Career change as an IT consultant
With your experience you can switch to 14 jobs in Germany: 2 right away, 10 with on-the-job training and 2 with training or a course.
In the job search you can sort by what matters to you, save jobs and see where they lead.
Career change paths
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Head of corporate development
Also: Head of strategy
Start right away
In the corporate development team of a large group or mid-sized company, you develop strategies, review potential acquisitions and lead major change projects, without being at a client's site all the time.
- What you bring:
- You can analyze markets, assess business models and prepare decision papers for executive boards.
- How to get there:
- Companies specifically hire experienced consultants for strategy and development teams. You travel far less, but you need to get used to working through internal coordination in a fixed organization.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€8,238gross per monthMedian salary
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Head of transformation
Also: Project manager
Start right away
In a company or public authority, you run a project office or large transformation projects such as digitalization, reorganization or moving a site.
- What you bring:
- You have planned projects, moderated steering committees and implemented changes in organizations.
- How to get there:
- Companies and public employers hire consultants with project experience directly. A project management certificate from a course of a few days helps with some applications. In the public sector, you also work your way into budget law and public procurement law.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€8,238gross per monthMedian salary
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Head of IT
Also: IT project manager
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As an IT project manager or head of IT, you steer projects, budgets and teams and are responsible for keeping the systems running.
- What you bring:
- You know systems, requirements and departments and can bridge the gap between technology and senior management.
- How to get there:
- This move often happens internally through project or team lead roles. Certificates such as PRINCE2, PMP or Scrum help with applications. You do not need an additional degree.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€7,647gross per monthMedian salary
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IT security consultant
Also: Information security officer
With on-the-job training
As an IT security consultant or information security officer, you assess risks, set up security management based on standards such as ISO 27001 and support audits.
- What you bring:
- You know architectures, interfaces and processes and see where systems can be attacked.
- How to get there:
- Employers often ask for certificates such as ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, CISSP or IT-Grundschutz Practitioner. The courses take a few days to weeks, or longer with exam preparation. For the CISSP, the provider ISC2 requires five years of work experience in information security. For critical infrastructure and government agencies, security clearance checks often apply as well.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible€5,295gross per monthMedian salary
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IT trainer
Also: Computer science lecturer in further education
With on-the-job training
As an IT trainer or lecturer, you teach software, data analysis or IT basics at training providers, at manufacturers or in companies.
- What you bring:
- You can explain complex systems clearly and have probably trained users before.
- How to get there:
- Training providers and training companies hire IT specialists with presentation experience, often on a freelance basis at first. A course in teaching methods helps. To train IT specialists (Fachinformatiker) in an apprenticeship, you need the trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung) under the AEVO.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,449gross per monthMedian salary
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Pre-sales consultant
Also: Sales solution architect
With on-the-job training
In the sales team of a software or IT service provider, you present solutions, draw up concepts and proposals and support tenders.
- What you bring:
- You understand customers' requirements and can derive technical solutions from them.
- How to get there:
- Software companies and system integrators hire experienced analysts directly and train them in products and sales. Strong presentation skills and willingness to travel are expected.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleHome office possible€6,745gross per monthMedian salary
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Technical writer for software
Also: Documentation specialist
With on-the-job training
As a technical writer, you write manuals, online help and interface documentation for software.
- What you bring:
- You can describe systems, processes and requirements precisely and know what users need to understand.
- How to get there:
- Software vendors hire IT specialists who write well directly. Courses in technical writing, for example with a professional association's certificate, take a few weeks to months.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€4,728gross per monthMedian salary
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Software developer
Also: Backend developer
With on-the-job training
As a software developer, you turn requirements into code yourself and test and maintain applications.
- What you bring:
- You know data models, interfaces and programming languages and have often built prototypes already.
- How to get there:
- Employers hire analysts with programming experience directly. You learn missing languages or frameworks on the job or in courses of a few weeks.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€5,986gross per monthMedian salary
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Managing director
Also: Head of a business unit
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As managing director of a mid-sized company or an investment firm's portfolio company, you are personally responsible for results, staff and delivery.
- What you bring:
- You have seen many companies from the inside, developed strategies and guided change.
- How to get there:
- After a few years, some consultants move to a former client or to a company owned by an investment firm, often starting at the second management level. Leadership experience with direct reports is decisive for this step.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursPhysically light€8,555gross per monthMedian salary
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Investment manager
Also: Business valuation specialist
With on-the-job training
At investment firms, family offices or M&A advisory firms, you value companies, support acquisitions and help develop the firm's portfolio companies.
- What you bring:
- You can quickly size up business models and where they can be improved, and you are used to due diligence before acquisitions.
- How to get there:
- Investment firms hire consultants with strategy and finance experience. If you lack knowledge of company valuation or financial models, you can build it in courses of a few weeks.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office -
Ministry policy officer
Also: Regional development officer
With on-the-job training
In ministries, government agencies, municipalities or public-sector companies, you prepare programs and reforms, manage projects and advise senior management.
- What you bring:
- You can structure complex topics, weigh options and write decision papers.
- How to get there:
- Public employers hire consultants with a university degree and train them in administrative law, budgeting and procedures. Working hours are usually more predictable than in consulting, but decisions take longer.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€6,457gross per monthMedian salary
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Recruitment consultant
Also: Executive search consultant
With on-the-job training
As a recruitment consultant, you search for managers and specialists on behalf of companies, approach them and support the selection process.
- What you bring:
- You know many industries and management levels and can quickly judge who fits which organization.
- How to get there:
- Recruitment firms train former management consultants in research, direct approach and selection procedures. The work is sales-driven, and your targets often depend on successful placements.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€4,167gross per monthMedian salary
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Computer science teacher via the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg)
Also: Teacher for computer science and mathematics
With training or an exam
At secondary schools, you teach computer science and sometimes mathematics as an alternative-route teacher (Seiteneinsteiger).
- What you bring:
- You can explain programming, databases and logical thinking and have usually studied computer science or a related subject.
- How to get there:
- Alternative-route teachers (Seiteneinsteiger) teach while completing a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst), usually about 18 to 24 months. The federal state decides whether your degree is recognized for two subjects.*Regulated by law (State law: teacher education acts and alternative-route regulations of the German states).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€5,466gross per monthMedian salary
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Business coach
Also: Leadership trainer
With vocational training
As a business coach or trainer, you support managers and teams through difficult phases, facilitate workshops and develop leadership programs.
- What you bring:
- You know day-to-day management, team dynamics and change processes from many projects.
- How to get there:
- You can complete coaching training alongside work; scope and duration depend on the provider. The title coach is not protected, but clients look for recognized training. You can work as a freelance coach; permanent jobs exist in the staff development departments of large companies.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€4,155gross per monthMedian salary
Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs can I do as an IT consultant without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Head of IT, IT security consultant, IT trainer, Pre-sales consultant, Technical writer for software, Software developer, Managing director, Head of corporate development, Head of transformation, Investment manager, Ministry policy officer and Recruitment consultant.
Which retraining or further training suits me as an IT consultant?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Computer science teacher via the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg) and Business coach.
What promotion options do I have as an IT consultant?
Promotions include, for example: Head of IT and Managing director.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Managing director (€8,555 gross per month), Head of corporate development (€8,238 gross per month) and Head of transformation (€8,238 gross per month). Half of employees earn more, half earn less; when you start it is often lower. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), April 2025. No guarantee of accuracy.
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