoy PM in industrial environment and I think I will keep looking for one that offers a better life/work balance. Hopefully not too difficult...

PRINCE2 is not just used in IT. However as PP have pointed out lack of knowledge of the jargon of a particular industry, such as IT, can be a barrier.

Hey OP. I've 30 years in the IT industry and I recruit a lot of PMs and lead IT projects.

Although some of the skills are transferable, I've found that non IT PMs are not great at managing IT projects if I'm honest. So yes I always look for IT experience in honesty.

The best bet is to see if you can try to get involved in an IT project in your field of expertise. That's a great way to start as ypu bring the expertise from your sector

Yes, I do have the cert. It's the barrier of basic knowledge and the jargons that I fear. Probably even a bit of lack of passion...

OP, have you tried looking for roles in the Project Office of other sectors?

Thanks for the confirmation of what I thought. It's good to hear it from someone who has the first hand experience of hiring.

Also a good suggestion of getting involved in IT projects within my field. Next time, I'd volunteer to be part of the development team if they allow me!😝

I recruit into Digital … you need to cast your net a bit wider, and look at Digital Project Manger roles. You don’t always need a specific technology, just have strong PM skills.

Can you articulate a bit more please? Do you mean IT department within an organisation or PO is some more particular IT domain?

I was a software developer for over 20 years and came across a lot of project managers who didn't have IT experience (and most of them weren't very good), but that was mostly in one job where the company business was healthcare. My other jobs have been working for tech or defence companies and it was rare to encounter PMs without IT experience there.

Then again in my last job, the development manager had no software development experience, which was a first.

@jobsearching2024,
in my experience the Project office (or PMO), was not directly involved in the delivery of a project, but rather they oversaw how projects were running, would keep track of the plan v actual both financially and deliverables. There had a role to act as a hub for project oversight, governance, and support, ensuring that projects are executed according to that organisations methodology etc.

It was quite common for people to start of in the Project Office and then move into project management or business analysis as they became familiar with the jargon, culture etc.

I understand it can be disheartening to have someone who's suppose to organise and support what you do, but is lack of the experience.

Sometimes, it can be made up if they are willing to make the efforts to learn and make the right decision by truly establishing a solid relationship with their team and others. I came a long way from a completely different field and went through quite a different disciplines in business. When I started working with engineerings, I had absolutely zero technical knowledge. But I reached out to learn proactively and I found engineers are the easiest to get along with and they don't judge when they "mentored" me from the basic. I truly enjoyed the experience of my own development to where I am today.

But I know unfortunately, what drives each individual is different. A lot would rather hide their lack of knowledge and try really hard to establish their authority/image. It can be very detrimental to the team's result.

I don't want to be one of those and I'm not sure I still have the capacity to learn everything in IT from the basic. With engineering/manufacturing, funnily, I didn't start from scratch. as I had what I learned from school to back me up - physics, chemistry and maths! 😆

Thanks for taking the time to explain! Sounds interesting. I will look it up!

YABVVU to be shocked that an IT PM requires 'IT' skills. Do you think that you should be able to walk into, say a construction PM job without any knowledge of the required skills?

IT is the easiest field to break into but you need to be willing to learn and start at a lower level. You however want a job commensurate with your 'experienced PM' status. Of course, you can just apply, but unless a company's desperate I don't see why they should hire you. Think about your current job - can you simply be replaced with an IT project manager?

I'm a software developer and 'project management' is vast. There are technical PM's, those focused on delivery, others on governance, etc. As a PP said there's also PMO, which does risk and finances, separate from the PM's who are interfacing with various stakeholders in order to get things going.

Your 'DH' should have explained all this surely? Or have contacts? talk to them

It’s not a long thread to read and the Op has clearly been listening to and thinking about the advice suggested to her……