Women are often forced to make big decisions about their careers at a very young age, choosing the right subjects at school, the right specialties in higher education, and the right entry-level positions to work their way up.
It can be disheartening to realize along the way that you would rather be doing something else. You can feel like you have missed the most critical opportunities to develop the skills that you need. It can also feel like changing careers means starting over, which can be challenging, especially if you fear that it will involve a pay cut that you can’t afford.
But changing careers doesn't have to mean starting over. You are probably more prepared for the career change than you imagine.
Are you looking to break into a new career?
Here are our top tips for taking a sideways step and starting a new career.
1. Invest in self development
Most careers do require some specialist skills, and if you haven’t acquired them through study and entry level positions, you will need to find other ways to develop them.
Start by identifying what those core skills really are. Most job descriptions have long lists of skills and experience that the employer would like you to have. But by comparing job descriptions from across the industry, you can identify the genuine essential skills.
Once you figure out what they are, you can find ways of learning them, whether that be through formal study, online courses, volunteer work and so on.
The important thing to remember is that acquiring the skill is more important than the piece of paper that says you have it. If you want to be a lawyer or a doctor, you do need to take specific courses to gain those skills. But in most cases, there are a lot of ways that you can learn what you need to know.
2. Find your transferable skills
With that sentiment in mind, don’t underestimate the skills that you have required in your current career, even if it seems unrelated to your aspirational career.
Many skills essential for thriving in the modern workplace are applicable across careers. Teamwork, managing others, time management, prioritization, research, analysis, copywriting, and so forth.
When looking at the skills required for your future career, don’t underestimate the value of the experience that you have already accumulated. It is often just a matter of framing your experience as a universal skill, as opposed to something specific to your current career.
3. Focus on impact
When hiring, most companies are looking for individuals or women who will have a positive impact on their business. As a potential hire, it is your job to help them see how you can do that.
One of the best ways to do this is to focus on impact when talking about yourself, rather than reciting what you have done.
For example, it is less impactful to say that you have led major marketing campaigns for other companies than to say that your activities led to a 17% year on year rise in sales. It is less compelling to say that you were a team leader on an app development project, than to say that you led an interdisciplinary team that delivered your project on time and on budget.
When you talk about yourself in terms of these kinds of tangible impacts, it is much easier for businesses to see the positive role that you could play on their team, even when your background experience is in another area.
SEE ALSO: A Step-By-Step Guide to a Successful Career Transition
4. Know your industry
If companies are reluctant to hire you, it is often because they fear that you don’t know the industry and it will take too long for you to get up to speed.
Prove them wrong by getting to know the industry. Take the time to read the most important industry publications and follow the most important influencers on social media.
While this is a time commitment, it will help you build the knowledge that you need for this career change, identify career opportunities, and speak with confidence about the industry when trying to prove yourself to others.
5. Get networking
Part of knowing the industry is knowing the people in the industry. Speak to people who are on the career path that you want to follow. Ask them for advice, guidance, and get your name out there.
It is human nature to trust the familiar. If a familiar name shows up on an interview list, even if it is just from a few social media interactions, you will probably find the face on the other side of the interview table is already more receptive.
SEE ALSO: Should You Make a Midlife Career Change?
6. Find stepping stones
Many women assume that there is only one way into an industry or career. Consequently, many women feel like a career change can be an insurmountable task of “starting over''. But it is worth considering finding a stepping stone into your desired industry.
Maybe you are an accountant, but you have always wanted to work in museums. Even museums need accountants. Maybe you are an account executive, but you dream of working in fashion. Most fashion houses have big accounts with high street retailers.
Once you sidestep into the industry this way, you will have the chance to learn about the industry, make new connections, and prove your value. This can make your next step significantly easier.
7. Value yourself
When you're looking to break into a new career or make a career change, it can be easy to devalue yourself, accepting that you may need to develop your skills, take a step down and so forth. This kind of self-deprecating attitude is palpable when you're trying to sell yourself in a new industry. While humility is a good thing, you don't want to take this too far.
Remember that you have years of experience under your belt and a thirst to succeed in a new field. While you might have things to learn, you will still be an asset to your new business. You should approach carving out your new career path with this in mind.
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