Have You Caught the Career Transition Bug?
Photo by Christina Morillo from Pexels
With the ongoing Great Resignation, many professionals are quitting their jobs to enter a new field that aligns with their true passions and interests. Many professionals are also looking for better workplace culture and employers that show they value their employees. Some of the most popular industries people are transitioning to include tech, healthcare, real estate, and marketing.
Changing careers can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience for many. Having to tune up your resume, prep for interviews, and adjust to a new work environment can initially seem overwhelming. However, these career moves can be worthwhile once you land a position you genuinely enjoy.
If you’re planning to switch careers, use the following tips to transition into a new job successfully.
Find your “why”
Take the time to think about why you want a career change. Do you want a better work-life balance? Are you no longer able to move up at your job? Does the job no longer align with your interests? Or are you just wanting to step out of your comfort zone? Once you compile a list of solid reasons to switch careers, you’ll have a more precise idea for what you’re looking for in a new profession.
Discover your transferable skills
Identifying your transferable skills is a significant aspect of transitioning into a new career. They’re you’re currency in this case! These skills can help you enter a new industry where you may not have much or any relevant work experience but still have the skills to succeed in your position. A few examples of transferable hard and soft skills include:
Adaptability
Coaching
Customer Service
Database Management
Leadership
Problem-Solving
Project Management
Research and Planning
Social Media
Time Management
Written Communication
You can include transferable skills on your resume in a bullet point format and add them within your job descriptions for your previous work experiences.
This is where it’s a good idea to pull out the brainstorming pad! Ask yourself:
What are the top five skills that you think your new profession requires?
Which of these skills can you demonstrate that you have already? Think beyond your day job as well, you might have a passion project or volunteer work that relates to your new profession perfectly. The points where you find overlap are where you should focus.
What new skills might I need to develop? Don’t be afraid to receive more training if there’s a skill you feel you could develop to be more competitive in a new field.
Research the industry
Before you rush head first into clicking “Apply Now” on a job opening, research the industry and the companies you’re interested in. You may believe a career in marketing seems super exciting, but if you’re not a fan of social media or a “people person,” this field may not fit your interests. Spend a few hours each week studying your ideal industry by looking at job descriptions, salary expectations, and employee reviews to understand your future career better. Our career insights tool is perfect for doing this kind of research.
Network with other professionals
Networking is an excellent way to explore new careers and get advice from other professionals. For example, as you think about transitioning into a new line of work, you can speak with someone from the industry or a specific role you’re interested in to gain insight.
Here are a few ways you can network:
Attend an in-person or virtual networking event
Subscribe to your local news and online magazines and regularly check event websites like Eventbrite to find upcoming networking events. These events are a great way to mingle with other professionals to learn more about any industry you are interested in. Be sure to bring copies of your resume or CV and business cards that you can share with others at these networking events.
Create (or update) your LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn is the professional networking hub of the World Wide Web. If you haven’t already, you must create an account on LinkedIn to display what you offer as a professional. You can share your work experience and skills, find job opportunities, and reach out to recruiters. Optimizing your profile is the best way to potentially attract recruiters.
Do an informational interview
Speaking of LinkedIn, this is a great forum for connecting with professionals who might be interested in doing an informational interview with you. Most of the time, how a profession appears from the outside looking in is just one dimension of a job. Informational interviews can help you get an idea of the scope of a career you’re interested in. If there’s someone out there doing exactly what you envision for yourself, connecting with them is a great idea.
Join career groups on Facebook
While Facebook is great for sharing pictures of your vacation and beloved pets, it’s also another way to network with professionals. You can join thousands of groups that focus on specific industries or professions. In these groups, you’ll get career tips, discover job opportunities, and possibly make new friends with similar career goals.
Visit career fairs
What better way to learn about a profession than a career fair? Whether in person or virtual, a career fair puts you directly in touch with recruiters looking to hire new talent for their companies. If there’s a specific company you’d like to work for, visit their website to see if they have upcoming hiring or career events.