We’ve all invested money, time and energy into our careers. However, many of us (70% of Americans and 85% of global employees) hate our jobs and desperately need a career change. So do you need to spend more time, money & energy into reeducating yourself only to start at the bottom of your new career? Nope! Below I show you the strategies I personally used to quickly and inexpensively initiate my career change TWICE at the top of the pay-scale.
My 2x Career Change…
I started my career at JP Morgan Chase as an Operations Analyst. Using the techniques I’ll describe below I made a successful change to a Technical Writer role with no formal experience or education.
After I grew tired of Technical Writing I switched again to the Training industry, again with no formal experience or Education. It’s important to note I didn’t spend a dime on new degrees or certifications nor did I start at entry level positions in these new fields. Keep reading to learn how!
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Introduction
Switching careers is fundamentally about accomplishing four things:
- Identify the Skills, Experience, Education & Relationships (S.E.E.R.) required for the career you’re after.
- Reinterpret your current “S.E.E.R.” to appeal to employers hiring for that role.
- Quickly develop the S.E.E.R. (notice I didn’t say master) you don’t have.
- Finally adjust your current Resume and Linkedin Profile as well as prep for an interview as your new role.
Building new Skills…
1. Research the skills required for your new role
Look at the skills that are asked for in 2-4 job descriptions for the career you’d like to switch to.
2. Practice the skills for your new career
Once you know the new skills you need for your career change watch instructional Youtube videos, download the software, practice whenever you get the chance. After you can demonstrate the skills confidently (keep in mind you’ll learn a lot of the job) add your new skills to the top of your Resume.
Building new Experience…
3. Take on side projects at work
While you’re still at your current job take on side projects that match the field you’re trying to get into. For example when I was at JP Morgan I volunteered to write the standard operating procedures for the department. Then I changed my job title at JP Morgan to Technical Writer on my Resume. (Be careful implementing this one, there’s a delicate balance between lying and imaginatively reinterpreting your experience).
4. Volunteer for your new job title
Volunteer throughout your community (or even online) for the role you’d like to move into. The volunteer title doesn’t have to match your target career title exactly but it should let you practice the skills you’ll need in the new role. Then you can add that title to your Resume as well.
5. Start your own company
The goal here isn’t to build a successful business necessarily. The advantage is that if you’re the company owner you can give yourself whatever title you’d like. Choose a name, create social media channels and/or a website and actually DO what your new career title does then put that experience & role on your Resume. I own LordResume LLC so I can give myself whatever title I like.
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Building new Education…
6. Enroll at a school
Enroll… you don’t need to take any classes for this hack to work. Just apply to a school (community or local college) that has a cheap & easy application process. Sign up for the Degree Program that makes the most sense for your new career. Now you can put [Degree Name] Candidate; Concentration: | Exp graduate date, on your Resume. Take classes if you want or you don’t have to, it’s all about getting your foot in the door.
7. Apply for a certification
Select a certification that’s relevant to your new career then apply for it (applying is generally free). Schedule to take the certification classes and/or test (you don’t need to take any classes or tests). Now place [Certification Name] Pending on your Resume.
8. Formalize ‘informal’ education
YouTube videos, books, classes you take independently are all untapped forms of education you can use to boost your Resume’s education section.
Building new Affiliations…
9. Join relevant Linkedin groups
People who are [your new career title] hang out with people who are [your new career title]. So to successfully pull off a career change from barber to Project Manager you’ll need to join some Project Manager groups. A quick and easy way to solve this is to join relevant Linkedin groups and put them on your Resume.
10. Join relevant professional associations
Exact same principle as above, join professional associations to learn the lingo, make the connections and learn more about your new role during your career change.
11.Talk to staffing agencies
Call local staffing agencies and introduce yourself as [your new career title], ask them if they have any open opportunities. Additionally, use the conversation as an informal way to collect information about what S.E.E.A. employers are looking for in people who are [your new career title].
