Careers advice

[Massy]

Just wondering if there is anyone out there with some advice with regards to my career direction. I graduated with a degree in Software Engineering and immediately found a position in a medium sized company designing/developing both front (C++) and back end database (SQL) solutions for a number of sizable clients. However, during that period I became restless and I wanted to do something with my life as opposed to working within the "rat race" for my entire career.

So, four years after starting work, I decided to take a 3 month career break and head off to Australia. This was all fine and my employer left my position open for me. However, 3 months become four years and I funded myself through a number of non-IT temp jobs ultimately ending up as an English Teacher in Thailand.

However, this was working quite well but two things happened: 1) the realities of living in Asia sunk in and 2) the need to earn a decent living and career once again.

Presently, I find myself back in the UK, doing some temp work to repay some of my debts. I feel I would like to return into an IT related field (or perhaps a role outside IT) but not sure how to approach it. Money not an issue, the need to be challenged is. I feel I have several options:

1) Seek employment using my existing skill-set.

Two big disadvantages are a) I have is I've not worked within IT for four years, how do I account for that gap and b) the technologies I was using at the time have moved on.

2) Become self-employed.

Has anyone started from a one - man business and developed it recently? In the current environment is this thing possible anymore?

3) Re-train with a current technology.

Undertake an MS qualification perhaps?

4) Return to university and sit a masters degree programme.

I would prefer option 1), however how do I present myself to a prospective employer with these disadvantages in mind?

 

[Chopstik]

I'm curious what you mean about the "realities of living in Asia sunk in" (since I am considering going back myself), but that may be somewhat off-topic...

Nonetheless, I suspect you are looking at this from the wrong perspective. Depending on the challenges you are looking for, they can be found and obtained. I think that you are presenting not having been in IT for 4 years as a disadvantage. While there may be a certain degree of truth to this statement, it can be easily offset by the experiences you have otherwise had in the meantime. If you've lived in Asia for 4 years, have you learned to communicate in any other languages outside of English? You can easily package that skill along with whatever other skills you have acquired along the way in a positive manner.

Not sure what other types of work you have been doing, but you need to find the right way to package them to an employer. I'm sure that there are some multi-national corporations that might find your background and skillset to be most appealing. You might also find that larger corporations (not necessarily IT corporations) have not progressed far technologically in the four years since you have left.

In short, parlay your "perceived disadvantages" into compelling reasons to hire you for the position(s) you seek. And good luck!

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"I am not young enough to know everything."
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

 

[Massy]

Chopstik, thanks for you post: its gave me a few ideas how I can shape my future. Going off topic initially, there were no real major disadvantages living in Asia, however there were a few niggling points that being from the Western world, contributed to me leaving: my diet primarily was Thai food and although good at first became both tedious and boring; the culture is very laid back and nothing really happens fast when you need it to; red tape and bureaucracy: getting a work permit to teach became a nightmare and finally the heat: I'm quite enjoying the “cold” in the UK at the moment!

Although, the western world has niggling (or major) disadvantages too. I feel I just spent too much time there. However, I would (and will) go back but not for that length of time and the ideal scenario would spending the half my time here and half my time there!

Anyway, back to the initially point. I never really though having the ability to speak Thai is such a great advantage. They all speak a English to a certain extend but the advantage I gain is respect. I'm not another foreigner interfering in their culture and country. Now what I think I need to “package” myself into is someone who understands and respects their way of working which may bring inroads into some organisation......

As I said, I not necessarily returning to work in IT but I'll let you know.