Four Things You Need to Make a Career Change

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes… Most Americans will change occupations an average of 12 times by age 52, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The trend indicates that number will increase in the years to come as the working paradigm continues to shift from the “a career is simply the means to pay the bills” perspective to the modern notion that finding career fulfillment is one of the keys to life satisfaction. It’s probably no surprise that one of the most common questions or concerns my team and I hear working in the career search services industry is, “How do I write a resume that will enable me to successfully make a career change?”

The good news for those of you wanting to change or transition from your current career to something new is that it has never been easier to change your career than it is in today’s job market. The modern job market is much more dynamic and flexible than it has ever been. The ability to work remotely or part-time is more commonplace, and access to educational and skill-building resources is prolific. In some instances, it is even free of cost!

There are numerous reasons people wish to change their career. Besides being at a traditional, transitional point in your career (exiting a military career, or regrouping from a lay off for example) the most common reasons for someone to make a career change are to seek out a new challenge, to find more time to focus on other aspects of life, when realizing their core values have changed, or simply because they are unhappy in their current job. Changing your career may seem daunting, but don’t let yourself be overwhelmed because it doesn’t have to be.  

There are four things you can do to help make your change successful:

1. Evaluate Your Options

Whether you are at a transitional point in your career like a recent college graduate, a member of the military becoming a civilian, a federal employee looking to enter the private sector, or you desire a career change for one of numerous personal reasons, the work that is necessary to successfully move into a new field is essentially the same. If you are dissatisfied in your present career for one reason or another, but have no idea what to say when asked, “what do you want to do,” your job search should begin with an honest self-assessment to identify which field you wish to pursue followed by an “attainability test” to determine if such a career is feasible for you.

There are countless resources available to help you in your self-assessment and to guide you towards a new career that excites your passion. From reading books to taking online assessments, both free and paid, to journaling or seeking out a coach/mentor—someone who has successfully changed careers before—there is no shortage of helpful tools and resources to help you down the path to a new career. You should examine your past experiences to identify your skills and your interests. Here are some helpful questions you should ask yourself:

• In past jobs and activities, what roles did you enjoy performing the most?

• What are the skills you acquired?

• What are your core values, those elements that must be present in your new career (E.g., growth potential, community involvement, good stewardship of the environment, etc.)

Once you decide on a field, it is important for you to research it and learn as much as you can about both the field and industry. As Richard N. Bolles recommends in his book, “What Color is Your Parachute?” it is very beneficial to seek out opportunities for “informational conversations” or informational interviews with professionals presently working in the field you intend to transition into. Work your network and let others know you are actively taking measures to position yourself for the change. However, do not be presumptuous, it is never a good idea to ask someone you just met for a job or reference.   

2. Prepare for a Change

When you finish your research and possess enough understanding of your new career aspiration, it is important that you take time to examine job listings, review the mandatory and preferred requirements, and perform an honest attainability test. Ask yourself, “Is it feasible for me to get this position?” If your answer is no, don’t be discouraged. In many cases, that does not mean that such a career will never be attainable.

Should you need to learn a new technical, business, marketing, design, technology, leadership, or analytical skill to be a well-suited candidate for the career change you desire, many online and in-person classes are available for free or low cost. Websites like Udemy, edX, Coursera, Lynda.com, and Skillshare offer many fantastic lessons to learn new skills. Services from General Assembly and the American Management Association offer classes on topics such as design, data, marketing, technology, leadership, business, and analytical skills. Completing or even simply registering for courses relevant to your career change aspiration, and indicating so on your resume, is an effective way to demonstrate that you know and/or are actively taking steps to acquire the skills and knowledge you need to be a great candidate for the position.

Additionally, participating in skill-based volunteer opportunities is a means to gaining essential skills while also committing your time to helping a good cause. The skills-based volunteer programs work to pair professionals with various nonprofit organizations based on a person’s skill set and an organization’s needs. Look at websites such as Points of Flight, Taproot, Corporation for National and Community Service, and Catchafire to find an opportunity with a skills-based volunteer program.

3. Take Action (on Paper)

Ready to build your resume? You have some options. Hiring a professional resume writer is an excellent way to ensure you showcase yourself and your skills and craft the best possible resume and narrative for making the change or transition. If you prefer to write your own resume, there are several things you must do for your resume to land you an interview. When asked what the most important transferrable skills are for the present and future marketplace, surveyed managers identified nine (9) must-have transferrable skills: the ability to manage change, leadership development, workplace technology skills, data analytics, critical thinking, oral communication, business acumen, innovation and creativity, and a global mindset.

Focus your resume content on the above and other transferrable skills. However, don’t simply list the skills or use the skills in broad, general bullet point statements. It is always best to craft your content to show the use of such skills by writing bullet points that deliver facts, hard numbers, and other measurable results. 

For example, instead of simply stating: “Utilized oral communication and leadership development skills with direct reports” it is much better to showcase those skills through facts and measurable results like: “Mentored two direct reports through one-on-one interactions and provided the necessary professional guidance that grew their leadership abilities and resulted in their promotion from entry-level specialists to assistant project managers.” A simple rule of thumb to remember is “show don’t tell.”

It is also very important to eliminate any industry jargon from the bullet statements under your previous and present professional experiences. Take the time to translate jargon and industry-specific language into terminology that is reflective of the new career you are pursuing. You may have a fantastic resume but if prospective employers can’t understand what you are saying it won’t do you any good.

Leverage all the information that is available to you online when writing your resume, much of which you already researched while learning about your new career aspiration. Job listings and job descriptions are exceptional resources and your ticket to shaping your resume with words that are relevant and important to those people you must impress to reach the interview stage. The listings and descriptions are also your window to what terms each prospective employer sets as keywords to filter down the large applicant pool using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). 

Using keywords naturally in the content of your resume is both imperative and an effective means for gaining an edge over other applicants who are unaware or do not take the time to use the resources available to successfully penetrate the modern-day ATS barrier. It can be challenging to write content that strikes the perfect balance between incorporating as many identified keywords as possible and maintaining your resume’s readability. It is helpful to have someone other than yourself read your resume. An outside perspective will provide insight into whether your resume is readable and easy to understand or not. Alternatively, you may want to seek out feedback from a professional resume writer or work with a resume writer to create the best, most compelling content possible.

Need some inspiration? Check out these modern resume examples.

4. Be Confident

After you build the perfect resume it is time for you to apply to open positions in the new field you are pursuing. This is the step that many people struggle with the most. Fear of rejection can be powerful. It is important to be confident in your search. If you’re not confident yet, go back through the steps above and see what changes you can make. If you still struggle to gain confidence, talk to people who know you or who know your industry. A third party’s perspective is beneficial for many things and an exceptional resource when it comes to performing self-reflection and bolstering your self-confidence. 

Don’t let your career change be more stressful than it needs to be. Take some time, be intentional, and take the next step in your career!