Quality Engineer Seeking Career Change in IT: What Courses Should I Take?

Ans: Dear Venkat,

Thank you for writing in.

It's nice that you are looking at building your skills. IT, as an industry is quite vast. I may not be in the position to give you a direct answer as to which course you should do but few q's you may ask yourself which will you help come to conclusion-
1- Which latest technology that is having competitive advantage
2- Do I want to change the domain/ language or continue in the same. If you want to continue then you can look at relatable courses.
3- What are the opportunities I may have if I add these (x) skills to my profile. How will it help me stand out in the competition
4- Should I work on my soft skills for example- (People skills, managerial skills, communication skills etc.) as these will be needed at every level of your career
5- Speak to senior professionals in your industry and take their views points

Before enrolling into any course assess your current skills, interests and the specific need of the industry you are in. Choose a course which will align with your career, aspiration and interest that you want to take professionally.

Hope this helps. All the best.

To your success. Be You. Be Confident
Ashwini Dasgupta
Author of Confidence Decoded. Is it a skill or attitude.

Ans: Hello Shweta, Good to learn about Civil Engineering teaching expereince. I am sure you had a good reason to be on a long sabbatical. As a Civil Engineering graduate it may be a lot easier for you to pick knowledge of software used in Civil Engineering professsion, espcially the ones that are currently being taught in the Civil Enggg courses. Within the vast field of Civil Engineering look for niche areas where you could excel far more easily than doing simple programming.

Ans: Hello,
With 13 years of experience as a training manager, enhancing your career prospects requires investing in advanced certifications and courses that build on your expertise and align with the emerging demands of the learning and development field. Consider pursuing professional certifications such as the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) or the Train the Trainer certification, which are globally recognized and will strengthen your expertise in training and development. Expanding your knowledge in instructional design through courses focused on e-learning tools such as Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate or learning management system (LMS) management will keep you at the forefront of technology-driven training methods.

In addition to technical training skills, courses in leadership coaching and people management will help you develop the soft skills needed to effectively lead teams. For those looking to take on strategic roles, an MBA or certification in change management (Prosci) can provide a strong foundation in organizational development and leadership. Project management certifications such as the PMP or PRINCE2 are also valuable for training managers overseeing large-scale projects.

Furthermore, as the training sector moves towards data-driven decision-making, upskilling in learning analytics, AI in training and digital transformation in learning will help make your career future-ready and allow you to implement innovative training solutions. These qualifications will open up advanced career opportunities in senior leadership positions, from head of learning and development to roles in corporate training strategy and organisational change management.