About me: I’m a librarian in my 30s. I have a few/basic training in IT (html,php, sql) but barely practiced. Lately, the most IT (if at all) I’ve been doing is tinkering with automation in Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 (self-study). Although that’s not really part of my JD and since I’m not really trained in that area, there’s no documentation of some sort so I’m not sure about being able to put them in a portfolio of some sort.

My plans (somewhat): I’m probably giving myself a timeframe of 5 years to build myself up and/or transition to the IT industry? I’m considering getting a master’s degree in IT but I’m guessing that’s not enough. I’m anticipating I’ll need some certifications, trainings, and experience (after getting the degree or maybe even before applying for the degree).

My questions: What are some starting points you would suggest for someone shifting careers to the IT industry? What certifications would you recommend and maybe where to look for them? And considering how wide the IT practice is, how do different IT subfields compare to each other (at least from your experience)?

Thanks in advance!