HIRING, RESUMES
There are many reasons to change careers. Maybe your interests have shifted, you want the potential to earn more money, or perhaps you want to try something new.
Whatever your reason, looking at U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data and considering what experts say about changing your line of work will be helpful!
1: Figure out your “why”
When deciding to change careers, it’s a good idea to consider and write down what’s driving your desire.
“Are you unhappy with your employer? Do you want to use different skill sets? What needs to change?” - career management coach Marie Zimenoff.
You need to ask yourself these kinds of questions to know the type of change you should make.
When writing down your whys, Think about your most recent job. What parts of it didn’t you like? Perhaps more importantly, what parts did you like? Are you sure you want a different occupation—should you seek a new job?
If you've decided to switch careers, highlight the tasks you enjoy most from your list. For example, if you're a biological technician and like working with people, you might like being a biology teacher or working towards a management position at your current company. You would probably also enjoy becoming a scientific product sales representative.
Whatever path you decide, remember that Some occupations might allow you to use your other skills while still applying your scientific knowledge.
Self-reflection can help you identify occupations you may want to enter, or it might help you decide to stick with your current occupation and instead work in a different setting.
“People often think it will take a huge change to make them happy,” says Zimenoff. “You might want to start smaller with a change that doesn’t uproot your whole life but will make you happier in your next career.”
2: Look at the data
If you’re thinking of changing occupations, you aren’t alone. According to the Current Population Survey data, about 6.2 million workers (4 percent of the total workforce) transferred from one occupational group to another. The BLS also projects employment growth for different occupations, which can help you identify in-demand fields. You can also use BLS data to learn about different occupations' education and training requirements.
These and other data points from the BLS can offer guidance as you explore your options.
Economists in the BLS projections program also analyze occupations to determine the levels of education and training typically required for entry. With these determinations, you can see whether you qualify for a particular occupation—or, if not, what preparation you may need before you apply.
State labor market offices use BLS national data to create their own projections. Some states also have detailed, current information available by region.
Other data. Employment, wage, and transfer data may also point you toward more satisfactory career choices. For example, employment and wage data show how many jobs were in a particular occupation and how much money workers made.
(Around 2015, there were about 138 million wage and salary jobs, with a median annual wage of $36,200.)
3: Connect with others
Reaching out to others to learn about your options and to help you find a job is crucial for all active job seekers. But it’s even more essential for people who want to switch to a new field.
“When you’re changing careers, you may not look great on paper,” says Zimenoff, “and the bigger the change you’re making, the more true that will be.”
Networking
Developing contacts within the industry is essential—and it’s easier than most people realize. Experts say that networking works best when you start with the people already in your circle and ask specific questions. For example, you might ask your family or friends what they think about a particular company or if they know anyone who works there.
“It’s not as scary if you start with the people you know best,” says Zimenoff.
Visit networking sites to find out how the people you know are connected. But make an effort personally, too, such as with a phone call. For example, you might call your uncle and ask,
“How well do you know this person? Might she be a good contact for me?”
Informational Interviews
After identifying people in an occupation that interests you, talk to them about their work.
“Have a ready list of questions,” says master career specialist Elizabeth Craig, “such as, ‘What did you like most about your work today?’ ”
Do your research beforehand and do your best to assure the friends or family you talk to that you only want to gain information—not ask for a job. Be sure to send a thank-you note afterward and try to stay in touch, keeping them informed of your progress. You might also ask for advice on making your resume stand out when you’re ready to start applying for the job.
Internal Contacts
Knowing people who work somewhere you’d like to work is helpful. Not only do internal contacts give you an insider’s perspective, but they also might increase your chances of being a “referred candidate”—someone suggested for an interview by a worker within the company. Internal contacts can also inform you about job openings as soon as, or sometimes before, vacancies are even advertised.
4: Match your skills
As you apply to jobs in a new field, you’ll need to highlight skills matching each job's requirements. A chronological resume, which summarizes work history, is an excellent way to describe specific accomplishments.
Fit skills to jobs
It’s imperative when changing careers to tailor each resume and cover letter to the specific position for which you are applying. Focus on skills directly relevant to the job tasks, not the fact that you’re transitioning.
On paper and in person, you should be able to translate how your skills and experience match the position you’re applying for.
“Look at the work you’ve done before, piece by piece,” says Craig. “Look at each segment and ask, ‘How would that relate to the new work?”
Use the requirements from the job posting as a guide, or study online profiles of people currently doing the job to see how they describe their qualifications.
Switching careers may be more accessible between some types of occupations than others. This is particularly true when the occupations have skills in common, but it’s still up to you to make that connection.
“Those who get interviews can show that they’ve done the things the job requires, in a particular context, and that it provided value to the company when they did it,” says Zimenoff.
Be proactive
You may have a skills or knowledge gap to overcome, depending on how different your new job is from the one you’re leaving. That’s OK. But you should be realistic about what you must do to meet employers’ expectations.
If you’re not qualified for your dream career, start working toward it. Do you need more work experience? Additional skills? Professional certification?
“There are many opportunities for people to get up to date in a new field, often in a relatively short amount of time,” says Craig, and that doesn’t always mean earning a degree.
Even if you need additional training, assessing your qualifications can help you figure out precisely what else to improve.
“The beauty of looking at the skills you have,” says Zimenoff, “is that you can build on them instead of starting over.”
5: Get more information
Resources from BLS can help you decide what type of work you want and the skills you need to do it. For example, the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) provides information about nearly 600 occupations and 329 profiles that describe job tasks, wages, outlook, and more.
Career Outlook articles that may help you brush up on your job-seeking skills :
- Employment interviewing: Seizing the opportunity and the job
- Getting back to work: Returning to the labor force after an absence
- Focused job seeking: A measured approach to looking for work
- Career planning the second time around
- Résumés, applications, and cover letters
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