Standing Out During an Interview When Changing Careers

Congratulations, you landed an interview! It’s usually exciting for most executives and professionals when they secure a phone or in-person interview. It can be even more thrilling when you’re new to the industry, or you are changing careers because your hard work is starting to pay off. Before you can even enter a company’s door for an interview, your resume must set you apart from other candidates and have the right keywords to get past the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), technology screening software. We’ve examined calling attention to your transferable skills on your CV or resume in past posts.

At this stage, you need to understand how to handle yourself in an interview setting so that the hiring manager is ready to offer you the job. When you don’t have much experience within the field or for the position you’re targeting, it’s easy to feel a lack of confidence. Doing research will help you become more knowledgeable about the industry and identify ways to correlate your experience within the field. Here are some tips for selling yourself in an interview when you are changing careers and new to the industry!

Focus On Your Skills

Since you got an interview, the internal hiring team believes you are a serious candidate. During the interview, you want to affirm that you are an excellent fit for the position, despite your lack of job experience in the new industry. In a way, you want to make a connection for the interviewer to support your candidacy by discussing your transferable skills. These general talents and abilities can be applied to a new role. Transferable skills are necessary for various positions. Some examples that could be useful in different parts are communication (written and verbal), planning, strategizing, project management, presenting, research, data analysis, and problem-solving.

Mention a Few Accomplishments Naturally in Conversation

During an interview, it’s essential to stand out from the other applicants for the role. Most people quietly answer the questions that are asked of them without much forethought. It’s a good idea to list your past accomplishments that showcase your knowledge, mastery, and success with a transferable skill. Be sure to include scenarios where you were part of a team responsible for a positive result. Outline the background information involving the conditions of each achievement and commit it to memory. Ideally, you want to find critical times throughout the interview to mention your achievements as answers to questions. This is helpful because you can note your successes without coming across as bragging.

Ask Thought-Provoking Questions

Based on your background research before your interview, at least about the company, you should have a couple of questions. How do they rank against their competition? What are their main differentiating factors from other companies in their field? You can ask about the organization’s recent changes or any new focus areas. Inquiring about the more profound subject matter can show the interviewer that you are well versed in the organization and thoughtful with your questions. Also, you can ask the interviewer more subjective questions about their experience with the organization.

Interviewing is uncomfortable for many executives and professionals, regardless of their situations. If you are trying to land your first role in an industry, the thought of an interview can be even more overwhelming. Instead of worrying about the experience that you don’t have, focus on discussing your transferable skills when changing careers. How can your previous knowledge and abilities apply to this new job opportunity? Mentioning accomplishments and critical contributions from the past within the conversation, helps you to be more memorable and reinforces your transferable skills. Finally, asking thought-provoking questions shows your interviewer that you are prepared and seriously considering the role. What is one thing you could do to sell yourself better during an interview?

At Fly High Coaching, our goal is to help you soar to your full potential! We can help you identify key skills and how to put these skills on a resume.  Reach out to us today to get started on your resume makeover. Do you already have an interview scheduled? Check out our Ace the Interview Guide to make sure you’re prepared!