Anyone change industries before? (1 Viewer)

[boofatty]

Quick background: I'm 38, with 12 yrs experience in big time construction management. Have a masters in construction to go with my experience. All in all my career has been successful/lucrative. But heres the thing, I've reached the point that I hate what I do and dread going to work. I recently changed companies hoping it'd be better, but it isnt. I generally like the work but the contractor lifestyle with excessive stress/travel doesnt work with where I'm at in my personal life, I just want to be home more with my family, thats all.  

So, in thinking about where to go from here, I think my PM skills and experience would be most transferrable to the IT industry.  My plan is to go back to school to backfill my technical knowledge in the field before making the leap.  I haven't chosen a specific focus area yet to study.  In my head I'd fit a managerial/PM role more than a technical role.  

I'm expecting a pay cut with the switch, my goal with the schooling is to minimize the pay cut severity.

So has anyone done something like this before?  Left a 'good' career because it didn't seem right anymore?

Any IT folks in here with advice or insight from your industry?

I know the PMP is big in IT, I had the cert but let it go a while ago because it hasn't really caught on in construction.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[nirad3]

Interesting.  I actually have some feedback here and it will be very germane to what you've set out.

When I was in my mid-late 30's, after spending 10ish years in real estate development, construction management, entitlements, etc. etc., I had reached a point where I was at the end of my rope due to the economy, and was willing to shift to any other industry.  I had left a cushy PM job in SoCal, moved to Texas to try my hand at consulting on my own, and the bottom fell out.  Anyways, long story short, I reached the same point you're at, although perhaps I still had desire to do it.... it just wasn't happening.

A good college friend of mine who is in the IT industry, in a roundabout way (financial printing - now there's no real "printing"... everything is IT-based), was looking for someone with project management experience to come work for him.  It was in a different state (Minnesota - brrrr) and required a massive leap of faith not only on my end, but on theirs.  I had zero industry experience but my friend vouched for me, and after an in person visit, they made me an offer I simply couldn't refuse (one kid, another on the way, no end in sight for a real estate rebound, etc.)

I'd say your background in CM would easily translate into IT PM.  Great idea to go get some technical background if you have the time and desire to do so.  

Not sure what your pay range is now, but honestly you may not see that much of a downgrade pay-wise.  I certainly didn't.... and after only one short year at the new gig, I was offered a team lead position (albeit second shift, but still).... with a sizable bump in pay.

I also considered the PMP deal but like you said, it didn't really catch on... not necessary.  If possible I'd go back and try and get re-certified there.  

I've since left the new gig.... after 2 years of bitter cold in MN.... and most importantly, my old job in California beckoning me back (couldn't ignore having friends/family around for the two kids), I am now back in the real estate consulting gig.

So, in a nutshell... in terms of throwing a changeup at your career arc, this is definitely a well thought-out plan that would likely be a good move.  Personally I found my "new gig" to be fairly stale as it was 100% behind a computer, in an office.... whereas my old (and now current) role had a lot more flexibility.... but it sounds like you and construction management are all but done so you may not need that.

Anyways, sorry for the long ### post.  Good luck.

 

[AnonymousBob]

I switched industries after about a decade. It was a slight bump down for a while but I've caught up financially and am much happier. That was...5-6 years ago? Amusingly enough I just had an interview yesterday where my previous experience merges perfectly with my current ones and really helped me stand out. Funny how life goes. 

Anyhow, make the change. It's what a lot of folk do now. Most employers won't think much of it. I don't have any IT experience but urge you to jump. As long as you'll still be able to take care of your family I can't see why you wouldn't switch. Best of luck to you!! 

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Interesting. I'm in almost the exact same spot. Job is simply a stress fest and some nights if I don't keep my eyes closed and start thinking about tomorrow, I cant get back to sleep.

Im thinking of becoming my own GC. At least that way I can tell the crazies to F off.

 

[Thorpe]

Unless you know someone in the IT field that can hire you, it might be tough to get a PM job without IT experience.  But if you can give a really good interview, then you'll have a chance to convince them your construction experience will translate.   You won't have to travel as much with IT, but the stress/hours may be just as excessive.  "Death March" is a common term in the business...

Good luck

 

[boofatty]

Interesting. I'm in almost the exact same spot. Job is simply a stress fest and some nights if I don't keep my eyes closed and start thinking about tomorrow, I cant get back to sleep.

Im thinking of becoming my own GC. At least that way I can tell the crazies to F off.

I've thought about going on my own. But im the only income in the family, so the risk is extremely high (as it is for all new businesses). I know a few people that have done it and turned out well.  The other side though is I know a guy that sold out because the stress almost killed him in his 40s. 

 

[boofatty]

I switched industries after about a decade. It was a slight bump down for a while but I've caught up financially and am much happier. That was...5-6 years ago? Amusingly enough I just had an interview yesterday where my previous experience merges perfectly with my current ones and really helped me stand out. Funny how life goes. 

Anyhow, make the change. It's what a lot of folk do now. Most employers won't think much of it. I don't have any IT experience but urge you to jump. As long as you'll still be able to take care of your family I can't see why you wouldn't switch. Best of luck to you!! 

Thats what I'm thinking. When it comes to work life Ive always been one to say "F it, you only live once" and taken chances. 

The scary part is that the new industry is still so unknown to me. 

Honestly if I could earn close to the same money, work less than 50hrs /wk and work closer to home I'd be happy. 

I do appreciate all the feedback. Its helpful just bouncing ideas off of others. 

 

[Tau837]

I have done it twice, and it worked out great both times.

I spent my first 11 years after college working in network management software in NC. BS is in Electrical Engineering but worked in software from the start, so got MS in Computer Science during this period. Unfortunately, in 2001, the bottom fell out of this market.

So I jumped to Modeling and Simulation (M&S) software for DoD training and moved to VA. I took a significant pay cut to do this, about 15%. But within 3 years, I was making about 40% more than I had ever made before the jump. More importantly, I really enjoyed the work, much more than in my first "industry." Coincidentally, I also stayed in this industry for 11 years. I got my PMP during this time, and I think it was helpful later (resume-wise, not needed to succeed in my work). I have maintained it.

For personal reasons, my wife and I decided to move to San Diego, so I initiated a job search and got a job managing a software line for an aircraft platform used by DoD. Again, I took a pay cut, this time about 10%. That was two years ago, and I am roughly back to even on compensation. But, again more importantly, I really enjoy the work, much more than either of my first two "industry" periods.

So it was always software, but it was the network management industry, then the DoD M&S industry, then the aircraft industry, very different types of software. I took pay cuts twice, and it worked out well both times. I was a technical leader before the first jump and stayed in leadership/management roles ever since.

Now I am on the verge of accepting an executive position with another DoD software company and moving back to NC, full circle geographically and essentially back to my second "industry." My salary will be higher than ever before. But like the previous jump, this one is driven by personal reasons (wife's health), not work-related reasons. The results of my first two jumps have given me sufficient confidence to make this move.

With regard to moving from construction to IT, I think that is likely more challenging than my moves, since I was always in software and had a software background. In my experience, the best PMs are those who have relevant technical background and thus can truly understand the work, relate and communicate with the team, etc. I have worked with some good ones who didn't have this, but it is helpful. I think one reason I excelled in leadership and management roles is because of my technical background. Planning to get some education in this area is definitely a smart move. Good luck.

 

[Johnnymac]

I have done it and its worked out fine.  If you are a hard worker and smart (sounds like you are) you should not have a problem.  I would just make sure that at your age its what you want to do for the rest of your working career.  I mean at this point in your life, do what makes you happy.

 

[Drifter]

How well do you think you'd adjust from traditional PM to Agile - which is more common these days in the technical realm?

 

[boofatty]

How well do you think you'd adjust from traditional PM to Agile - which is more common these days in the technical realm?

I'd have to read up on agile and what it actually means. All I can say is that my construction specialization has been in design-build industrial/heavy automation. I was thrust into it blindly and have succeeded.  I think the reason I was successful is because I was agile and didnt try to shove all my stakeholders/scope into predefined boxes.

With regard to agile, not sure what definition is in this context, but my style has always been to hire smart people and let them do their job. My role is to keep all the different smart people working toward a common goal.  Which is how I see an IT PM. Not a do-er, but someone that manages a team of do-ers toward a common goal. That approach has worked well for me in making projects work.

i relate construction to IT in that there are hundreds of expertise areas to manage on a project. No one is an expert in all of them, so for us we have to hire well and be smart enough to understand it, not necessarily familiar enough to do it. 

Am I way off base in those expectations?