My career is in its fourth decade now, and I don’t have a degree. Demonstrating characteristics that show how you can embrace change, learn and solve business problems with tech will go a long way to getting a career in IT. “Go for it! IT is a fast-paced, growing and changing industry. Here’s Frank’s advice for career changers without degrees who are hoping to get into IT: Navy and got into IT without a degree after leaving the military. Segarra is the CEO of a drone services company, ConnexiCore. We spoke with two IT leaders who don’t have degrees to get their insights into what you might need to give yourself an edge on the tech job market.įrank J. These are just some of the transferable skills that might make you an appealing and successful candidate for an IT job.
Creativity is essential in software and web developer roles, where you’ll be expected to come up with bright ideas to create and enhance new products.This is where your transferable communication skill will make a difference. As mentioned, most careers in information technology require you to work either on a team or with colleagues to tackle technology issues. If you aren’t a people person, you actually might struggle in IT.Ĭommunication, creativity, problem-solving and attention-to-detail – all skills you may already have – give you an edge if you’re switching careers into IT. A big portion of tech jobs require you to work on teams or help colleagues figure out solutions to their technology problems. You just need a growth mindset and the wiliness to learn new things to help yourself and other people better harness the power of technology.Īnd if you’re a people person, you’re in luck. Not a calculus whiz? You don’t need advanced math for a large majority of IT jobs. The skills you already have could help you get into IT. The stereotype you might have in your head about who’s well-suited for a technology job couldn’t be farther from the truth in most cases. IT jobs aren’t reserved for math geniuses who prefer to work alone in dark rooms. (Source: CompTIA Employer Perception Study) In 2017, job postings for core IT positions in the United States that did not cite a bachelor’s degree or higher requirement paid $83,000 per year on average.Almost half (49 percent) of the 2.3 million IT job postings surveyed in 2017 did not list a four-year degree as a minimum requirement for candidates.(Source: CompTIA Post Exam Survey, Q1 2018) Around two-thirds (69 percent) of CompTIA certification candidates do not hold a four-year college degree.Bureau of Labor Statistics, about one-quarter (26 percent) of IT workers in the United States do not hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Job Stats for IT Professionals Without Degrees Hiring managers don’t weed out potential job candidates because they don’t have undergraduate degrees. If not having a degree has held you back from pursuing a career in technology, you should know that most tech positions simply require proof that you can do the job, through certifications and prior experience. A large portion of jobs in IT don’t require a four-year degree or even a two-year degree, and many IT job listings prove this.