Are you looking for a new opportunity for growth or seeking a new challenge in your career? Do you want a more flexible work schedule and better benefits? Whether you're exploring new industries, pursuing your passion, or adapting to changes after a layoff, navigating a career change involves several steps to ensure a smooth transition.
While there may be many different reasons or extenuating factors involved with transitioning into a different career field, there are some common elements involved with the process that require thoughtful planning, networking, skill evaluation, and development.
Assess Your Motivation & Define Your Goals
Before you change careers, it is important to assess your motivation for why you are transitioning careers and understand what is driving the change. Is it dissatisfaction in your current role, a desire for a better work-life balance, or a shift in your interests or passions? Or possibly you are looking for more opportunities for growth, craving a new challenge, or simply desire a different work environment. Transitioning careers can be a rewarding but challenging journey, and understanding your motivation for change and what you desire in your next role will help guide your decisions.
Research Your Desired Career Field
When looking to transition into a different industry, it is important to research the field you want to enter by learning about the trends, challenges, and growth potential. This can be done by looking at job descriptions to better understand the qualifications, skills, and experiences required for the positions.
It is important to understand the landscape and climate in the new industry and think about how you can apply your previous work experience in a new way. For example, if you are transitioning into marketing, highlight any project management or communication roles you may have had in the past. You can also network with people who are already in your desired field who can offer advice, feedback, and possibly even job leads. Consider setting up informational interviews to learn more about their experiences and advice to better inform your options and subsequent decisions.
Develop a Plan to Gain Experience
To better market yourself in your new career field, consider options like side projects or freelancing opportunities to gain relevant experience. You can achieve this through part-time projects or volunteer opportunities in your new field to gain hands-on experience. These activities can serve as steppingstones into the new field, especially if you are transitioning to a vastly different industry.
Consider Continuing Education or Certification
Depending on your new desired career field, you might need to explore additional training opportunities that can be crucial for entering the field. For example, you can take leveling courses to increase your relevant knowledge or pursue industry certifications to boost your credentials and improve your marketability. Platforms, such as Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning, offer flexible options to build your expertise. Additionally, UMGC offers several certificates that may boost your marketability.
Build Your Network
Networking is something that can be done whether you are looking to transition into a new career field or if you simply want to grow within an existing field. Ways to network are to participate in industry-related events or meetups, conferences, or online webinars to meet professionals who can help guide or mentor you. You can establish new connections and meet industry experts through UMGC’s Community Connect network. There is also the option of leveraging your existing connections on LinkedIn or reaching out to previous mentors for guidance.
Update Your LinkedIn Profile
Start assuming the new career identity that you want and update your LinkedIn profile to emphasize your career transition and new goals. Adjust your headline, summary, and experience sections to reflect the direction you are headed. Utilize Aspire, found within CareerQuest, to improve and update your LinkedIn profile. Be explicit and do not expect anyone to read between the lines. This is the time to be confident and deliberate!
Tailor Your Resume to Prepare for the Job Search
When updating your resume, focus on your transferable skills and experiences that are relevant to the new field, even if they were part of previous roles or volunteer activities. Focus on how your skills will benefit the company and how your experience aligns with the job requirements. In essence, be sure to highlight your accomplishments that align best with the new field.
UMGC Career Services partners with VMOCK, which is an excellent resource you can use to refine your resume. The Resume SMART Editor can help to create, add, or improve the content of your resume. Then, the Resume Optimization tool can assist you in tailoring your resume to a specific job description.
Craft a compelling cover letter and explain why you’re making the change, your passion for the new field, and how your skills will contribute to success in the new role. Apply for positions that match your skill set, even if they're a bit below your current role. This will help you enter the industry with the possibility to advance.
Be Open to Starting at a Lower Level
Be realistic and keep in mind that you may not be able to transition laterally into a new position. You may need to start a step or two below your current position and then work your way back up and beyond! For example, in some career transitions, you may need to start in a more junior position than you were in your previous role. This move should be viewed as a new start that gives you a chance to learn and build experience in the new field and not a demotion.
Stay Persistent and Adaptable
Manage your own expectations, expect setbacks, and stay flexible. The transition process may take time. Do not get discouraged by rejection or a slower-than-expected job search. A career transition may mean a period of reduced income or a potential salary drop as you gain experience. If possible, plan your finances to support this shift.
Be open to changing your approach or pursuing roles that you hadn’t initially considered. Stay positive and patient. Career transitions require time, effort, and resilience. Career paths are rarely linear, and being adaptable can help you find the right fit. By following these steps and staying focused on your goal, you can successfully transition to a new career that aligns with your interests and aspirations.
Raelynn F. Grasso is a Career Advising Specialist at the University of Maryland Global Campus and Adjunct Psychology Professor. She has experience leading and providing individual, group, and career counseling as well as executing and developing programs to enhance college student enrichment. Ms. Grasso’s areas of research include career decision-making, epistemic cognition, self-efficacy, and college student development. She holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Utah, a M.S. and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, both from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
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