One Response

1. Been there, done that, have the T-shirt
   Hi Andy,

   I suffered the same fate as you, fought hard against it, got beaten down and then had the brainwave that saved me. I actually used the IT bit to my advantage by developing a role which included the softer skills of training into an IT/Systems environment.

   I developed a management development programme for the senior systems managers; a similar project manager programme and completed job profiling and competency rating work for the staff. This was in a Systems group of over 300 IT people accross Development, Network Support, and Operations.

   The benefit was that the job stayed IT focussed but all the work was transferable in terms of skillsets. When I went for my current job, I wrote a functional CV instead of a chronological one and then fielded questions, using my practised negotiation skills, away from IT and onto the actual features and benefits of my work and successes. It was only near the end of the recruitment phase I passed on that I came from an IT background.

   Also, you can generalise a bit by focussing on the transferable skills that come from your role, such as project work, complex problem solving, creative solutioning, rapid technology/skill change management, knowledge management and so on.

   I cannot guarantee this will work for you but I believe you will stand a better chance. If you need to, come back to me, ok?

   Good luck,

   Graham