leave job for internship

scarymoon1

I have a degree in software development but have never worked in development or wish to - I would however like to get into software testing. I am working at the moment but its not what I want to do - I've always wanted to use my degree in some way. Im 29 now and since I've left college 7 years ago I've gone from job to job not really knowing what I wanted to do - its now or never and I think an internship is the only way to get experience and then a job in IT - can anyone give me any advise or if they have left a job to get experience before - thanking you Im beginning to panic at my bad career choices as Im now 29 and still at a crossroads.

starlit

I think you have answered your question there!

What job/industry/sector are you in now if you don't mind me asking? If you don't like the job you are in look over your degree and see if software testing is what you really want to get into. If you really want to get into it and develop a taster for it and build up experience then an internship be the best way forward in that case.

Go for it what have you got to loose? Better than staying in a job you don't like! You are worth more than that and got the potential. If your heart isn't in the job you are doing now then best to change careers and follow your dream of software testing if its something you always wanted to do. No harm in trying it out before you follow up on that career path, an internship is one way of being sure about going down that career path.

The job market in IT is getting harder to tap into without relevant and enough experience especially in the case for new graduates or those who didn't pursue it after college back in the boom time even if its just a small amount of work experience isn't enough but an internship can go a long way especially if you could get it in the programming/software testing side, (technical support may not be enough or some areas in IT) you going nowhere without having work experience in the programming/software development/testing area at the moment as competition for IT jobs have got fierce.

I know myself I am trying to tap into it myself but its getting tougher to get a proper job in IT unless I update skills and get into an internship! I am finding it difficult to get into a grad programme and internship as well which is making it tougher on me again. I just can't break into the job market what ever area whether its in IT or not! There are a load of other factors that is probably affecting my chances of something happening.

Get the internship and the work experience, put in all the effort as best you can and do your best, be the best! What you put in you get out of it and what you can take from the experience of an internship not just the work experience you gain from working there! Try not to have high hopes of a job after doing a jobbdrige with the company you be doing it with or after completing it but it be worth having the experience in the end and showcase on a CV, you be in a better position employability wise. Companies are slow to train people up unless its an internship or grad programme you are doing.

Challenge yourself and dive into projects, mentioning projects from college isn't enough in an application/interview, you need to show examples of hands on work experience projects so from that point of view an internship is the only thing that provide a hands on learning approach, skills you probably wouldn't gain in college but gain in a working environment! Mentioning those projects from working whether be from an internship in IT/Software testing and from your current job as well as previous jobs you can put what you learnt and done from those jobs into examples. Especially if you've a challenging role, responsibility or project you can transfer the skills from your previous jobs adding onto an IT internship that be relevant to the career path you want to follow.

If you are worried about your career choices in the past then do something about it in the present and for the future! Its worth the risk and well nothing ventured nothing gained! Just go for it!

Best of luck

tk123

OP how did you get on? I'm thinking about doing the same thing!