Making a career change can be intimidating. Many people who daydream about switching careers never go through with it because of their fears and anxieties. However, with proper preparation, it is entirely possible to make a career switch.
- See Critical Steps to Career Change Success for more information.
The key lies in convincing your interviewer that the skills you have are transferable and will benefit your new employer. As Kathryn Sollmann, an expert on women’s career change issues, says, “You can change industries when you connect the dots.”
So how do you connect the dots?
First, you need to do thorough research on your desired field of work and identify common themes between it and your current work. Make a chart if you have to—often, a visual display of such themes helps tremendously. This will also help you figure out which of your achievements you should focus on during your interview. Essentially, you have to look at your experience through the eyes of your new employer, and explain how it is useful to him or her.
What else do you need to do to make a career switch? Research and networking are essential to changing your career. These practices will help you further convince the interviewer that your skills are a match for the company. One way to do so is to search on LinkedIn for individuals in your desired field, and see if they’ll spend 15 minutes on the phone with you to provide insight into their fields of work. Prepare a list of questions for these calls. For example, you should ask about their areas of expertise, the desired backgrounds of new employees, and if they know anyone from a different industry who works in the field.
Of course, as there are steps that should be taken, there are also steps that should not be taken when seeking to make a career switch. Monster lays out some of these career-changing no-nos:
First of all, don’t simply make a career switch because a certain field is popular. Such a practice may quickly lead to burnout and a lack of satisfaction with one’s work. Instead, take the time to thoroughly research your options and figure out what you may actually enjoy doing.
Similarly, don’t pick a certain field just because your buddy has made a fortune in it. What works for one person may not work for another. Make sure your expectations are realistic, and speak with several individuals about the nature of the field.
Before you shell out tens of thousands of dollars for another degree, make sure you understand what you’re getting into with a new career. Look for volunteer experience or even a contract assignment that will let you see what it is really like to work in a certain field.
Finally, you won’t make this switch overnight. A career switch should be completed slowly and deliberately. In many cases, it may take a year or longer to adequately research one’s options and look into a new career.
Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2016/01/25/how-to-wow-a-job-interviewer-when-changing-careers/#18ab2b0c5a53
Source: http://career-advice.monster.com/career-development/changing-careers/10-worst-career-change-mistakes/article.aspx
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