Transitioning to a New Career

Transitioning to a New CareerSarah Rach-Sovich

Putting things into perspective…

• Where did you come from?• Where are you going?• Plan!

Where did you come from?

• Job titles• Skills• Achievements

Where are you going?

• Related positions/fields• Transferrable skills• Dreams & Goals• Sometimes this is the hardest part

Career Plan

• Do some research• Careers

– www.Iseek.org– www.Careerinfonet.com

• Companies– Websites– LinkedIn

Bridging the Gap

• Know your Personal Brand• Network

– Thought Leader– Add value– Innovator– Be adaptive

Cover Letters for Career Change

• Will be different than what you have done in the past

• Cover Letters– Honesty– Transferrable Skills– Add Value– Passion and Commitment

Cover Letter

• Honesty– Don’t try to disguise their work

experience or pretend that it is more relevant than it is

– Focus on the positive aspects of your career change•After six years in ad design, I’m thrilled to

bring my skills and knowledge directly to the customer as a salesperson.

Cover Letters

• Transferrable Skills– Bread and butter of a career change – Be sure to talk about skills the

employer values, not just the ones you value

– Which ones should you focus on?•Position description

Cover Letters

• Add Value– Don’t waste too much time explaining

why you want to change careers– Instead, show how you bring value to

your potential employer•Why would hiring you be good for them?

– Your unique background– Bring something fresh to the team

Cover Letters• Passion and Commitment

– Show your passion!– They want to be sure you are serious

about the new profession, not just flighty and undecided•They are going to wonder about your

stability/longevity

– Have a strong, clear reason why you want to enter this new career – and why you will be dedicated to it•Get personal (appropriately)… show your

passion!

Resumes

• The focus will change• Try a different format• Sell transferrable skills• Highlight related experience

Keep in mind…

• Stats show that people will change their careers 7-10 times in their lives– More opportunities now– Change happens FAST– Jobs are being created as well as

eliminated