Blog Post 15: How to move into a new industry without starting from scratch
You’ve invested so much effort, time and money into your career so far. You are known in your industry, you have knowledge and skills from your job.
But you’re not happy in your career.
This is one of the biggest reasons why people don’t change careers.
Because they think that all of the effort, time and money they have put into their current career will go to waste.
And that they’ll have to start ‘from the bottom.’
The truth is, you can change careers without starting from scratch.
Here are two simple strategies to do it.
Reframe how you think about yourself
If you know which industry or job you might want and you’re feeling like an outsider, this feeling will infiltrate the way you show up, and you’ll likely not feel good enough, impressive enough, knowledgeable enough.
Remember that you show people how you should be treated.
So in order for you to feel like more of an insider, it’s important for you to start thinking and behaving as if you already are one. As if you’re already where you want to be.
Now I don’t mean lying about your experience, but rather, ask yourself: If you were in your dream career, who would you be connecting with? What event would you be going to? What professional development workshops and classes would you attend?
Answer those questions for yourself and then take massive action and do those things.
2. Make meaningful connections with people
So many people hate the term ‘networking’. It often conjures up an image of people wearing grey suits and being ‘fake’, drinking bad champagne and standing awkwardly in groups in a large conference room.
Instead of using the term networking, I like to say we want to make meaningful connections with people in our desired industry. We want to build powerful professional relationships.
Given 85% of jobs are filled through referrals(!) and 75% of jobs are not posted on job boards, I always tell my clients to focus their job search efforts looking for ways to make meaningful connections with people who work in their desired industries, rather than spending hours looking aimlessly at job sites.
Also, if you’re a career changer that might be lacking some direct CV experience, it’s MUCH easier to interest and inspire someone to get to know you in person, rather than blindly submitting your CV and cover letter via a job board.
The trick to doing this right is to not be thinking about just getting a job when you start making these connections.
Rather, think of making meaningful connections so that you can learn more about your desired industry or job function and create a deeper connection with another person.
Networking is all about creating and developing meaningful relationships. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the thought of networking, just see it as connecting with and helping others. It’s nothing more than a conversation between two people, something you’ve done many times before.
And if that still feels overwhelming for you, sometimes I offer to my clients that they could think of networking as a research skill. You are just learning. Think of how you can prepare for a networking event or informational interview, what you want to learn and what you can share to help others.
This takes the ‘fake’ or ‘desperate’ energy out of networking.
When you meet with these people you have identified, ask meaty questions to learn more about the industry, about their career trajectory, about their challenges and triumphs. Make it about them.
Aim to get value and give in return. Even if it’s something small, send them an article relating to something they might be interested in, attend one of their talks as a supporter. If they are snowed under with work, offer to help for free.
Doing these simple things will change the way you see yourself and how you connect with people. You will feel MUCH more confident and capable, and opportunities will come to fruition that you couldn’t have even imagined before you started.
So ask yourself:
What is one thing you can you do this week to become more of an insider in your desired industry?
Who could you reach out to and create a meaningful connection with in your desired industry?
If this was helpful and would like to learn how you can building powerful professional relationships with people in your desired industry, or if you want some coaching and actionable strategies so you can reframe how you think about yourself and your career, book in your 30-minute Consultation Call and I’ll show you how.
Love Loren x
