How to Make a Successful Career Change

Guide Note

Making a successful career change is at once a thrilling and intimidating prospect. With patience and persistent networking, you can find the opportunity that will re-energize you about work.

Table of Contents

Career Change Tips
  1. Research your target industry before making a switch to be sure it's a good fit.
  2. Try freelancing or working part-time while keeping your current job to gain relevant experience and be sure you'll be happy in a new field.
  3. Network, network, network to find friends and acquaintances who may be able to make helpful introductions.
  4. Rewrite your resume to attract future employers in your intended field.

Introduction

(Creative Commons photo by Mo Riza)
(Creative Commons photo by Mo Riza)

Step 1: Prepare for Change

  • You know you're ready to make a change, but you'll need to prepare carefully for a major career move.

Don't Make Any Sudden Moves

(Courtesy someecards.com)
(Courtesy someecards.com)
  1. You can plot your next move and perhaps even begin a new career while you're at your current job to minimize the risk of being unemployed and to be certain that the career you think is right for you truly is.
  2. Quitting impulsively will only create stress when you're trying to launch a new career and become worried about your income.
  3. But don't wait forever to make a change, either. If you know you want to make a career switch, even a faltering economy shouldn't deter your plans to find career nirvana.
  4. If you have family members relying on your income, you'll want to have a talk with them to explain why you want to make a career change. Remind them that if you're happy at work, you may be more pleasant around the house.
  5. You'll also want to plan carefully so that your future transition doesn't wreak havoc on your finances. Building up an emergency fund now can help you relax if your move doesn't at first go according to plan.

Determine What You Want to Do

  1. Think about what your passions are and follow them. If you're going to leave a secure job you've had for a while, you should do it for a good reason.
  2. And don't just think about what it is you want to be doing but why you want to be doing it.
  3. See Mahalo's guide to How to Choose a Career to focus your ideas.
  4. Then, consider your skill set. If you're generally happy using the skills you already know, simply switching industries may be a satisfying enough change.
  5. Do ample research by reviewing reference sources particular to your target industry.
  6. If you work for a large company, it's possible to change your entire focus under the same roof. You might want to let superiors know you're willing to take on extra projects in a new field so that you gain expertise before a position in that department becomes available.
  7. If you're certain you need to make a change but aren't sure what field is right for you, consider taking a vocational test like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or Monster.com's "Job Assets and Strengths Profiler."
  8. Focus on the long term: think about your ultimate career goal before you launch your first move so that the each step you take will lead you in the right direction.

Time to Network

  1. Try to find and connect with people who work in the industry you hope to work in. Set up meetings with them, however informal, to learn more about what they do and ask for advice about where you might logically fit.
  2. Ask the people in your network who they know in the area you're hoping to work in—then set up times to talk with those people. If each person you meet with suggests talking to another person who has more knowledge and experience in the field, you'll eventually find someone who will truly be able to help you make your move.
  3. If you don't know anyone in your target field, you might want to join a professional or trade organization to meet people who may be able to advise you about your plans.
  4. If you feel comfortable doing so, you might even want to talk to your boss about your professional goals, as she may see it in the company's best interest to help you grow and become a more valuable resource. If there's a possibility for a shift within your company, she may help you make that move.

Step 2: Refine Your Skills

(Creative Commons photo by Jeremy Keith)
(Creative Commons photo by Jeremy Keith)
  • A major career change may require you to fine-tune your skills or learn new ones.
  1. When you have a strong sense of the industry or position you want to move into, start looking for job listings on sites like Monster.com, Craig's List, or CareerBuilder.com to get a sense of what qualifications companies are looking for and what you'll need to do to prepare yourself to apply for those positions.
  2. You may need to take a course or go back to school to learn more about your intended field, and doing so in the midst of an economic downturn can be a great time to be back in school, especially if your current field is about to make major layoffs.
  3. You could also keep your current job and go to school at night or part-time until you've reached the level of proficiency required to make your career switch.
  4. You might learn more about a potential field of interest by freelancing or working part-time or as a contract professional.
  5. This way, not only will you be able to put relevant experience on your resume, you'll figure out through hands-on learning if this is really the right career move for you.
  6. Keep your current employer happy while you work extra hours elsewhere or else you'll be out of a primary income source.
  7. You may also want to check in with a career counselor who can help you prepare your job search and get ready for interviews.

Step 3: Start Your Search

(Photo by Bazil)
(Photo by Bazil)
  • Now that you have a better sense of the change you wish to make, it's time to begin searching and repackaging yourself to be attractive to new employers when sending out resumes and interviewing for positions.

Refocus Your Resume

  • Though you can't go back and add experience, you can market yourself to look attractive to a different set of employers.
  1. Focus your resume at your target field, even if your skills and experience remain the same.
  2. Think about how your particular skill set would be useful in a different context, and highlight achievements that would be transferable.
  3. When you're busy networking, be sure to ask about what hiring managers like to see on a resume in your target industry. Then be sure your resume reflects those skills.
  4. You might try writing what's called a "resume letter," which, like a cover letter, allows you to explain your skills rather then list them in typical resume format.
  5. You can also highlight volunteer experience or other relevant experience you've attained through a hobby or part-time work that prove you're a good fit for a new industry.
  6. See Monster.com's article about resumes for career changes for more specific pointers on how to structure and format your resume. Then see Mahalo's guide to How to Write a Resume for even more pointers.

Market Yourself Appropriately

  • Considering the deluge of applications many employers receive for a job opening, you'll want to make sure you can articulate your value even if you don't have industry experience.
  1. Be sure to highlight any experience you've had with a startup, a major merger, a relevant product launch or other potentially universal workplace experience so that a new employer will know you can help in the same kind of situation.
  2. Think about how the atmosphere at your previous workplaces may help you make a switch. If the new work environment is similar to where you've been before, it will be an easier transition. Startups, for example, will be glad to know you understand the hectic pace before even walking through the door.
  3. In order to get to this point, you've already thought carefully about why it is you want to switch careers. But you'll also need to be able to communicate what it is you're hoping to gain from a career change in an interview, so prepare your answer to this question ahead of time.
  4. It's also important to convey the idea that this is the industry you've decided is right for you, whether you're hired by this particular company or not. You don't want any potential employers to think that "if they don't hire you, you'll do something else."
  5. The perspective you take in your job search is crucial: your priority is to convince employers why they need you, and how your skill set will help them. It's not about how much you want to work for them but how invaluable you would be if hired.
  6. Don't forget the importance of a haircut and proper business attire to up your sense of professionalism. See Mahalo's guide to How to Dress for a Job Interview to learn more.

Conclusion

  • Changing careers can be a fulfilling experience if you've done your research and are able to support yourself while searching for the perfect opportunity to make the switch. Whether you're just starting out after a disappointing fit in your first job or are finally applying for your dream job after decades in a different industry, it's crucial to remain patient, knowing that a switch like this takes time. Keep talking with anyone who is willing to sit down with you about their thoughts on your skills and how they might translate to what you hope to do. Good luck with your search, and make sure to leave your current job on good terms!

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