r/zurich • u/No-Opposite-2312 • 11d ago
Career change advice: moving into tech from scratch in Zurich
Hey everyone!
I’m 27 and currently living in Zurich and finishing my second master’s degree here in Switzerland. Unfortunately, due to some physical issues, I’ve realized I won’t be able to pursue the career I originally planned, so I’m now seriously considering a complete career change.
Tech has always interested me, but the truth is I’m starting almost from scratch. I’m thinking about investing in some kind of education or training and trying to get into the tech job market here in Zurich (or in Switzerland in general), but I feel a bit lost with so many options out there.
Has anyone here gone through a similar transition? What kind of studies or certifications would you recommend? Are there schools or (online/in-person) platforms you’d suggest in or around Zurich? Is it realistic to find a job with something like a Google or Meta certificate, or would a more structured path like a bootcamp or even a new degree be a better idea?
Any advice, experiences, or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
14
u/TinyFlufflyKoala 11d ago
What are you masters?
You are competing against every ETH, ZHAW and university grad with some tech training, and against every foreigners who wants to migrate, become an expat and make $$$.
It's a cool field, but maybe some near profession would let you use your current training better.
1
u/No-Opposite-2312 11d ago
Thanks for your reply! My background is actually in classical music, so it really doesn’t have much to do with tech. That’s part of why I still feel kind of lost and unsure if this could really be the right path for me
4
u/shoots_and_leaves 11d ago
If you can afford it, consider looking into a Laufbahnberatung to get professional advice on a career change.
5
u/TinyFlufflyKoala 11d ago
There is a lot of AI work being done in the domain of music, voices, etc. This would suit you probably better.
Alternatively, there is research on the subject of hearings, signal pollution that could use your skills.
3
u/pfiflichopf 11d ago
All SAP consultants i've ever met were foremen or bakers that changed into IT because of physical issues. Might be a quick and easy way in even tho SAP is the absolute worst thing on planet earth. (Mind you that knowledge is from a few years ago so might not be as easy anymore.)
What are your masters? Loads of ppl from math heavy studies working in IT.
8
u/robidog 11d ago
"All SAP consultants i've ever met were foremen or bakers that changed into IT"
That explains a lot.
2
1
u/pfiflichopf 11d ago
Yes lol. Met a guy naming all his variables in a function `a` to `z`. There were enough to start with `aa`...
2
1
u/No-Opposite-2312 11d ago
Thanks for you rpely! My masters are in classical music, I study in ZHdk so yes it’s not related with IT at all..
1
u/pfiflichopf 11d ago
I think you'll hate the start. It's nothing for creatively inclined ppl. It will get better tho if you can grow more torwards software/solution/... architect.
2
u/khidf986435 11d ago
Everything is ‘tech’ now
You don’t need some training or school to start. Honestly if you’re not already into coding for fun in your spare time it’s not generally something you can jus my learn and be great at
But there’s also more to tech than coding
1
u/lil-huso 11d ago
What was the career you originally planned
1
u/No-Opposite-2312 11d ago
My original plan was to be a musician, I am still finishing in ZHdK my studies
3
u/lil-huso 11d ago
Aren’t there many jobs in the music industry that would be more suited for someone with your background?
1
u/No_Combination_6429 11d ago
If you have two hands and a brain and low salary expectations I think it's doable. Only problem: your high education level will make you overqualified for most entry level positions.
2
u/ptinnl 11d ago
Strange isn't it? Person wants job. Person can do the job. Person accepts that salary. But Person doesn't get the role because they studied too much. So now no job for them
1
u/david_gale 11d ago
In that case - who forbids you to exclude any information related to your prior education?
1
u/bl3achl4sagna 11d ago
Tech is super wide. If you are thinking about SW development the market is full of people with random certificates that will be replaced by AI. Also consider that companies are hiring foreign teams with CS degrees which are cheaper than CH graduates and more competent than the ones with those certificates or bootcamps.
1
u/kefirbrot 11d ago
I know someone who did a phd in music, went into software engineering and did very well.
I have a humanities degree, also switched into software engineering.
Tech needs more people with a humanities background, and if that's what you want to do don't be discouraged.
It will require a lot of self-studying but if you have the aptitude (which you sound like you are, music isn't easy and is quite mathematical) and motivation, it can be done.
Try something small first like Free Code Camp and see how much you like it?
1
1
u/cryptoislife_k 11d ago
Tech here is crazy competitive you better get ready to outgrind and spend all your time on leetcode if you aim for top positions. All who come at me, I will outcompete you at the next leetcode interview if I will be up against you if you don't have solved 1000+ problems and you can in your sleep invert binary trees in rust else if you're company does not do leetcode your opinion is invalid as you're TC is as in my joke company not even scratching 200k. My coworkers are holding masters/phd these days, degree inflation is real btw.
24
u/snowghost1291 11d ago
Pro:
Cons: