Employment landscape is evolving rapidly, and it's crucial to consider the shifting tides of skill requirements.
This is what Udacity posted recently on Linkedin
Add to this that the World Economic Forum's "Future of Jobs 2023" report warns of the potential disruption of over 80 million jobs in the coming 5 years
It's clear that career switching isn't merely an option for working professionals; it's become an essential ingredient for long-term career success.
However, breaking into a new field can be challenging.
You often find yourself competing against candidates whose qualifications align precisely with the job requirements. At the same time, you're navigating the challenge of marketing yourself to recruiters who are looking to find people for jobs, and not jobs for people.
Here, we are trying to share some insights to help you craft a more effective strategy for career switching:
Step 1: Conduct Internal and External Research
Begin your journey by defining a clear vision of success, grounded in market realities. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What is my vision of success? (For example, you can study the LinkedIn profiles of professionals who hold the roles you aspire to in the next 3 to 5 years.)
- What are the future prospects of the skills and industries you're interested in? (Conduct online research and engage with professionals in those fields to gauge future prospects.)
- Reflect on the skills, behaviours, and attitudes you can leverage to transition into your desired roles.
At this stage, it's essential to establish your priorities. When switching industries, roles, or even countries, you might need to make short-term sacrifices in terms of job title, salary, or level of responsibility. It is important to be self-aware on what do you plan to gain in the long term and what are you willing to sacrifice in the short term.
Step 2: Diversify Your Job Search
Jobs fall into three categories: those that already exist due to promotions or departures, those about to be created, and those that are newly formed. Your job search strategy should align with these categories:
- Reactive approach: Scanning job listings and applying to open positions.
- Proactive approach: Leveraging investigative and entrepreneurial skills to uncover hidden job opportunities and market yourself effectively.
For career switchers, a proactive job search is often more fruitful. Relying solely on applications to open postings might not yield the desired results for several reasons, such as outdated job listings or rejection by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
Traditional hiring processes can also divert your focus towards keyword optimisation and certifications, rather than leveraging your strengths.
Step 3: Craft a Compelling Pitch
To embark on a proactive job search, develop a clear pitch tailored to your target role. Consider the following:
- What core business and technical problems can you adeptly solve?
- What essential skills, both soft and technical, can you leverage to solve these problems?
- What evidence do you have, in the form of key achievements and results from your experience?
Align this pitch with the role you're pursuing. How will your skills benefit the company and the team you wish to join? Ensure your CV emphasizes professional achievements and includes a concise summary that showcases your career goals. Additionally, optimise your LinkedIn headline to align with your target role.
Your answer should make it very clear to the interviewer why you are a relevant candidate for them.
Keep in mind that you'll encounter different stakeholders at each stage of the hiring process. Tailor your communication to match their priorities, whether it's matching relevance for recruiters or demonstrating motivation for senior hiring managers.
Step 4: Tap into Your Network
When switiching careers, reating opportunities is often more effective than competing for existing ones. Focus on areas where openings exist but haven't been advertised (potential for internal referrals) and roles that could be created by highlighting how you can add value to an existing team.
Consider the following approach:
- Identify opportunities or companies/teams of interest.
- Request introductions from your first-degree network to connect with second-degree contacts in those organisations./teams
- Conduct informational interviews to gather insights and understand projects and challenges within those teams.
- Keep in touch with your second-degree connections, seeking referrals or staying informed about new opportunities.
Remember, no one is more responsible for securing your future job than yourself. Provide all relevant details when seeking referrals or pitching for new opportunities, making it easier for them to forward those details to relevant individuals.
Step 5: Exercise Patience, Iterate, and Improve
Job searching can be emotionally challenging, often accompanied by self-doubt. Be patient and use feedback to refine your approach continually. If you're in full-time career switch mode, consider leveraging platforms offering part-time work or freelance projects to gain relevant experience while earning income.
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We hope these insights provide valuable guidance for your career-switching journey. Your feedback and comments are highly appreciated as we continue to try and help working professionals find meaningful career transitions.
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