How To Successfully Transition Into A New Career Without Starting Over

You’ve thought about it a hundred times. Should you do it or should you not? Should you stick with what you know or take the leap towards something new.

And, you’ve decided: it’s finally time for a change, and not just a new job at a better company, but a whole new career in an entirely different industry.

So, now that the decision is final and you’ve set your eyes on the perfect role, how do you make the pivot without starting over? How do you show employers that you have what it takes to succeed in your new industry when you technically have zero to little experience in that particular field?

Change Your Story

So, what is your story? If you want to successfully change careers, you have to change your narrative. To get any position you want, you have to package your experience in a way that resonates with the hiring manager and company. It’s not about flaunting all your experience. It’s about highlighting the most relevant elements of you, including your expertise and qualifications, that will make you an undeniable asset to your new company and role.

This is even more imperative when changing careers, because the accomplishments, jargon, clients and skills you used to boast about in your current industry may not fly with your new industry. You have to create a new brag box that emphasizes your value and showcases the unique perspective you bring from your previous roles and industry.

Identify Your Transferable Skills

But to change your story, you have to first know what you bring to the table. This is what we like to call transferable skills. These are the skills that may not look exactly like the skills you need to have for the position you want to do next, but have prepared you to do the role you desire to do next.

Some consider transferable skills to be soft skills, or general skills that everyone needs to be successful, such as communication, critical thinking, teamwork, leadership and multitasking.

But to truly stand out, you should take it a step further. Identify the top 3-5 specific skills you need to be successful in the specific position you desire. Then, think about the specific accomplishments in your