Changing Careers

Whether you are looking to make a slight shift in your career direction or want to effect a more dramatic career change, there are many things to consider.

It’s unusual to make a direct lateral or upward move when you switch careers. (In other words, mid-level attorneys rarely immediately become mid-level screenwriters.) It’s more likely that your first job in a new career will be a lower step onto a different ladder.

This investment may be the proverbial one step back to take two steps forward, or it may be an actual investment in training or education, like in AI, that will position you to make your desired career change. Either way, this investment will clearly demonstrate to potential employers that you are committed to this new direction and they will be more inclined to take you seriously.

Grow Your Network

Changing careers often means changing your personal identity, and that can require changing your immediate circle of contacts to include people who were not previously part of your network. Hang out and associate with people who you want to be like, not the ones you are most comfortable with. In today’s market, the majority of jobs are found through networking. Having a strong network leads to the possibility of more opportunities. If you’re making a career transition, it is likely your network needs to expand to align with your career interests, as well.

Understand Your Transferable Competencies

Understand the top five competencies required for your desired career and be able to describe yourself and your experience in those terms. Show employers how your competencies are completely transferable to the job for which you are interviewing (even if they never ask you directly!). Doing so will reduce your perceived risk as a candidate in the employer’s eyes. Job descriptions are the blueprint for understanding what skills, experiences, and competencies matter in a role. Schedule an appointment with an Alumni Career Services coach to help articulate your transferable skills and career story.

Accentuate the Positives

Talking about how your last career was boring or a mismatch is not very enticing to your potential employer. Cull some positives from your last experience, describe them, and then talk about how you’d like to build your career going forward. For example, “My career as a CPA allowed me to interact with clients at a senior level, which I enjoyed very much. I am now looking to apply my analytical skills to a more creative endeavor, while still putting my client skills to use.” Your story should have a forward focus. It should be logical and demonstrable why you’re interested in and qualified to make the change. If not, your next steps should be focused on bridging your career moves.