How to Change Careers: Positioning Yourself Before You Risk The Change

Looking around for how to change careers? Most of our clients are overwhelmed by the thought of making a career transition when they first reach out to us. No matter if it’s a lateral change within the same industry or a jump to a new industry entirely, any sort of change can be daunting. Some common career shifts include moving from academia to the private sector, and transitioning to a different field of study. It can feel as though any part of a change can force a professional to start all over and lose a lot of progress on their career path. While learning new things will usually be part of the career transition process, you don’t have to completely abandon your previous skills and knowledge once you change careers.

When it comes down to it, why are you interested in making a career change? Are you interested in making more money or are you seeking new and different challenges? Regardless of your motivation, preparing for a career change can take a lot of time and energy. Here are some tips on how to successfully position yourself for a career change!

Get clear on your new job target

Once you are sure that you want to make a shift in your career, research everything you can about how to change careers to the new environment, possible job responsibilities, and what industry the new company is in. Are there any new skills, certifications, or training that you need to look into? Think about interested you in the first place about this new position. What makes you feel like you could thrive in these positions even though you might not have much professional experience? Searching online for the current job outlook for the position you want and the common career development options can be helpful when charting your path. Finally, check a few job postings online to get an idea on how to target the roles you want.

Edit or redo your resume

Regardless of all the technology that we have today, your resume is still one of the most vital parts of your job search strategy when going about on how to change careers. The best resumes tell your story and background in a clear and concise way. Compelling resumes also demonstrate your impact and allow the prospective company to connect the dots on how you might be able to help them. When targeting a new position, editing your resume is usually ideal so you can highlight your skills and position yourself as a viable candidate. Shine a light on your transferable skills and include the right keywords necessary for the new job you want.

Prepare yourself to discuss the change in an interview

How do you plan discuss your career transition? Why do you want to make a change at this point in your career? What about your background or skills makes you a good fit for the role? These types of questions can be difficult enough to answer for yourself. During an interview, they can be even harder! Consider practicing responses to these potential questions with a colleague or coach. Go back and review the job postings you researched during your how to change career considerations earlier. Think about how you can link in your past experience with what the role is looking for.

Network in new environments

Networking can be vital when you’re planning to make a career change. Do you only know people from your position and industry? Attending events for the new industry or position can help you meet professionals who are already where you’d like to be. Joining professional associations for the development of careers is another way to get exposure to the new career you’re targeting. taking part in conversations regarding the position you want can also help you make sure that it would be a good fit. Networking is another way to enhance your job search, because you never know which company might be hiring for the role you want.

Learning how to change careers can seem intimidating and time consuming. However, with these steps, you can maximize your efforts and decrease time spent trying to secure the new role! Getting clear on the new job you want to focus on and redoing your resume to target those roles are just the start. Once completed, you can then prepare yourself to discuss the career change openly and in an interview. Finally, networking in new places, where professionals who are already in the positions you want frequent is a good idea to build your support group and to get more insight into the role and industry. What area of a career change do you need to work on the most?

Fly High Coaching is always here to help you get started on your career change. We work with you through all aspects, from initial career coaching to interview help to get you ready. Contact us today to get started. P.S. Check out our FREE SMART Job Seeker’s Guide to get a head start on your career change!