Can I transfer my skills?

Feel like you’re having an early mid-life crisis?! Perhaps you’ve settled down, had children, dealt with the monotony of homeworking and now you’re questioning how you got here - whether you consciously made career choices or simply fell from one job to the next.

Or perhaps you were one of the unfortunate 11.6m people placed on furlough, and now you’re starting to question how secure your future career is. Particularly when the pandemic accelerated digital transformation by about four years, you might be feeling a little threatened by the new Gen Z with their fresh skills and eager attitudes.

Don’t worry. You’re not alone.

The UK workforce is in crisis

More than half of employees are considering finding a new job this year, with 1 in 4 actively looking. Research indicates that British workers are amongst the unhappiest in the world:

• 15% feel no sense of purpose in their job.
• 23% do not feel engaged in their company.
• 25% do not feel valued in their workplace.

The IT sector is particularly challenging. Nearly a third (28%) of UK managerial and professional workers claim to feel ‘stuck in a rut’, compared to the average 14% in other sectors. But is it any wonder when 7 in 10 professionals report they have not mastered the skills needed to do their jobs?

And it’s a growing problem. According to the Department for Education, the proportion of workers considered not fully proficient in their roles has risen for the first time since 2011 - now accounting for 1.25m workers. When you feel like you lack the basic skills needed to perform your role effectively, it’s naturally going to be demotivating, because you feel incompetent or question the value you deliver to the team.

We all have the right to enjoy our work

Everyone wants to feel happy in their job, like they’re desired, have a plan and are aiming for something. And the reality is that it’s good for business too. Research by Oxford University's Saïd Business School, has discovered a conclusive link that shows happy workers are 13% more productive. And that’s not because they work more hours. They achieve superior results because they use their time more productively.

It's our responsibility to take control of our career path. If you’re feeling unhappy in your current role, questioning whether you were meant to be in IT in the first place, or fear the next generation entering the workforce, it’s within your control to make change happen. You’re not trapped in that rut.

If you want to make yourself in demand, focus on how to develop your skills.

Domain and technical knowledge are relatively straightforward to acquire with a little hard work to secure new certifications. And a lot of the knowledge learned is transferrable to other roles, sectors, organisations and technologies.

And then there’s soft skills. Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that of the people who changed roles during the pandemic, over half (52.5%) also changed industry. Soft skills, such as organisation, communication, empathy, critical thinking and problem solving, apply to every business in every sector. And because they’re so highly valued, employers are increasingly making hiring decisions based on soft skills over technical knowledge.

Advance your career with BCS

As a member of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, we can give you everything you need to advance your career and help you find a role that makes you happy to get out of bed in the morning:

Get back on track

If you’re feeling lost or despondent, the first thing we need to do is help with some career inspiration to open your eyes to a world of possibility. We can even put you in touch with a mentor for 1-to-1 support and guidance in finding the right role. Once you have a focus, we offer tools including CV builder and CV 360 evaluation, to start setting you up for success in preparation for your next step.

Get recognised

We use the industry skills framework, SFIAplus, to help map out your career path. As well as establish the skills you currently have, it identifies any gaps in your knowledge, and highlights your transferrable skills. When you know where you want your career path to go, we currently offer professional certifications in 11 specialist areas, as well as professional registration pathways.

Get knowledge

The IT sector is so vast. Not only does it cover different technologies, it also spans every role within an organisation. And the pace of change is exponential. We help to keep your knowledge and skills up-to-date with access to reports, expert commentary and publications, as well as a free copy of ITNOW magazine, regular eNewsletters, monthly webinars and podcasts.