How To Market Yourself For A Career Change
I can see it so clearly… you have dug in deep and figured out that you want to make a career change. You identified what you want to do and what kind of companies you want to work in but now… you’re stuck. How the heck do you actually make the change?
The problem that most career changers face is that they are not looking forward as they develop their plan of attack. They are holding on to the past. But in order to market yourself for a career change, you have to always be looking forward and position yourself like you are already in that new place.
Here are four areas that I focus on to help achieve this:
What are you bringing with you in terms of transferable skills, strengths, and values?
Take inventory of what you currently have that could transfer to your new career. These are things like communication skills, project management, relationship building, problem-solving, etc. Getting clear on what you bring to a role will not only help you as you try to market yourself, but it will also help combat any feelings of imposter syndrome.
How are you presenting yourself? This includes all areas of your brand (resume, cover letter, and digital presence) and your messaging.
There is an old saying that you have to dress for the job you want, not the job you have. This principle applies here. If you have your eyes set on a certain industry or type of work, you have to “dress the part”. This means your brand needs to be targeted towards that role. What you talk about should be related to that role or industry. And your messaging should focus on your future rather than your past (i.e. talk about yourself in a way that you are already in that role).
What do you need to know (gaps in skills, knowledge, experience, etc.)?
One of the greatest ways to show a potential employer that you are serious about changing careers is to invest in it. I’m not meaning going back to school and burdening yourself with tens of thousands of debt. I mean invest time and energy (and maybe a few bucks) by going through training, certifications, and other education. This can be done through organizations like Skillshare, Udemy, or Coursera. While these are low-cost endeavors, they not only help build your skills and knowledge base but also show that you are ready to make the change.
The people you already know and need to know
There are two types of people you will target in networking: the people you know and people you WANT/NEED to know. Start by focusing on who you already know. Now, don’t limit yourself in terms of the obvious (the people you worked with in the past) while they are valuable, expand where you are looking. Think about the people you indirectly worked with (maybe an executive assistant or someone from another department), think of people that you know are killing it in their career, a person who is that well-connected, influential person. Even think about the people you interact with in your personal life. Do you go to the same coffee shop and know the owner? Do you have a group of friends at the gym? The people you know do not have to be in just a professional capacity.
Now the people you want to know. Get on LinkedIn and look up people who have the job title that you want to have or are working in the company/industry that you would like to. Reach out to them. Do informational interviews or simply “pick their brain”. Your goal is not to ask for a job here, your goal is to build a relationship based on a commonality and if you do it right, that person can be a connector (to another person, a job, etc.)
With any career change, you must embrace the opportunities for growth and learning, and stay resilient in the face of challenges. By strategically marketing yourself, you not only increase your chances of securing this new type of role but also set the foundation for a fulfilling and rewarding career. Now, armed with a clear vision and a well-crafted plan, go forth and make your mark on the path to a successful career change!