I'm considering taking a break from my IT career for 2-3 years to explore a different field. I've been working in IT for the past 7 years—4 in support roles and 3 as a junior systems admin. My concern is how this time away might affect my ability to re-enter the industry. Technology changes so quickly, and I want to avoid effectively resetting my career. Has anyone gone through something similar? What was your experience?
6 Answers
After a five-year break for personal reasons, I returned to IT, and while some of my skills were outdated, most of it still applied. Just be ready to learn the latest trends, like cloud services. I ended up finding a decent role at a governmental agency, so it's possible to come back strong!
I took a break and worked in sales engineering for five years. It was refreshing, and I improved my communication skills. Now I’m back in IT and enjoying it more than ever. Interacting with vendors is a blast once you know how to negotiate a sale!
Taking a break is scary, especially when you’re not sure how to balance your desires with career stability. I've toyed with the idea too, but finding something that pays well and aligns with my skills is tough. I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of IT and wouldn’t want to move into sales or something that doesn’t spark joy.
I left IT for about 2-3 years to drive trucks, but eventually returned. It was tough getting back, and I did have to take a pay cut, but my tech skills came back quickly. Just make sure your resume highlights your IT experience first, and prepare a solid explanation for your career switch when interviewing. Having a positive spin on your time away helped me tremendously.
I've been at it for 28 years without breaks, but if you're considering one, go for it! Just keep in mind that you'll likely lose some of your tech knowledge during that time.
I've got 25 years in the field, and switching careers can definitely set you back knowledge-wise. Today, staying updated is tougher than it was 15 years ago, but it’s not impossible to get back into it.
Definitely agree! Framing your experiences positively is key. When I returned, I had to learn some new skills like cloud computing, but I found most of my previous knowledge was still relevant.