Career change

[Kenz0]

Hi guys,

So i currently work in the Civil Engineering and Project management field, have 5 years experience.
I have a BTech in Civ Eng, but i find myself really not interested in that field anymore.

I have always had a keen interest in IT in general, but only realised when i had been working in Civ Eng for a few years that i wanted to make IT my career choice.

Obviously i have responsibilities and a family to take care of, but what would you suggest would be the best way to make the transition while still maintaining all my commitments?

I am interested in Software Development and IT Project Management. Thought about starting a BSc Comp Sci at UNISA, but that will take 3-4years part-time to finish. Also thought about studying an IT Project Management course, but how will i get into a job with no IT Project Management experience, only have Civ Eng project management experience.

Have read a few software dev books, tried my hand at C++, was super interesting, seem to catch on quite quickly.

What would you do???

Thanks,

 

[cguy]

I suggest CS through Unisa, like you were thinking. Everywhere I have worked, the trend has been that IT (specifically, SW Development) project managers with no software engineering experience have been terrible. Most of the dev managers have been promoted from within for that reason. That said, the project managers I have worked with were earning pretty well. One actually left civil engineering, did a management course (an MBA IIRC) and was hired as a contract project manager for a project I was working on). He was pretty terrible, but that was his first PM job ever.

While studying, perhaps you should try switch to a development job in the middle (if you're competent, a lot of places won't mind that you are still mid-study, especially with CE qualifications and work experience). This will give you dev experience by the time you finish, will help pay the bills, and allow you to do something you seem to find more interesting.

 

[InvisibleJim]

I'm not sure that IT is necessarily an improvement from Civ Eng (don't know that much about Civ Eng!) but I do agree that it is important to be pursuing the career that you enjoy and are good at.

What you need is a job where your existing experience has value and yet you can grow into the areas that interest you. Perhaps something to do with applications of IT or software to civil engineering problems?

EDIT: there is a section for mech and civ eng open source software projects on Sourceforge. Maybe something here will give you inspiration.

 

[Pavan]

Incorporate IT into your civ eng role... or look for a role that will allow that. Think about all the smart city/grid projects currently underway, the national broadband network etc. All of them have bespoke technology and civil/structural needs. Studying further (i.e. compsci, masters in technology management (for engineers) etc. will allow you to gather the theoretical skills you need to be effective in a role that encompasses engineering, technology and project management. This will also make you quite a scarce resource and one that could provide massive value to projects similar to the ones mentioned above... Also, you won't be putting anything at risk from a salary point of view.

Good luck!

 

[Priapus]

I cannot offer any advice into where / how you should proceed. I can just provide you with my own personal experience.

I did (mostly) general IT support for around 7 years - from retail to corporate. I enjoyed it for the first 5 years and started to really hate support - driving around all day, fixing general user errors. (For example - driving from Fourways to Sandton, just to tell a user the reason her mouse doesn't work is due to flat batteries...I kid you not)

Like you, I found that I enjoyed programming and more specifically, enjoyed making iOS apps in general.
So, I made the career change and was very fortunate to be offered a great opportunity.

I've been very happy since.

My point is: If you don't enjoy your job - you probably will never really succeed at it and you will hate getting out of bed. Who wants to live like that?

To reiterate what I am saying:

Gary Vaynerchuk: Do what you love (no excuses!)
http://www.ted.com/talks/gary_vaynerchuk_do_what_you_love_no_excuses.html

 

[Kenz0]

Thanks for all the advice, it is much appreciated!!

 

[proxilin]

Incorporate IT into your civ eng role... or look for a role that will allow that. Think about all the smart city/grid projects currently underway, the national broadband network etc. All of them have bespoke technology and civil/structural needs. Studying further (i.e. compsci, masters in technology management (for engineers) etc. will allow you to gather the theoretical skills you need to be effective in a role that encompasses engineering, technology and project management. This will also make you quite a scarce resource and one that could provide massive value to projects similar to the ones mentioned above... Also, you won't be putting anything at risk from a salary point of view.

Good luck!

This sounds good. Look at SA companies that develop civil engineering software, things like Prokon and Candy come to mind, but I'm sure there are a lot more. Perhaps go and speak to them and hear what they suggest or who they employ.