Changing careers

Sorting through some old articles on my desk today, I came across a 2007 article from careerbuilder.com concerning career changes.

• Close to 75% of US workers will change careers at least once during their adult working life.
• Approximately 35% of US workers say that they are currently interested in making a significant career change.
• And it’s even higher than that in the Midwest: 41% of workers are experiencing some level of career restlessness.

Wow!  That’s a fair amount of upheaval for a large portion of the workforce!  For some people, this change in professional or occupational direction is one that they initiate because they have discovered that their current career just isn’t a good fit for them.  For others, this change is forced upon them because of market pressures and technology improvements.  Either way, it can be pretty daunting!

I actually experienced a career transition myself, which eventually led me into staffing and recruiting.  My previous career had also involved meeting people, building long-term relationships, assisting colleagues with problem-solving, and offering them resources to better balance their lives.  But it was 24/7/365 and I was burning out!  I took the leap and I’m so glad I did.  I found a new career direction where I’m still able to use the best of my skills and interests in a new way — with the additional up-side that I now have time for an even more fulfilling personal life!

So how can you succeed in this transition if you’re seeking a new way to employ your existing workplace strengths, especially in a tight employment market?  From my perspective, there are two significant clusters of challenge in this career transition.  The first one involves selecting your new direction.  The second one involves conveying and convincing others of your new direction.

Clarify your new direction

Finding a new career isn’t just about leaving an old one!  I wish that I had a dollar for every individual I’ve met who said specifically what they didn’t like about their previous jobs, but didn’t have a clue what they would like to find in a new one!  And there’s the rub.  How can you be specific in identifying something that truly is new and (in some sense) unknown to you?!

The good news is that there are plenty of career development centers and even online tools to help with your vocational reassessment.  One example can be found on careerpath, a site organized by careerbuilder.  These tools help to identify your work-related interests and your comfort level with certain job-related tasks.  In turn, the best tools will also help you to identify other careers that might involve some of those same interests.

Take time to research and read detailed job descriptions and advertisements for a variety of positions.  Pick four or five different ones that really capture your imagination.  Then ask yourself, “What is it about these that I think would be exciting or fulfilling?”  Be sure to follow up with questions such as, “What training, investment, or other commitment would it take to move in this direction?” and “What issues would this present for me personally or professionally?”

If possible, talk honestly with people who are already involved in the careers you’re considering.  Ask them about what energizes them — but also about what frustrates them.  Ask them what steps they took — and what steps they continue to take — to be effective in that career.  It’s the adult version of “going-to-work-with-your-parent day,” but it’s bolstered by having adult questions based upon your own experience!

Obviously, this clarification of your new direction is likely to be an ongoing process.  But it’s your process to experience.  Nobody else can do this for you.  And frankly, would you really want someone else to try?  Difficult though it may seem at times, this self-reflection and self-exploration is essential for success in your transition.  Until you have convinced yourself, you won’t convince anyone else that this is the best direction for you.

Expect to translate for others

And that brings us to the second cluster of challenges for your career transition.  Prospective employers will have their own issues and reservations toward you as a candidate.  Some just won’t understand how your skills might translate into a new professional sector.  Others will worry that you’ll eventually change your mind … and leave to go back to your previous career.  In the hiring process, you have the opportunity to help allay their fears and concerns.

Consider creating a résumé with a functional format.  Such a résumé starts with a substantial section focused on expertise and transferable skills, rather than on work history (which follows later).  In this section, you could use multiple bullet points to summarize and translate the strengths you have that would also be relevant in a new workplace or even a different business sector.  For example, someone who has been a sales associate in a retail store who wants to become a customer service representative for a manufacturer might include a bullet point saying that he/she is “experienced in responding quickly to customer needs and offering solutions to any difficulties.”  Be prepared to continue “translating” those transferable skills when you interview.

Especially on your résumé, try to avoid abbreviations and similar references that are highly specific to your previous business sector.  “CNA” comes to mind.  Is that a Certified Nurse’s Assistant or a Certified Network Administrator?  “PA” is another.  Were you a Physicians Assistant or a Production Associate?  Obviously, the difference should be clear when someone takes time to read more about your employment history and your skills.  But your goal is to make it simple for them!  If they only spend 10 seconds scanning your résumé, let it be 10 seconds thinking about your strengths and not 10 seconds confused by an abbreviation!

On your résumé and in your interviews, focus on your previous successes, not just on the tasks in your previous positions — specifically, the successes that could be relevant for your new direction.  For example, a fundraiser for a non-profit organization who is looking for a position in outside sales for business might highlight that he/she generated new contacts resulting in a 200% increase in donors over a 2-year period.

Especially for interviews, be prepared with examples of your adaptability in your previous career.  Think of times that you successfully adjusted to a change in your workload, to the introduction of a new manager, or even to the integration of different technology tools.  This helps to demonstrate that you will have stability in the midst of change, even change accompanied by a fair amount of professional uncertainty.

Finally, for many in the midst of a career change, you may need to be prepared to start with a position that is more entry-level than what you previously held.  And that involves not just a more entry-level position title, but also the range of duties and the level of compensation.  Once you have faced this squarely for yourself, you will be better equipped to convince your future employer that you’re not only willing to take this risk, but excited and energized by the challenge.