HOW TO CHANGE

Your Career To Tech

Actionable Tips, Tools, And Advice For A Successful Transition

CHAPTER ONE:

Whats stopping you

from changing careers?

PAGE 4

CHAPTER TWO:

How To Make A Career Change

in Six Simple Steps

PAGE 11

CHAPTER THREE:

Which Tech Career

Is Best For You?

PAGE 18

CHAPTER FOUR:

Do I Have To Go Back To School

For a Tech Career?
2

PAGE 22

Introduction From Raffaela Rein

Theres never been a more exciting time to be in tech. With 20% projected growth
over the next 10 years and median annual salaries more than $60K, tech jobs
can provide a secure future--but it isnt simply a question of quitting your job and
applying for another. A career change to tech takes preparation, dedication, and
motivation.
In this ebook, well give you insider tips on how to change to tech, so you know
exactly what you should be doing and when. Well also look at WHY it can be so
hard to make the initial jump and what you can do to overcome your professional
fears and insecurities. Heres whats inside:

Chapter One In this chapter, well look at the four psychological obstacles that are
stopping you from changing careers, and give you the simple steps you need to
overcome them.

Chapter Two This chapter gives you seven simple steps to get you started on your
new journey into that new career--many you can start today.

Chapter Three Not sure which tech career is right for you? In this chapter, we layout
the personalities of two in-demand professions: Web Developer and UX Designer.

Chapter Four Do you need to go back to school to start a job in tech? In this
chapter, well examine what going back to school means and explore alternatives
to traditional masters programs.
As someone who has changed her career from banking to operations to startup
entrepreneur, I know the journey youre embarking on now is both exciting and a
little bit scary. From my experience, I know that the things that challenge us the
most are often the things we need to do to help us learn and grow. I hope this
book helps push you towards taking the first step towards your professional goals.

Best,
Raffaela Rein
CEO and Cofounder, CareerFoundry

CHAPTER ONE:

Whats stopping you

from changing careers?
SHARE THIS EBOOK

o you want to make a career

change, but every time you try, you

freeze. Something just wont let you
do it. Whether its a belief that youll
fail, or a fear of change, overcoming
psychological obstacles can be
the hardest part of taking the first
step towards a new life. A common
conclusion drawn is that by not taking
a risk, we are unable to fail. To stay
safe, we often end up feeling that its
better not to try at all.
By understanding the factors that
are holding you back from what you
want to do, you can address and
ultimately overcome the issues that
are keeping you from reaching your
potential. To help guide you on this
journey, this chapter identifies the
four biggest psychological obstacles
and provides actionable tips to train
you to overcome them. Dont feel like
you have to do all the actions at once.
Instead, focus on actions related to
one hurdle a week so you have time to
absorb the technique without feeling
overwhelmed.

The Four Big Blocks

Psychologists have identified four main
hurdles, called the Four Big Blocks, that keep
us from making successful changes in our lives.
These are our limiting beliefs, assumptions,
interpretations and gremlins. By learning how
to recognize these blocks in your own thought
processes, youll see that many of the things
you think are stopping you from changing
careers arent logical, legitimate or based on
any real-life truth.
6

1. Limiting Beliefs
Throughout your life, you are

These limiting beliefs can seem very

unconsciously absorbing beliefs

hard to overcome because theyve

about the world from family, friends,

been reinforced throughout your entire

teachers, the media, and more.

life. This makes it hard to question

Sometimes these beliefs create an

them. Its important, however, to

internal braking system that keeps us

recognize that these beliefs are

from moving forward with plans. These

holding you back from achieving your

are called limiting beliefs. They are

goals, and are not true for everyone.

usually based on phrases, cliches, or

Youve been indoctrinated!

societal expectations that we think are

true, but actually distort our view of

How to control limiting beliefs

ourselves and what we can achieve in

Whenever an obstacle pops in your

our lives and careers.

head, its important to individually

assess whether or not that belief

For example, as a child, your parents

is relevant to you. Is it based on

may have told you that writers dont

truth--or can you let it go? When a

make money. You internalized this,

limiting belief starts to creep into

and before you knew it, you were

your thinking, simply acknowledge the

believing it. Or perhaps a commonly

thought and remind yourself of your

held view at your school was that

true purpose. This will help diffuse

women are better at working with

the belief and retrain your mind.

children than men. When this view

was reinforced by a number of
teachers, you found yourself agreeing
with it.

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2. Assumptions
Sometimes when we experience

Assumptions can also create negative

something once, we feel it will

energy around anything you do. That

automatically happen the same way

means that even if you attempt to

every time. This is an assumption.

make a change in your life, its already

Unlike a limiting belief which happens

less likely to be successful because

around you, assumptions are based on

your thinking sabotages you before

things that have happened directly to

you even start. You wont put the same

you in your personal and work life.

amount of energy into that attempt,

because you already assume youll fail

For example, maybe you feel you

before youve even started. It becomes

cant make a career change now

a vicious cycle where your past

because of a rocky path in the

failures determine your future ones.

past. Or maybe you had a hard time

retaining new skills and are scared to

How to overcome assumptions

try going back to school. Neither of

Its important to remove the emotion

these assumptions take into account

from the assumption and look at

different life situations or the change

it in a more logical light. When an

and growth youve had since the initial

assumption arises in your mind,

experiences.

challenge it with: Just because this

has happened in the past, why should

Assumptions are dangerous because

it happen in my future? It might

they reinforce the belief that every

feel awkward at first, but just stay

future attempt will achieve the

comfortable with what youre feeling.

same result: failure. And instead of

Remember your future will only repeat

embracing the reality of the present,

the mistakes of your past if you

we let the past control our future.

choose to let it! Take a positive action

When making a major life change, this

instead of believing the assumption to

often results in a complete paralysis

be true.

where we stop trying at all.

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3. Interpretations
Throughout our working and personal

personal experiences of other events,

lives, we are constantly interpreting

they have a particular emotional hold

what is happening around us. This

on us, making it even harder for us to

means we formulate what we believe

recognise other explanations or points

to be rational explanations for why

of view just as valid as our own. This

certain things have happened.

can be particularly dangerous when

This story we tell ourselves is our

our interpretation of the past affects

interpretation.

how we approach taking risks or

making decisions in the future.

For example, you might say, I dont

think my boss likes me because

How to challenge interpretations

she didnt say hello to me in the

We can directly challenge our

morning. Perhaps she was just having

interpretations of events by simply

a bad morning--or maybe she hadnt

asking ourselves what the exact

had her coffee yet. We dont know

opposite of our interpretation would

whether our story of the interaction

be. This new perspective can make

with her is true or not, but it can

you see the experience in a way you

cause our interactions with her to be

hadnt thought of. Sometimes just

different than if we thought everything

looking at your interpretation in this

was ok.

new light can free you from it.

The problem with focusing too

You can also think about what another

hard on our own interpretation of

person would think of the situation.

an experience is that it can mean

Imagine how a specific friend or

we ignore the possibility that

family member might view the event,

other explanations could exist.

interaction, or experience. Or talk to

An interpretation is just our own

a trusted friend about your worries.

viewpoint and is influenced heavily

Ask them for their interpretation. By

by our own previous experiences

exploring other stories or perspectives,

and knowledge. And because

we reduce the power the original

interpretations are created from own

interpretation has over us.

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4. Gremlins
Your gremlin, or inner judge, is the

it weak. Give your gremlin a name or

voice that tells you youre not worth

simply see it in your mind. You sap

it. Youll recognise him because hell

its strength by seeing him in objective

try to make you believe you shouldnt

terms. When he starts telling you that

make that change in your career or

youre unable to achieve something,

apply to that new job. And because he

say to yourself, Oh thats my gremlin-

has direct access to your hopes and

-not me. Or you can address it

fears, he can target exactly what it

directly by saying, Thanks, Fred, but

takes to get you to roll over and give

Im going to change my career.

up. He can make you your own worst

From there you can analyze the truth

enemy.

in the statement youre hearing in

One of the reasons why the Gremlin

an objective fashion. By using this

is so hard to overcome is that hes

exercise in your everyday life, youll

actually a part of you. At one point

soon learn to reduce your gremlins

in human evolution, the Gremlins

power over you, enabling you to

job was to make sure we didnt

achieve the success in your life and

do anything that might cause us

the career you deserve.

to fall off a cliff or get eaten by

bears. But now that we dont have

While overcoming your obstacles

the same life-or-death situations,

may seem insurmountable, dont

he treats everything as a potential

let it overwhelm you. Keep a growth

risk. He wants you to play it safe

mindset and acknowledge you are

instead of trying new things or

a changing person. You may not be

starting something that could be

perfect now, but youre continually

uncomfortable.

striving to be a better person. Just

How to reduce the gremlins power

By fully identifying your Gremlin, you

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take it one step at a time, and before

you know it, youll look back and be
amazed by how far youve come.

separate yourself from it and make

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CHAPTER TWO:

How To Make
A Career Change
in Six Simple Steps
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11

Step 1. Explore what

you actually want to do

ow that weve identified the

key obstacles stopping you from

changing careers, lets look at

Youve probably had many ideas

how to successfully get you into

about what youd like to do next,

a career that embraces your

but never had the chance to sit

passions. Many of the following

down and plan it out. Here are

steps you can implement right

some questions to help guide

now, today--so what are you

you towards discovering what you

waiting for?!implement right now,

really want to do. Let your mind

today--so what are you waiting

wander and explore what the

for?!

perfect work situation would be.

1. What are your current strengths and weaknesses?

................................................................
2. What do you like in your job and what do you hate?
................................................................
3. When have you felt the happiest at work?
................................................................
4. Do you want to work for someone else again, or do you want to
work for yourself?
................................................................
5. What does your perfect work day look like?
................................................................
6. Other than a paycheck, what motivates you to do the work you do?
................................................................
12

Step 2. Determine how you get there

Now that you know a little more about
what you want to do, how do you
get there? Lets say youve decided
to become a web developer. Do you
need to go back to school or can
you already code? Will you need a
formalized education or do you prefer
the self-taught route?
In Chapter Four, we layout and explore
educational opportunities to pick up
valuable tech skills.

13

Step 3. Find a mentor

Finding a mentor in your field can be

Ask them for coffee and pick their

an invaluable resource and support

brains.

when youre thinking of changing

careers. And if youre thinking of

Start by asking a lot of questions

starting your own business, its

about the details of their day-to-day

crucial. Why learn from your own

job. Are these things you could do

mistakes, when you can learn from

every day? What do they like about

someone elses?

their job? What dont they like? Listen

carefully to what they say--dont

The best way to find a mentor is to

assume you know it all already! They

ask your social networks if anyone

may not have been working in digital

knows anyone in your future field. If

when they started out, but many of

they do, ask for an introduction. You

the fundamentals of working and

can also do searches on LinkedIn for

entrepreneurship remain the same.

people with the title youre seeking.

14

Step 4. Increase your network

Most jobs are won through personal

professional groups in your industry.

or professional connections. Get a

Look on MeetUp or professional

jumpstart on finding a new job by

groups with events you could attend.

building a support network while still

And while you may be tempted to

holding down your day job. You may

press them for their contacts and keys

want to get out of there as quickly as

to their networks, keep your cool.

possible, but believe me, handing in

Exchange business cards or contact

your resignation letter too soon could

info, but make a personal connection

be your biggest mistake. Not only do

with them before trying to work them

you not want to be without an income,

over.

you also want to keep from burning

bridges.

The key to successful career transition

is realizing you dont have to do it

Again, the first place to start is

alone.

on social media. Find people in

your target industry and ask them
for coffee. Look on LinkedIn for
15

Step 5. Build your personal brand

In the age of Facebook, Twitter, and

in-line with the image you want to

LinkedIn, were all a brand. As a job

present. Does it represent an image

seeker or potential freelancer, you

your future employer will embrace?

are selling your brand and your brand

And thats not just the profile picture.

is YOU. While the phrase personal

Do you share content, links, and

brand may sound like selfies and

photos that show youre interested and

status updates, your personal brand is

active in your field?

an extension of your business and part

of your unique selling point.

On LinkedIn, make sure your photo is

professional and your work experience

In case you havent done it already,

is up to date. Be sure your portfolio is

the first step is to clean up your

up. Also, dont forget about websites

Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter

specific to the tech industry. If youre

profiles. Since these are the first

a web developer, make sure your

places many jobs and businesses look

GitHub account is active and filled

to learn about you, be sure theyre

with projects which show off your skills.

16

Job Outlook for Tech VS Other Industries

Source: 2016 Modis Salary Guide for Tech Professionals

employment:
estimated
685.000
new tech jobs
by 2022

10.8%

18.0%

Growth in tech

Projected
growth in all
other industries

Step 6. Write a plan of action and set yourself some goals

Goal number one: set yourself some

how he got into his career. Another

goals. Dont use lack of organizational

daily goal might be, read five pages

skills as an excuse to stay unhappy

of that book about UX Design. Or

in your job for the rest of your life.

perhaps, sign up for a course on

Anyone can write a list, including you.

UX Design to complete over the next

three months.

Working backwards, outline your

goals for the year. Then go back and

Keep your long-term goals in sight at

write out the upcoming 6 months

all times. Frame them and put them

and then the next 6 weeks. From

on your wall. This will remind you

today onwards, you will write yourself

why youre doing what youre doing

daily goals, small things you want to

and what youre ultimately aiming

achieve over the next three months

for. Your goals should be specific,

to get you out of your job and into

with a definite deadline and written

a better career by Christmas. Think

down. Above all, make your deadlines

about what you need to do, how you

realistic. Give yourself more time than

need to do it, and how long it will

you think you need.

take.
It may sound a little insurmountable
If youre working full time while you

at first, but by chunking it into

do this, be sure to do one small thing

phases and taking little steps, youll

a day. For example one daily goal

look back in a few months and be

could be to email that UX designer

astounded by how far youve come.

about meeting for a coffee to discuss

Wont that feel great?

17

CHAPTER THREE:

Which tech career

is best for you?
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Which tech career

best suits you?
Two of the fastest growing careers in
tech are Web Developer and UX Designer.
Based on research with our students,
alumni, and mentor, weve created a list
of personality traits these jobs need.
Does your personality match the profiles
of these lucrative professions?

19

Web Developer
Weve all heard stories of the solitary,

what youre doing to non-technical

socially-awkward young men who

people is crucial to your success as

haunt web development. While this

a web developer. You have to get

may fit one part of the profile, it

your point across as effectively as

doesnt represent all of them. Not

possible. In fact, programmers who

all web developers are reclusive--and

can describe what theyre doing using

contrary to popular belief, there are

everyday language without jargon are

many women who code.

100 times more successful than those

who speak in code.

Patience
Every programmer will tell you that

Problem-solving Skills

patience is at the top of the list of

Because youll be taking ideas and

requirements needed when learning

turning them into living webpages and

how to program. As a web developer,

apps, youll need to be able to use

youll come up against numerous

logic to help you create. Youll also

bugs and broken lines of code that

have to take apart code to figure out

will take practice, patience and

what isnt working or where a bug is

research to fix. When youre starting

coming from. Thats why a healthy

out in programming, this can be very

passion for dissembling, building,

frustrating. And if youre the sort of

problem-solving and overcoming

person who can see frustration as a

challenges is key to a successful web

means to an end--i.e., your frustration

development career.

fuels your drive to keep looking for

an answer, then you might be web
developer material.

MEDIAN PAY $63,490

Communication

TOP PAY $112,680

Whether youre working alone as

10-YEAR JOB GROWTH 24.6%

a freelancer or in a team at larger

business, the ability to communicate

Source: PayScale.com, US Bureau of Labor Statistics

20

UX Designer
UX design is a people-orientated

underlies the role of a UX designer.

profession that seeks to understand

A curious person will enjoy making

the needs, goals, and behavior of the

hypotheses, digging deep into

user of a site, application, or product.

analytics and data from user research

By combining these findings with a

groups, and implementing solutions to

companys business goals, they design

respond to these results. If you dont

solutions that meet the needs of both.

have a basic curiosity in humans and

A relatively new field, its quickly

their behavior, this could be a very

finding its way into all industries.

boring job for you!

Empathy

Clarity of Expression

When navigating a website, a UX

Being able to communicate

designer is always thinking about the

complicated concepts to a team of

quality of the experience for each

designers and developers requires

individual user or customer and how

the UX expert to express themselves

to improve that experience. Thats

and what they want done clearly and

why empathizing, or understanding a

accurately. Since youll have to convey

persons feelings and motivations, is a

your processes to senior management

key quality of any great UX designer.

who might have no idea of user

This involves taking time to research

experience, the more concisely you

and understand the different needs of

can articulate the findings of your

different personas and adapting the

research and how those apply to the

site to respond to those needs.

web design, the better.

Curiosity
MEDIAN PAY $95,600

User research, a large part of the UX

designers role, involves finding out

TOP PAY $150,000

why people do the things they do.

10-YEAR JOB GROWTH 22.1%

Thats why having a deep curiosity

about people and how they work

Source: PayScale.com, US Bureau of Labor Statistics

21

CHAPTER FOUR:

Do I Have To
Go Back To School
For a Tech Career?
SHARE THIS EBOOK
22

hether it means learning a programming language to help you code or

discovering how to wireframe a website, changing your career means filling your
brain with new skills and vocabulary. Traditionally, that has meant going back
to school to get another degree or a masters--but that may not fit everyones
budget, timeline, or work schedule. In this chapter, well explore whether or not
going back to school is the right option for you.

What are the requirements?

Whats your budget?

Before you dive into an expensive

Going back to school can get pricey.

masters program and waste time and

For example, a masters programs in

money on an education that might

Web Development can cost tens of

not land you a job, its important to

thousands of dollars--and thats just

verify that youre getting the skills

the classes. Other expenses to bear in

and experience required by the new

mind include books, rent, food, and

position or new career. Check out job

transportation, all of which push the

postings for your desired position and

total even higher. And depending on

learn what the expected education

the program, it could be a few years

and experience will be. Also, talk to

before your investment finally pays

your mentor or a friend in the industry

off.

to learn exactly what skills really are

necessary. Do you need to spend a

Becoming a full-time student also

semester in a class on theoretical

means you may have to go part-time or

programming languages? And if you

quit your current job. Have you saved

do, will you have time to develop the

enough money to cover your cost of

experience to start a job when you

living while youre in school? Have you

graduate?

looked into scholarships or grants? Or

do you plan on taking out a loan?

23

Money shouldnt stop you from

Do you have to go to school?

reaching your dreams. You may

Going back to school is a big

have to scrimp and save before you

investment of both time and money.

graduate--but thats part of being a

Over the last couple of years, however,

student, right? Just make sure the

many options have arisen that still

program you are enrolling in will arm

offer high-quality training without

you with what you need to get you a

the price tag or time commitment

job after you graduate.

associated with traditional education.

If youre looking to make a quicker

What about your family?

career jump, these options might be a

Going back to school doesnt just

better fit for you.

affect you. If your new career choice

is going to affect your loved ones, or

In case you hadnt noticed, the

those you live with, make sure you

Internet is chock full of free tutorials

fully prepare them for what your new

and videos. YouTube is a veritable

education and career could mean for

library of detailed walkthroughs.

them. It should, ultimately, lead to a

There are also many blogs that offer

happier you, with more money and a

top notch, step-by-step instructions

better life/work balance. But in the

on coding or design. Do you have the

meantime there could be long nights

diligence and focus to leverage these

of study, a smaller disposable income,

sites in lieu of a formal education?

and a lot less free time while you

work on getting there. Its important

If youve tried these and found that

that you discuss your decision with

you need something more formal

your partner; theyll be in a much

and structured than the self-taught

better position to support you on your

route, you might consider an online

journey if you brief them in advance.

or in-person bootcamp. In-person

24

bootcamps like General Assembly

of all this choice is that you can pick

can often require that you be in a

and choose what you need. Ultimately,

particular city or in class every day --

you dont want to get so caught up in

but youll get your skills in XX months.

planning that you psych yourself out

Online programs like Bloc can allow

of actually making the leap. The most

you to learn anywhere at any time.

important thing you need to do when

And with CareerFoundry you get the

making a life change is to just start

flexibility of an online course that also

being the change you want to become.

includes a 1:1 mentoring. You can

That means taking the first step and

also try free lessons at Codecademey.

building the momentum by doing

things that get you closer to where you

Dont let the variety and range of

want to be.

options intimidate you. The beauty

Find Out
Whats Next >>

25

Next Steps
At CareerFoundry, we believe that everyone deserves a fulfilling career. Thats
why our courses are specifically designed to arm you with the skills, tools, and
portfolio to get a well-paid job in the tech industry in three to six months.

About CareerFoundry courses:

Online so you can take them anywhere, anytime
Flexible to integrate into your work schedule
1-1 Mentoring by experienced industry professionals
3-month or 6-month courses to fit your speed
Results-oriented to arm you with a job-ready portfolio

Ready to take your career to the next step?

Check out our Web Development or UX Design bootcamp descriptions.

WEB DEVELOPMENT

UX DESIGN

26

careerfoundry.com

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