3 tips for changing careers

You may have heard the adage, "It's better to look for a job when you already have one." While this may make you feel more secure in the job search, job searching is a job in itself and it can be difficult to juggle a full-time job, non-work responsibilities, and looking for a new job.

According to a recent study, approximately “70% of all working-age people are actively looking for a job change,” with many considering leaving their current industry or profession entirely. 

There are many reasons why you may belong to this statistic, whether you feel burned-out or unappreciated in your current role or have found that your passions/interests have changed since you first started in the professional world. You may simply be interested in what opportunities are out there. You can mark your LinkedIn as "open to work" for specific positions - but only visible to recruiters. Take their call and learn about the position, and get to know them, and even if the job isn't a fit for you right now, you may know someone in your network that you can refer.

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

identify your transferable skills

One of the easiest ways to boost your chances of getting a job is by identifying (and utilizing) your transferable skills - these are non-technical skills and soft skills that transfer between industries. Examples include project management, oral and written communication skills, problem solving, analytical reasoning, leadership...so on and so forth. These skills are difficult to teach, so if you come in with the experience that has afforded you these skills, employers are more likely to hire you and be happy to train you on the relevant technical skills you lack. 

Match your transferable skills with those listed in the job description, and have the keywords reflect in your resume. Be prepared to provide examples via the STAR method during interviews.

consider your interests

If you feel burnt out within your specific industry, but don't know what you want to do instead, spend an afternoon brainstorming things you enjoy and things you don't. What is it in your current job you don't like? What would the opposite be? No answer is too out of the box. 

For example, if you're tired of working in the same place and want to travel, you may want to look at hazmat trucking jobs. If you spend all day working at the computer and want more human interaction, maybe working as a customer service agent or at a call center would give you the interaction you crave.

pursue additional training

Sometimes, you'll need to look into additional training to acquire the skills required to land your dream job or get your foot through the door in a competitive industry. Sometimes transferable skills aren't enough for a company to risk giving you a shot, or maybe they don't have the resources to train you in those skills. 

For example, some roles may require specific qualifications before you can apply for jobs. While this can be disheartening - especially if you want to start a new role right away - it's important to note just how many doors will open for you once you’ve obtained these qualifications. 

Look up common certifications for the job industry you're looking at, and how you can attain it. How long does it take, how much does it cost, and are the courses online, in person, etc. If a certification can only be obtained after having a certain amount of time on the job, you can communicate your awareness of the field during screening interviews by mentioning your interest in pursuing that certification.