How to Change Your Career Without Starting Over

If you want to change careers, but don’t want to start over in a new line of work, you’ve come to the right place for guidance. Changing careers may seem like you would be doing a complete 180 but quite the opposite is true. This article will dive into how you can change careers without having to get back to the bottom of the corporate chain.

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? First, make use of your advantages. If you’re an experienced professional, you’ve likely accrued two assets: connections and money. Take stock of the particular advantages you possess, and think about how you can leverage them. If you’ve built up a nest egg, you may be able to take time off in order to volunteer at a high level for a cause you believe in, thus gaining valuable experience and paving the way to a paid job offer. Also, identify your transferable skills. 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. Then, think about the specific accomplishments in your previous roles that demonstrate your ability to take on the responsibilities in your ideal position.

Next, brush up on your writing skills. You may think you’re a good writer, but writing on the job can be very different from composing personal emails or updating LinkedIn. Consider taking resume writing courses or work with a staffing agency to help you update your portfolio.

Finally, do your homework. Ask around and talk to people who made it big in the new industry you are thinking of getting in to. Realize that career change isn’t permanent, and you can always go back to what you were doing previously. Let your years of hard work lay a safety net to help you feel secure when it comes time to transition.