My IT career included many jobs, such as tech support, training, software development, business/systems analysis, project management, and technical sales, just to name a few.

I had to learn to adapt to whatever the market demanded, even if it meant going out of my comfort zone (sales). However, during the time, I was always interested in the "people" side of whatever I was doing, opting to assume more responsibilities that involved giving presentations and sharing information on a regular basis.

I began pursuing more opportunities to develop my speaking skills by taking on more assignments that required more proficiency in some of the "soft" skills, such as effective communication, creativity, analytical thinking, diplomacy, flexibility, problem solving, leadership, team building, and listening skills. As a result, I became known as the IT person that was approachable and that could actually speak "plain English". As a result, I often served as a liaison between IT and business units.

This ability to float between the technical world and the business world has enabled me to adapt my skills to the demands of the market. So, what is my recommendation for anyone considering making the transition from IT to a less technical career? Learn how to take the "techie" out of your language. By this I mean, find a way to communicate your accomplishments that can be easily understood by someone who knows very little, or better yet, absolutely NOTHING about the IT industry.

You can start by giving your most recent resume to someone out of the IT field and asking them to name three accomplishments that that actually mean something to them from a business perspective. Ask "If you were going to hire me for a job at your company, what on my resume would appeal to you most?" Then, sit back and watch the reaction. Better yet, if a fifth grader, (yes, just like the show) can actually make sense out of it, you're on the right track! However, if you get a ton of blank stares, and questions about what this means or what that stands for, you know what you need to do…turn that techie stuff into PLAIN ENGLISH.

I found a GREAT tutorial on how to communicate technical jargon to non-technical people. As you review your work history, think of ways to translate your technical skills using the guidelines provided in the tutorial. You can use the new verbiage in your resume, as well at networking functions and during your interviews.

Need help getting started? E-mail us a copy of your most recent technical resume and we'll give you some quick pointers on how to translate your accomplishments into something the rest of the business world can appreciate. We also offer a free workshop for techies in transition. Check our calendar for the next date and location.

Hey, you deserve credit for your great work history. Just make sure others outside of IT also understand how valuable you are!

Moving from Technical Specialist to Manager - Common traps!

Why Bunny Slippers are - EVIL!