- Career changers need to break some rules.
Typically, if we start to think about changing careers,
one of the first strategies that comes up is retraining.
Now, of course, this is one possible pathway.
It can be effective to study
a new and relevant qualification
within the field you want to get into,
then networking and leveraging this qualification
to make yourself more attractive to employers.
Some industries will, of course, require qualification,
but bear in mind
that a lot of industries value experience as much,
if not more, than qualifications.
So be mindful of committing to a long and expensive degree
to make sure that it's absolutely relevant.
Perhaps someone inside the industry
will be able to tell you if your situation,
a degree would be crucial.
If not, consider taking short courses or online courses
to increase your understanding of industry lingo
and bolster your CV.
However, it's not always the case
that we have to go back to university
and start from ground zero.
Depending on what the change is,
there are a number of other things you can do.
As a young career changer,
you may not have all the relevant experience
associated with your new career.
This means that some of the traditional ways
of applying for jobs, seeing a posting,
sending an email with CV or a cover letter,
may not be as effective
as if you were making a dramatic career change.
You have to get creative and break the rules.
Something to also consider is the rule of three.
There are three things you can change
when it comes to careers:
company, industry, and role.
Changing all three in one fell swoop is possible,
but consider that you may have to do one at a time
to get to where you need to go.
Perhaps you could do the same role,
but in an industry you want to pivot into
then move from within.
You want to be an operations manager
in the food and drink industry,
but you're an account manager in sport.
Maybe you can start by applying
for account management in food and drink
and network to make a shift once you're in,
or perhaps you move companies
because a different organization has more of the roles
that you're looking for.
Fundamentally, you need to be strategic
depending on your situation.
Put your investigation hat on.
Think about where you are and where you want to get to.
What would be the two to three moves you could make
to land where you want to go?
Perhaps an insider in the sector
could help you with a strategy from their perspective.
So with this in mind,
consider what three strategic steps you might take
to make it into your next career.