Getting in the door

The routes that work for career changers beyond cold applications: internal moves, apprenticeships, internships, returnships, freelance work and referrals.

Internal transfer

Also called internal move

What: Moving into a tech or tech-adjacent role at the employer you already work for, often after taking on technical tasks in your current role.
Why: Your employer already trusts you, knows your work and avoids hiring risk. For people with a job, it is often the fastest first step.
Example: Offer to automate your team's weekly report, share it with the data team, then ask about openings or a secondment.

Watch out

Waiting for a posting instead of telling your manager and the tech team what you are learning.

Tech apprenticeship

Also called apprenticeship

What: A paid role that combines work with structured training, often open to people without a degree or relevant experience. Availability depends heavily on country.
Why: You earn while learning and get real experience. For people who cannot afford unpaid study, it can be the best first door.

Watch out

Assuming apprenticeships are only for school leavers; many are open to adults changing career.

Internships for career changers

What: Internships and graduate or trainee programmes that accept people from other degrees or careers, including remote and part-time ones.
Why: An internship turns into real experience on your resume, and many convert to full-time roles. Degree holders from other fields are often eligible.

Watch out

Accepting a long unpaid "internship" that is really free labour with no mentoring.

Returnship

What: A paid, time-limited programme for experienced people returning after a career break, with training and a real project, usually run by larger employers.
Why: If your switch follows a break for caring, health or study, returnships value your earlier experience and plan for your ramp-up.

Watch out

Applying to returnships with no prior professional experience; they are designed for returners.

Freelance first

Also called freelance work

What: Taking small paid or volunteer projects for real clients, such as a local business website, a nonprofit dashboard or automation for a former colleague, before a full-time role.
Why: Real clients create real proof and references, and some switchers build a steady income this way.

Watch out

Underpricing to zero and taking work without a written scope, which leads to endless unpaid changes.

Warm referral

Also called referral

What: An introduction or referral from someone who knows you or your work, earned through genuine contact over time rather than cold requests.
Why: Referrals get applications read. For career changers, a person vouching for you offsets an unusual resume.
Example: After a useful chat and two months of shared progress, ask: "Your team has a junior analyst opening. Would you be comfortable referring me?"

Watch out

Messaging strangers "Can you refer me?" with no context, which rarely works and feels awkward to both.

Stepping-stone role

What: A job that is not your final target but gets you inside tech, such as IT support, QA, technical support or a data entry role with analysis duties.
Why: Being inside a tech team gives you experience, internal mobility and people to learn from. Many engineers started this way.

Watch out

Staying in the stepping-stone role for years without asking for the work that moves you towards your target.

Training fee scams

What: Fake job offers or "placement promised" schemes that ask you to pay for training, equipment, visas or certificates before you can start.
Why: Career changers are targeted because they are eager and new to the industry. Real employers do not ask candidates to pay to be hired.

Watch out

Paying a small "registration fee" because the offer looks official and the deadline is today.

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