From Tech to Insurance And Back Again

By ELIZABETH GARONE

Q: In 2004, I left a technology company and jumped right into the insurance business. Now I really want to return to tech, but I am having a tough time overcoming and explaining this change. I believe I received very good insight and will do a better job now. How can I convey this to a new potential employer?

A: You'll need to find a way to turn your insurance experience into a selling point, says Janet Roberts, chief marketing officer for Tampa-based mobile technology company Syniverse Technologies. "Show the prospective employer why your knowledge base is unique and how it will help drive the business," she says. "You also can use this to explain your transition back to the technology sector: Talk about how your time in the insurance business gave you a new perspective on the technology space and how you are eager to put this experience into practice that yields results."

In trying to make the shift, focus on your strengths rather than the career change itself, says Jim Beqaj, author of How to Hire the Perfect Employer, Finding the Job and Career That Fit You Through a Powerful Personal Infomercial. "A good employer knows that lots of people change careers and learn from it," he says. "When you change careers, you learn new skills, meet new people, understand more about other organizational systems and conflict styles. You see the work world from a different perspective."

Being a technology expert also has its advantages when it comes to changing industries, according to Tom Silver, senior vice president for North America for technology job board Dice.com. "If you are a programmer, software engineer, or project manager, it's really about the skills and knowledge you bring regardless of industry," he says. Still, it's a competitive market, says Mr. Silver. For some time now, companies have been able to be highly selective, and most view industry experience as a plus.

But things are starting to look up for job hunters. For example, on Dice.com, the number of job postings is up 40% year over year, according to Mr. Silver. "As shortages of qualified tech professionals emerge, you will see some companies relax requirements like industry experience," he says.

Of course, you'll still need to do your homework to jump industries. "If [the company] is cutting costs, demonstrate how you've done that [in a previous job]," says Mr. Silver. "It's imperative that you tailor your pitch and make it about the company, not just a broad enthusiasm to rejoin an industry."

Finally, remember that just because you want to get back into technology doesn't mean you have to leave the insurance industry altogether. So says Gerald Shields, chief information officer for Aflac Incorporated, an insurance giant which signs up 80,000 accounts per year with paperless policies. "Don't fear going back to the insurance industry. At the right place, you'll find a rich and fulfilling technology career."

Write to Elizabeth Garone at cjeditor@dowjones.com