Is my plan for getting into the tech industry realistic?

[SeductivePig]

I've been at my first employer for 5 years now as an electrical engineering consultant to a major oil company. I have an EE degree from a good state school, and haven't programmed since sophomore year of college (I wasn't good, just did it for a class, but I didn't' really put effort into it back then). I have no interest in doing what I do now, and want to switch industries.

I'm now very interested in programming/tech and plan to spend the next seven months getting up to speed with Java and whatever subjects I'd need to get into software development. I'm not sure if I will pursue a traditional programming role or try to get into the business side of IT, but I would be spending time networking and brushing up on industry jargon during that time as well. I do plan on having a Github, and my consulting experience is a great background that shows I can handle technical work.

The time commitment would be roughly 40 hours/week for the next seven months (a bit less than a bootcamp I believe).

My plan is to start interviewing for jobs in September and hopefully be able to have an offer in hand by December in the range of $75-80k (I would be targeting only NYC or Chicago). I will probably end up targeting some larger firms like Accenture, and smaller firms as well. Is that realistic?

A couple other things, I am contemplating getting my CFA and trying to get a job in finance that is software related.. and if all of this cannot be done by November, I also have the option of trying to make the switch by March 2019.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I would caution you about trying to combine fields. When I was in school for computer science, I did extensive research on companies who wrote produced and sold food service software and discovered they had zero interest in anyone who actually had food service experience in addition to programming.

 

[renz20003]

Never hurts to try, I made the transition from fry cook at McDonald's to cashier at Burger King with no problems.

Good luck

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

In general, software companies seem to have a chip on their shoulder with regards to their intended end users.

 

[RichieZ]

having worked at Deloitte Consulting in what used to be called the systems analyst track and now being in product management at well known consumer internet companies I have a few thoughts here:

• just do the bootcamp, we've hired a few people from there and when you come out you still need mentorship and training but they do a great job of interview prep and networking help to get you in the door. trying to break in yourself is much harder without a network.
• if you want to join accenture/deloitte whatever its probably not that hard to come in as a "experienced" hire but the work is mind mind-numbing borring and you are at the whims of the partner and what projects you get put on
• that salary range is WAY low today, even 10 years ago thats the pay range of a fresh out of college grad at Deloitte and Accenture (also got offer from them, new college grad offers are consistent regardless of office and there is no negotiation). and if you were to come out of a bootcamp your TC should be at least 2X that.

 

[SeductivePig]

Well, there is no guarantee of me getting into a bootcamp, and I don't want to spend $20k on one. I heard the acceptance rate for those is around 3%. Also, I'd have to quit my job to do that, I can't afford to.

As far as accenture/deloitte, those were not my targets.. just the least attractive options I would pursue if nothing else clicked, to get my feet wet.

In terms of salary, I would imagine salary for programmers or people in tech is good. The national average for entry level Java developers is $80k apparently. I also have many contacts in the healthcare industry that could get me interviews.

 

[DietDrThunder]

Don’t apply at a defense contractor. The next thing you know 30 years will have passed and then you’ll wonder WTF did I do?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Don’t apply at a defense contractor. The next thing you know 30 years will have passed and then you’ll wonder WTF did I do?

You mean aside from making good money and having good insurance? I haven't run across too many computer geeks who want to make a "difference." Just saying .

 

[Zeze]

I did a hard transition from telecom to IT in healthcare.

If I could do it, you could.

I studied on my own... you are lucky because internet has... everything to learn.

Also took on succeeded and embarrassingly failed couple of contract gigs.

Now I'm sitting pretty in IT doing not so bad... making near triple. Took few yrs.

 

[brianmanahan]

You mean aside from making good money and having good insurance? I haven't run across too many computer geeks who want to make a "difference." Just saying .

agreed, the only difference i want to make is in my bank account

i used to have grand dreams of helping the world but those got crushed by the time i was 25

 

[ImpulsE69]

I made a hard transition from factory work to IT in the financial sector - I already had a technical background and it took me 5 years from getting in the door of IT, to landing a great job where I am today (for 7 years). It is possible given you already have somewhat of a computer background you could do the same. Not exactly sure software dev is where you want to go though. My understanding is it is a long, tedious, frustrating, underpaid, under appreciated area. IT in general tends to be that way (but some sectors pay is much better).

 

[Zeze]

that salary range is WAY low today, even 10 years ago thats the pay range of a fresh out of college grad at Deloitte and Accenture (also got offer from them, new college grad offers are consistent regardless of office and there is no negotiation). and if you were to come out of a bootcamp your TC should be at least 2X that.

Whoa, kids make six figs straight out of college today at age 22???

My client hires tons of Accenture. Those very young and ambitious cute kids definitely don't look to be making anywhere near 100K. Seemed like 50-70Ks.

[edit] Yea, my feel is about right

Less than 1 year
192 profiles
$73,141

1-4 years
693 profiles
$73,507

5-9 years
571 profiles
$85,820

------
Consultant
1,094 salaries reported
$81,820 per year

 

[Zeze]

OP remember, you don't have to know how to code so darn diligently in order to make IT salary. Tons don't.

1. My manager friends all obviously don't code. Or can't anymore if they wanted to. They make more managing people.

2. Business/Systems Analysts don't know jack about coding. They just have to know the systems and know how to write requirements. I mean is that really IT to be honest - any industry you gotta know your stuff. 0 coding and some analysts make $100K+ easily.

3. I come from PM background and now operate in Agile framework. I don't know how to facking code. I don't even know the difference between java and javascript. I'm good at what I do in my scope of duties, my dev team loves me, so does my dev team manager. $100K+

At the risk of sounding like a douche - I kind of feel bad that you graduated from an excellent school like Purdue and a dumbass like me is making more financially. It's another case study I personally witnessed that how you navigate in workforce/industry matters a lot after college.

I genuinely wish you all the best.

 

[SeductivePig]

lkh

 

[Mai72]

Whoa, kids make six figs straight out of college today at age 22???

My client hires tons of Accenture. Those very young and ambitious cute kids definitely don't look to be making anywhere near 100K. Seemed like 50-70Ks.

[edit] Yea, my feel is about right

Less than 1 year
192 profiles
$73,141

1-4 years
693 profiles
$73,507

5-9 years
571 profiles
$85,820

------
Consultant
1,094 salaries reported
$81,820 per year

I can make that teaching.

3 months off, weekends off, $80k a year. Pretty good insurance to boot.

 

[RichieZ]

Whoa, kids make six figs straight out of college today at age 22???

My client hires tons of Accenture. Those very young and ambitious cute kids definitely don't look to be making anywhere near 100K. Seemed like 50-70Ks.

[edit] Yea, my feel is about right

Less than 1 year
192 profiles
$73,141

1-4 years
693 profiles
$73,507

5-9 years
571 profiles
$85,820

------
Consultant
1,094 salaries reported
$81,820 per year

i wrote about the starting salary for Deloitte and Accenture out of college, I speak from personal experience that its the same as his target salary.

100K+ is in reference as being totally normal for a new SWE in silicon valley

Here's also a article about specific consulting companies and the total comp:
http://www.businessinsider.com/best-paying-consulting-jobs-for-new-grads-2016-1

5. Deloitte
Total compensation: Up to $101,250
Base salary: $75,000
Signing bonus: $10,000
Relocation: $2,000-$5,000
Performance bonus: Up to $11,250

11. Accenture Consulting
Total compensation: Up to $94,500
Base salary: $75,000
Signing bonus: $10,000
Relocation: $2,000
Performance bonus: Up to $7,500

It's interesting to me that base salary doesn't seem to have budged since I joined way back when. To your point it truly doesn't require any technical chops, I have a CS degree from a top 15 school and used nothing from it. Of course I quickly got bored and decided that I would just optimize the hell out of that job, I got sent to Switzerland and a few other fun places for projects. But I also got sent to Sacramento to work for the state of CA...

 

[Mai72]

My sister is a programmer for a small startup in Boston. She makes a little over $100k a year. Gets to work remotely from home. She lost her job a few years ago. She worked as a lab tech for Boston University. The funding dried up and she was let go. She went back to school, took a few programming courses and she's doing great.

Think about that. A girl who got a job as a programmer in a field dominated by men. Not once did she think to herself "I'm a girl. I'll never find a job in IT." She went after it. IMO, people over think and this is what keeps many from even trying. Don't overthink this. If you really want to do this then do it.

 

[DietDrThunder]

You mean aside from making good money and having good insurance? I haven't run across too many computer geeks who want to make a "difference." Just saying .

It isn’t the same as it used to be in the past. Pay is Okay, but no more pensions, no more good health insurance (now have high premium high deductible plan), no more sick days, and raises on average of 1.5%.

 

[SeductivePig]

Interesting - I'm not sure why the fact that she is a girl matters, but nonetheless, nice to hear that she found something decent. How long did she spend in school, and what degree? If it was a masters degree in CS then it doesn't surprise me that she got a gig..

As for myself - my current lease expires in March this year and I have to decide whether to live somewhere much cheaper until November (in hopes that I can get a new job by then, and clear all my credit cards). If November is not feasible, the idea is that I would continue to live where I do now and clear my credit cards 4 months later in March 2019.