Searching for a career change

Anonymous

October 23,2023 at 8:28PM UTC

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Searching for a career change

I am looking to make a career change - my career has always been in recruiting - from recruiter to senior recruiter to recruiting manager. I have 30 + years of experience in this space and now I am looking to change careers using my transferable skills.

I am at a lost as I don't know exactly what I want to do. I have thought about my own recruiting business (which would be different from what I have been doing) but fear that it might not be sustainable on a long term basis or a bit risky. This is a bit tough for me as all I know lies in the recruiting space, and I have good leadership skills.

Any insights or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

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Helen HensellOctober 23,2023 at 9:16PM UTC
Yeah it's hard to transition, no matter your age. I might be able to help - message me & I'll direct you to a few resources
Barb HansenOctober 24,2023 at 12:07AM UTC
Sounds like you have serious recruiting chops (experience).
Have you considered exploring working at tech companies that build software for recruiting firms? There are plenty of roles that would fit your deep experience, depending on what you want to do next in your career.
Roles in sales/sales support, account management, program management, and customer services (for software companies in the recruiting / HR space) are all great options for someone with career experience who want to try something new (without returning to formal education or learning new hard skills). Product management is also an option but most (if not all) product jobs require some new hard skills.
Good luck in your transition. You've got this!
AnonymousOctober 25,2023 at 1:52PM UTC
I'm in the same boat, except for marketing. If you discover the secret to successfully transitioning, please do share it with me.
It's funny how these types of questions attract a horde of "career coaches" who seem to crawl out of the woodwork. There seems to be an abundance of them lately.
AnonymousOctober 25,2023 at 1:53PM UTC
I transitioned from 1 industry to another, then got laid off due to budget cuts. That said I am now interviewing in the new filed rather than my older field( which I have 20 yrs experience) because of this 1 job. My recommendation is to reach out to professionals in a field you may be interested in and have informational interviews. Ask why they are in that field, how long, etc… this way you make connections w/o asking for a job upfront. More people will be willing to speak with you that way. It worked for me( I did this during covid ) good luck
AnonymousOctober 25,2023 at 4:49PM UTC
Its tough out there now for experienced people in the talent space, reinventing yourself for maybe project management could be a good idea if you can find a company willing to take you on in that role. Agencies right now are starving and unless you like constantly selling yourself it is probably not the right move. Good luck.
Grisel Scarantino, Career and Work-Life Fulfillment CoachOctober 26,2023 at 2:29PM UTC
You're right, there is risk associated with starting your own business. There is a steep learning curve and until your business grows a bit, you're wearing all the hats. It's a lot of heavy lifting at first, but over time, it gets easier and you get to steer what you do or don't do.
I recommend you chat with other self-employed recruiters to gain insights from their experience. Then, give yourself the intentional time and space to consider whether you can envision yourself being happy as an independent business owner.
With that said, how are you defining "career change?" Are you wanting to harness all of the wonderful skills and experiences you've amassed in your recruiting career and apply them in a different profession? Or does "career change" mean you want to continue working in the recruiting space but do it differently?
The truth is, 30 years into your career, you have more options available to you than you might think. I specialize in helping seasoned professionals navigate a career crossroads. If you're interested in having a chat, check out my profile here on FGB and schedule a complimentary call. That will give us a chance to talk more about your situation and I can share some insights that will help you.
Megan McKeeverOctober 26,2023 at 3:39PM UTC
If you are looking for something outside of the box that maybe you haven't even considered as an option- you may want to take an interest profiler or aptitude test. Onet (My next move) offers one free, but you can also find a provider that will offer a CareerScope assessment that also looks at aptitude and may give you some ideas in fields you haven't previously considered.