The Mistake Most Career Changers Make

The problem isn’t a lack of ability; it’s a lack of alignment.

Social media often makes tech transitions look simple: “Learn this skill in 90 days,” or “Break into tech with no experience.” While these messages are motivating, they can also be misleading. They encourage people to follow popularity instead of alignment. With views translating into currency, I understand the hype around unrealistic achievements.

As a career changer, the first mistake was jumping straight into highly technical paths without understanding the foundation behind them. You cannot learn the tools without learning the process and syntax before understanding how services are delivered.

A scenario I often see is people wanting to master ServiceNow quickly without first understanding why incidents exist, how changes are managed, or what makes a service effective. ServiceNow then feels complex and overwhelming when it’s actually doing exactly what it was designed to do: support structured service management.

Another common mistake is underestimating transferable skills. Many career changers don't realize their experience in customer service, healthcare, education, or administration already aligns with ITSM principles. These roles require prioritization, communication, documentation, and problem-solving, which are the same skills used daily in IT service environments.

The moment career changers stop asking, “What’s the fastest way into tech?” and start asking, “What path builds on what I already know?” is when the transition becomes clearer, more sustainable, and far less intimidating.

⚙️ Built on process. Driven by purpose. 🛠️
Steffi Saint-Pierre