Hello,
As a serial industry and career transition-er, I joined this group hoping to learn how to leverage past experience in a new career. I've personally only managed to ever change industries by starting over from scratch, leaving me certainly overqualified for most roles, and of course increasingly limited and frustrated with each new role.
If anyone has such stories, would you please share how you transitioned into a new career of your choosing by meaningfully leveraging your past experience?
Many thanks!
Anonymous
08/23/21 at 2:27AM UTC
Hi! I work for a female-founded start-up that helps professionals with career transitions like your talking about! Our programs help you define what field(s) would be a good fit and how to truly highlight your skillsets to find a career that fulfills you! Take this short quiz to see if our programs would fill your needs!
https://arcvida.typeform.com/to/wjWN56NF
Meaghan Wagner, Goal Guru Leadership Coach
Bringing Your Biggest, Boldest Ambitions to Life
137
08/19/21 at 4:19PM UTC
Totally hear you as a serial transitioner myself -- I started in book editing at Penguin Random House, moved into digital media at HBO and now run my own coaching practice.
In my experience, there's a certain synchronicity and kismet to the best career transitions that you just can't plan for (and I'm the GOAL Guru, so you *know* I love planning).
I recommend two key things to clients to help facilitate the luck and chance factors in a career/industry pivot:
1) Make a practice of focusing on what you enjoy about your work every day. Make a list at the end of the day of what you liked and why, and note anything you'd like to do more of.
2) Network with no expectation, and with something to offer. I met a client walking my dog on the beach, and connected with my HBO contacts at a friend's birthday party that I'd considered skipping. You can be stratigiec about trying to connect with folks in your target industry, but the bottom line is the more people you meet, and the more you can talk about the things you love, the more chance you have of attracting the job offer you never thought you needed.
Erin Thomas, Career + Leadership Coach Get your career into focus!
579
08/17/21 at 7:18PM UTC
I work with people who do this every day - and I have done it successfully, too.
Rather than focusing on the exact “skills” you have, focus on your “strengths” and then translate your strengths to the skills they are looking for (as well as your current skills).
In doing so, and focusing on these strengths in your resume, CL, networking and LinkedIn, the perspective employer will see how qualified you actually are.
Also, you’ll need to translate your old skills to the new skills, if you can.
To start, make two lists, one with your strengths and the other with your skills and notice the difference.
Example Strengths:
Strategic
Idea generator
Activator (gets stuff done)
Empathetic relationship builder
Example Skills:
Salesforce administrator
Project manager
Supervisory skills
Next, look at the functions of the new job and translate each of your strengths and current skills to tell the story that even though you may not have done exactly what they are looking for, you’ll be able to do it because it aligns with your strengths or you’ve done a skill in the past that translates.
Make sense?
Feel free to reach out if you’d like more support: www.careerandleadership coaching.com
Lana
106
08/18/21 at 8:04PM UTC
Erin, Thanks for your notes… This sounds nice.
I’ve tried it, I’ve participated in seminars/webinars, taken a course on the minutia of resumes and cover letters and positioning statements, branding, how and where to find jobs, when to apply, and follow up and how to interview prep. I’ve crafted that elevator pitch, done that networking, research, shared those business cards, written and re-written that resume, self reflected and done it all over again over the years. I've volunteered, and freelanced, and taken jobs just because "I might learn something new". I’ve tried by the book and found that, for me, for whatever reason, after years of struggle, I can honestly say that this method just does not work, for me. It’s some combination of variables I can’t quite identify, but I love that your clients have had success with it and that for some people there’s actually a formula that works. I’m just an outlier case and looking for fresh avenues. If anything non-traditional comes to mind, please do share! Thanks again
Erin Thomas, Career + Leadership Coach Get your career into focus!
579
08/19/21 at 7:36PM UTC
Sounds like there is definitely some sort of block or barrier that continues to keep you stuck. Happy to hop on a call to discuss if helpful.
Michelle PrinceI help people achieve their full potential
332
08/17/21 at 6:49PM UTC
Hi, I specialize in coaching women who want a career transition, so I can share lots of experience. Feel free to private message me and we can set up a time to speak.
Anonymous
08/17/21 at 6:02PM UTC
I got in the transportation industry 11 years ago by starting out as a logistics coordinator in a brokerage. Was grateful to learn the industry & that no day is ever the same. I grew into where I am now a Dispatcher/Transportation Coordinator loving what I do...If I can only find a company that is not using this Pandemic as an excuse to lay you off.....I like to work & make that $$$.
User deleted comment on 08/17/21 at 7:19PM UTC
Stephanie Mansueto, Corporate Recruiter & Job Hunting CoachRecruiter & Job Hunting Coach for Millennials
499
08/17/21 at 4:26PM UTC
If you're looking to change industries at the same level, you're most likely going to have to network your way in. It's harder to sell transferrable skills on paper and cold apply to jobs in an industry that may not know how your skills and experience translate to the sector. I've changed careers twice - one was by going back to school for a Master's and the other was by leveraging one function of my job into doing that full-time - recruitment. Recruitment of senior staff was part of my business development and program manager role in a previous job I held, so I was able to leverage my contacts into a full-time senior recruiter role. You'll need to identify companies you work for and deep dive into how your skills fit specific roles at that company. You should start setting up virtual coffees/info interviews with people at your target companies and see if your skills really are fit for a role there. Work on your elevator pitch because sometimes when people have a diverse set of skills and experiences they can go on tangents about how vast their experience is. Tailor your pitch for each of your info interviews. Good luck!
Lana
106
08/18/21 at 7:51PM UTC
Thanks Stephanie.
How did you decide what to do a Master's in, and which area you wanted to specialize in?
I took a "career clarity" course earlier this year, and as a result I seem to have succeed in spreading my thoughts even thinner than before. I was able to create a strengths statement though, and choose a target industry. Unfortunately, while cold outreaching on LinkedIn, I'm finding that the people count in these organizations tends to be so low! I also don’t see much diversity of experience on pages I’ve visited, and I’ve gotten no responses from individuals in interesting-sounding roles despite return page views…
In contrast, cold outreaching in areas I've previously worked in has a better success rate. The downside is that I’d left those areas because I felt burned out by a lack of opportunity/inability to progress, so the thought of working in those areas in similar roles actually makes me sick.
I just got tired of feeling stagnant. Yet, I’m also tired of feeling unproductive in the world of organizations and missions that I’m wondering if it’s just better to go back to the old and try to be more positive...
Curious if you have other thoughts on this...or options to consider...
Stephanie Mansueto, Corporate Recruiter & Job Hunting CoachRecruiter & Job Hunting Coach for Millennials
499
08/18/21 at 8:07PM UTC
Just messaged you, but without knowing the details it's hard for me to give tailored advice. Happy to chat with you further.
Tami BrownManager in Chilton, WI
699
08/17/21 at 4:54PM UTC
Great advice!
Jennifer ElizabethAdvocate and Strategic Partner
173
08/17/21 at 4:20PM UTC
FANTASTIC question. Can’t wait to hear the responses!
