New Year brings with it the promise of new beginnings: a new healthy eating regime, a new hobby or a new savings target. Despite people’s best efforts, roughly 70% of all New Year's resolutions fail within the first few weeks of the year and 10% of people forget all about them by the second week of January.
A significant reason why so many fail is due to a lack of planning. We have all been there: that blind belief that this year will be different and I will save more money every month and I will exercise more every week, etc. Then you see a bargain holiday online that you simply cannot miss out on or you auto-pilot home, completely bypassing the gym, and that is it… resolution out of the window.
So let’s try something new: What about a new career instead?
‘How is this going to be different to any other New Year’s resolution?’, I hear you ask.
Because you are going to have a plan, I boldly respond!
You may have been stuck in a ‘dead-end’ job for years, recently been made redundant or had a change in personal circumstances. Whatever the reason, you have decided now is as good a time as any to take a chance on a new career.
Changing careers can feel daunting, like you’re trying to climb a mountain without any of the gear or any idea where to start. Do not despair; with a practical plan in place (and a strong CV from Sarah Lovell Ltd), you will soon realise you already have most of the gear and quite a few good ideas.
Here are my top 3 practical steps for changing careers:
Practical step number 1:
Identify your transferable skills
A new career does not always mean starting from scratch. It is easy to underestimate the value of transferable skills, yet over the course of your working life, you have been collecting and honing a plethora of skills that can move with you from role to role, despite the sector. For example, a retail manager looking to move into HR will already understand performance management, recruiting, conflict resolution and the importance of maintaining stakeholder relationships. An administrator looking at project coordination roles likely has experience in scheduling and report creation and is probably a skilled communicator and problem-solver.
A well written and professional CV highlights these transferable skills and reframes them in the language of the new sector. Recruiters and ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software scan not just job titles, but keywords that show you already demonstrate (at least in part) relevant skills for the new sector. Highlighting outcomes, tools and behaviours that align with your target role is a crucial first step.
Practical step number 2:
Volunteer
If you are looking to move into a sector you have not worked in before, volunteering can be a simple yet powerful step. Often overlooked, volunteering can give you valuable hands on and relevant experience in a new sector whilst exposing you to sector-specific language. For example, you could support social media marketing for a local charity, undertake bookkeeping for a community organisation or assist with research at a nearby museum. Whether it is a few hours a month or several days a week, volunteering is a tangible demonstration of your drive and commitment, which is invaluable when changing careers.
Practical step number 3:
Undertake targeted training
Alongside experience, targeted training can help to bridge the gap between old and new careers. You do not need to return to university or invest thousands to make a credible shift; free or low-cost short-term courses can often be enough to demonstrate basic knowledge and ability. The Open University has over 120 free courses focused on work skills as well as many reasonably priced microcredential courses that can be completed in 10-12 weeks.
Whether it is a short coding course, an introduction to bookkeeping and accounting or an entry level project management qualification, these additions to your CV will strengthen your profile and further evidence your pro-active approach and commitment to the new sector.
When changing careers be patient but intentional and remember it is planned and practical steps that get you to the top of that mountain, not one single leap. Progress may look more like a sideways move into a new role or a short-term contract instead of a permanent position; you might have to balance volunteering and a full-time work for longer than you anticipated. That is all still progress.
With 13 years’ experience as an executive CV writer, I understand that career change is less about total reinvention and more about translation. When you learn how to articulate and demonstrate your value, gain targeted experience and strategically expand your knowledge, a new career becomes an exciting and realistic opportunity.
Should you like assistance with this exciting phase of your career development, please feel free to contact me to book a discovery call at enquiries@sarahlovell.co.uk
