Consider job options

It is important to consider what type of job (or jobs) you will focus on.  This will help dictate what type of skills you will need to build upon and update.  Think creatively about how you can use your strong foundation of technical skills, as well as new experience while out of tech. Some options to consider:

• • Return to previous employer, to the original job or a new one

  • Same type of position previously held in field, or a different one

  • Think about how you could apply new skills and experience, from your time away from tech, to qualify yourself for some types of technical jobs you haven't done before. For example, project management experience in a non-technical field demonstrates skills required for many technical positions.

  • Corporate employment

  • Government jobs, and jobs requiring a clearance

  • Consulting 

  • Technical contributor, project manager, or technical sales

  • Start your own small business

  • Work for a start-up

  • Teaching at middle-school, high-school or college level

  • Adjunct faculty at community/technical college - some require only a Master's degree

  • Home-based telecommuting job: graphic artist, website designer, social media consultant, online tutor, or online teaching

  • Adult internship to jump start re-entry

  • Write a book and go on a speaking tour :-)

Project Management

Consider if you want to re-enter in a project management capacity. You may have gained project management skills while not working in a technical field. For instance, entrepreneurship is defined by project management. Volunteer work or work in a non-technical field may have given you project management experience. Also, parenting involves project management, planning and adhering to schedules, and planning and adhering to budgets. Many tech re-entrants have skills and experiences valuable for technical project management jobs, even if they have not worked in that exact role before.