Transferable Skills in Information Technology Might Qualify You for Other Roles

Big tech companies were the first to move in early March to remote work as a worker safety issue. But at the same time tech workers were worried about job cuts and loss of income. A Blind survey of more than 7,000 tech staffers in March, found that 53.8 percent of employees at U.S. tech firms are concerned about job security and 62 percent think their total income is going to be adversely impacted by COVID-19.

By mid-April the fears were being realized. Start-ups, backed by venture capitalists, began laying off thousands of tech workers because of pressures on their finances. Glassdoor reported that information technology job postings dropped by more than 20 percent.

But there are plenty of signs that big tech firms could weather the crisis and come out stronger. Amazon, Netfilx, YouTube, Zoom and Facebook have seen a significant increase in demand for their services. And some experts say the demand could continue as the pandemic is expected to have a lasting impact on the way we interact socially, and in business long after the health fear wanes.

So, IT workers have many skills that are of great value to a variety of employers.

Here, we show you which jobs might be the best match for your skill set and how to articulate those transferable skills on a resume in a way that will help you stand out from other job candidates.

Transferable skills and training to emphasize on your resume

There are some industries that are still hiring IT workers. Among those are financial companies, essential retailers, healthcare and shipping/logistics organizations.

While you may have performed an IT role in another industry, you likely possess many IT skills that are in demand for those industries that are hiring. These are called, transferable skills, or those skills that are valuable to employers across industries.

There are three types of transferable skills: hard skills, technical skills and soft skills. By showcasing these on your resume, you’ll be able to show employers that you have what it takes to get the job done, even if you don’t have direct experience in the field in which you are applying.

Here are the hard, technical and soft skills you may have obtained during your time in IT that you should consider adding to your next resume:

Hard and technical skills: Hard skills, including computer technology, digital communication, strong decision maker, data warehousing and analytics, efficient data management. Technical skills, including computer technology, agile methodologies, project management software, content management systems, data engineering

Soft skills: Customer service, collaboration, conflict resolution, flexibility

Certifications and training: Agile/Scrum methodology, C, C++, C#, Oracle, MySQL, API design, SharePoint

Education: If you have a bachelor’s degree, such as a degree in information technology, business or science, then be sure to add that to your resume. Or, if you’ve taken additional coursework in management, finance or cybersecurity, include that as well. Various IT certificates should be listed under a separate header.

These industries are hiring people with your skills

If you were an IT manager, including project manager, data manager or a network operations manager, you might be qualified for these positions:

• Platform product manager (for example, with MasterCard)
• Director of security (for example, with a staffing firm like Consultis)
• eCommerce project manager (for example, with UpWork)
• Agile coach (for example, with Bloomberg)

If you were an IT engineer, including in security engineering, cloud engineering, infrastructure engineering and data engineering, you might be qualified for these other positions:

• User experience engineer (for example, with Skype)
• Learning experience designer (for example, at an ecommerce company like Amazon)
• Cloud security architect (for example, with a hospital)
• Data analyst (for example, with Allscripts)
• Cyber security analyst (for example, for a manufacturer like Honeywell)

How to apply for these roles and what you’ll need

When applying in person, you will need to have a current resume that highlights your relevant skills, a current email and phone number and identification such as a driver’s license or passport.

If you’re applying online, you will also need a current email address, phone number and an up-to-date resume that reflects the skills the employer is seeking.

An employer may also request a cover letter, which is a good opportunity to briefly outline why you’re a good fit for the job and you want to work for the employer.

How to find these jobs in your community

• Indeed
• Glassdoor
• Dice

How to create a resume that will capture an employer’s attention

While there is a flurry of hiring activity for many essential employers and a scramble by the unemployed to grab those jobs, that doesn’t mean you should cut corners. You should deliver a top-notch resume using our resume builder. By putting more effort into a resume that targets the areas that are unique to the job at hand and highlighting those skills in the resume, you will stand out from the competition.

In addition, a cover letter that addresses why you want the job and why you’re a good fit will make a more personal connection to the hiring manager and make you more memorable from what could be hundreds of other applicants.

Now, let’s take a look at an IT resume that’s ready for a transition job.

Text resume example: Help desk technician applying for a user experience engineering role

Name: Abril Watts
Address: Fairfax, VA 22031
Phone: (555) 555-5555
Email: example@example.com

Summary Statement:  Ambitious Help Desk Technician with hands-on experience verifying transaction information, obtaining payment authorizations and scheduling and preparing disbursements. First-rate expert at customer communication, data entry and organization. Diligent and meticulous professional commended for quickly and accurately learning new procedures.

Summary of Skills:

• Researched the latest information technology (IT) security trends
• Developed security standards and best practices for organizations
• Recommended security enhancements to management or senior IT staff
• Troubleshooting
• Critical thinking
• Backup and restoration
• Oral and written communication
• Knowledge of systems security
• Autodesk Revit

Work History

IT Help Desk Technician
Blackstone Group L.P
Cypress Creek, VA
2/2017–3/2020

• Maintained and controlled server room, wireless network, and server infrastructure; managed audiovisual equipment, including projectors, laptops, and video conferencing equipment.
• Processed an average of 30 inbound and outbound technical support calls assisting in technical support process refinement to improve customer service and support.
•  Engaged end-users and answered questions via email, phone, website live chat and in forums.

Help Desk Support Technician
Meyers Support Systems
Lanark, VA
2/2015–2/2017

• Created new accounts, reset passwords and configured access to servers and file management software for users.
• Responded to support requests from end users and patiently walked individuals through basic troubleshooting tasks.
•  Helped streamline repair processes and update procedures for support action consistency leading to a 15 percent increase in staff efficiency

IT Intern
Electric Imp Inc.
Endeavor, VA
11/2012–10/2014

• Maintained calm, professional demeanor when faced with high demand, high-volume workloads.
• Contributed to team-based IT projects by lending assessment and management services.
• Assisted a group of 10 IT team members by crafting project research material for implementation

Education & Training

Bachelor of Science: Information Technology
Virginia College Technical
Pelham, VA

ITIL Help Desk Professional Training  (2016)
Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)

My Perfect Resume Builder example: Help desk technician applying for a user experience engineering role