With many companies making layoffs right now, the time is perfect to launch into a new career. Daunting, scary and something you've always wanted to do. The best ideas during times of RIF and redundancy have come out of layoffs. Explore what you are passionate about. Where your knowledge is or what you want to learn about. Engage with that space. Contribute and learn. Ask questions and network. Talk to those who know you well. Family, friends colleagues past and present. Ask them what your strengths are, what you are great at. Don't ask what they think about you - just what they feel your strongest self is. Know what you 'want to be famous for'. Follow it with energy and passion. The rest will follow.
It doesn't matter if you are going from a pastry chef to an astronaut, every job, every volunteer experience, every class taken, has provided you with a skill that you can bring to another sector of your life. Find those skills from your past experiences and highlight them on your resume and cover letter. If you are having trouble finding these transferable skills try reviewing job posts you are interested in and see what skills are listed on the job posting that you have. A lot of the time a little creativity is all you need.
Having a professional network in your new industry before you make the transition will give you access to more opportunities when you’re ready to make the switch, and your resume is likely to get more serious consideration from hiring managers if you’re referred or recommended by someone connected to the company. This is often a big hurdle for those switching careers since they don’t have experience in the industry, which can make it a challenge to compete with applicants who are already established in the field. You can kill two birds with one stone by attending workshops, conferences, trade fairs, or certification courses that help you gain the skills and knowledge you’ll need in the new industry while making connections with other professionals.
The space in time when you are on the brink of launching in to a new career is incredibly special. It is a pivotal point where you have this rare view of where you've been, where you are now, and can see a wide view of what could be next. You have both the benefit of hindsight (to learn from), the benefit of aversion (to understand what isn't working), and the benefit of motivation (to understand what drives you and what you really value). This window is temporary, and it's unlikely that you'll remember it all when you make a decision and are 1 year in to your new career. So, write it all down. Write down answers to why you did what you've done already, what worked, what didn't, what you learnt. Write down how you feel right now, what sensations arise for you when you think of change, what feels important to do differently. Write down what want to take with you for your next chapter and what outcomes you'd love to achieve. Take stock, and enjoy reflecting on your journey in a year!
Upskilling offers a significant advantage in the modern labor market. Launching a new career is hard. The barrier to entry is often difficult to overcome and this especially true for individuals who have spent a considerable amount of time in a career they would like to leave behind. These individuals could have plenty of experience but it may not be relevant to another industry. Employers are mostly considered by this fact. Individuals should want to obtain new skills before they enter a new career for a better chance of success. Getting more formal education can be expensive, but other methods are available. Bootcamps are available for a variety of information economy skill sets such as marketing, coding, sales and graphic design. Upskilling presents a significant advantage for individuals who are looking to enter a new career.
One strategy that a lot of people employ when wading into a totally new area is to fake it until they make it. In other words, they pretend to know a lot more about the industry and role than they do in reality. In my opinion, this is a terrible technique for breaking into a new vertical and gaining the trust of new team members. It is a much smarter play to own your lack of expertise and show some humility, while at the same time expressing your passion to learn and gain experience. People, especially managers, will respect you more for being humble and genuine than feigning expertise. Most people are smart enough to be able to see right through a phony. Plus, when you try the “fake it till you make it” approach, it just takes one tough question or misstatement to expose you. Don't run the risk - just town your inexperience and be cool about it.
A good starting point is your resume. Rewrite it as a skills-based document instead of a chronological listing of your previous experience. Consider a personal website where you introduce yourself with a YouTube video. Create short video case studies highlighting your problem solving prowess that will help you succeed in your new profession. Your goal is reinforcing the fact you have the skills to succeed in a new career and previous job titles aren't significant. Finally, mentally prepare yourself to be looked at like you're applying for your first “real” job because that’s how many prospective employers will see you.
There’s going to be a lot to learn as you begin your journey into a new career. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from a manager, coworker, or anyone else. Reach out to other professionals in your desired to career on LinkedIn and other business networking platforms—be sure to briefly explain why you’re looking to make a transition and ask well thought out questions—it shows that you are proactive, resourceful, and an effective communicator.
Consider getting a certification related to your new field of interest. These certifications will not only give you something impressive to put on your resume, but gaining them also helps to familiarize you with all the knowledge you'll need to succeed in your new field. Some jobs like programming may appreciate very specific types of certification. There are also many in-demand, more generalized certifications that span several types jobs. If you're looking to improve your chances of success in a new career path, becoming certified in a related skill is a great way to get a running start.
Find a mentor in your chosen field and pick their brain for as much information as possible. By assiduously doing this, you can learn the ropes quicker and launch your new career with a bit more confidence.
Find Volunteer and freelance opportunities related to your target career to test your interest. Hands-on work is also a great way to gain experience that employers might be looking for; it looks great on your resume. Upwork is one source of freelance projects across many industries that is worth checking out. For volunteer opportunities, check out Taproot, a foundation that allows you to share your skills and expertise with nonprofits for a variety of projects.
Talk to people who have a career that you are interested in. By getting first-hand insight into what the pros and cons are as well as what it takes to succeed in this career, you can get a head start on knowing how to navigate it rather than having to learn these things the hard way. Starting a new career is already stressful enough, so if you can learn as much about what it's really like before you start, you will be doing yourself a favor.
Think about what values are most important to you and what value you can bring to the table. After years of working tirelessly in the fashion industry, I launched a new career with UnHide to provide consumers with a softer way of living and empower them to feel at ease in their homes. Combining your values with authentic and emotional branding can provide you with fresh ideas that can make a tremendous impact on your career and industry.
Regardless of whether you're diving into a new industry or simply seeking out your very first job, some skills are always transferrable and can boost your chances of making a great impact. Being an efficient communicator certainly tops this list, especially in a day and age where businesses are slowly transitioning to remote and hybrid work models. The success of such organizations depends on how well their teams collaborate and deliver results, regardless of their location. And without good communication skills — this simply isn't possible.
Networking is just as crucial as learning when stepping into a new career – find a community frequented by industry-related professionals. For example, if you're looking to start a career in marketing, find an interactive certificate program or after-work social group for marketing professionals. The fastest way to master a skill and get where you need to go is through connections.
First and foremost, you need to prepare well for the most crucial step, choosing the proper direction of your career. In order to make sure you're doing that in the best possible way, you should focus on your hobbies and interests because those are the directions you're searching for. It is everyone's dream to have their hobbies become their jobs - and that's what you should be looking for right now. By doing so, you will no longer treat your career as work but as something, you feel passionate about - and that's a priceless feeling. However, remember that you will experience good and bad days, successes and failures in every job, but doing what you like is the most significant advantage. Even those bad times won't demotivate you.
The biggest hurdle into starting a new career is making sure that you have the needed skills to succeed in it. Thankfully, there are some jobs out there that offer apprenticeships. You can think of an apprenticeship as a longer term more comprehensive version of an internship. You'll have the chance to work and learn directly under an active professional while also being paid for your time. Not every type of job offers apprenticeships, but it never hurts to look for them, or similarly structured learn while working programs. Apprenticeship experiences are a great segue from one working career into another without risking your finical safety.
When you’re looking to start on a new career path, speaking with those in the industry or field you’re interested in is the best way to get insight into what it actually entails and takes to get your foot in the door. This is a way for you to ask questions and see if this is really the right fit for you. You can do as much research as you want on a specific career, but you may gain the most understanding from someone who is working in that field. If you want to dive deeper, they may be able to introduce you to their network as well and connect you with potential employers.
Reach out to professionals you know working in that industry before quitting your current job. There are elements of risk in every upheaval— time & money being chief among them. However, networking on LinkedIn can ensure a more sustainable career transition as you reach out to those in hiring positions and relate the value your experience, skills, and knowledge offer to their company. Communicating your interest in making a big career change now can set you up better for crossing over to your dream job further down the road.
One great tip is to network with people in your desired field. Join industry groups and attend events where you can meet people who work in your desired career. Ask them how they got started, what their day-to-day work is like, and what skills they would recommend you develop to make yourself more marketable. These interactions can give you a realistic idea of what it will be like to work in this field and help you identify any gaps in your knowledge or experience.