How To Get A Job In A Different Industry
Getting a job in a new industry can be both an exciting and scary prospect. You want to do this because you need new challenges in your career, a better work-life balance, or a blend of the two.
As you might expect, changing careers has its challenges. However, it’s entirely possible, provided you approach the idea in a structured way.
How To Get A Job
With that in mind, take a look at the following tips and tricks to give you the best outcome:
Decide Upon Your New Industry
Firstly, thinking about the perfect industry for your career makes sense. As you can appreciate, there are scores of industries out there, so you must choose one that is the best fit for you and your needs.
For example, if you’re currently in the IT industry, a relevant move might be into engineering or manufacturing, as your skills would be perfect for both sectors.
However, a move into an industry like agriculture may not be as good a fit for your skills.
Research The Industry
Next, you should research your chosen industry. Some aspects you should check out include:
- Key players;
- Which jobs make the best use of your skills;
- Trends that impact the industry as a whole;
- Career progression options;
- Typical salaries for jobs that interest you.
The Internet is undoubtedly an excellent resource for information. Look at industry blogs and news websites, trade publications, and the sites of major employers to get an in-depth feel for the industry.
Boost Your Education
If you’ve spent much of your career working in an HR consultancy or a financial institution but want to move to an industry like construction or aviation, you may need more skills and qualifications.
That’s why you should boost your education by taking relevant certification courses to get the desired industry qualifications.
Thankfully, plenty of options exist to help you gain the necessary skills and qualifications, such as distance learning and part-time college courses.
To aid you in your preparation for the certification exam, make sure to utilize valuable resources like a free Series 7 Study Guide, which offers comprehensive and in-depth coverage of the exam’s content.
By combining your existing expertise with these targeted educational opportunities, you can position yourself for success in your desired industry.
Tailor Your Resume And Cover Letter
One thing you should never do is submit the same resume and cover letter to potential employers.
It would be best if you tailored them to the employer and industry of your choice, as it shows them you’ve taken the time to understand their business and market sector.
If you need help writing your resume and cover letter, consider hiring a resume expert to craft them for you.
Consider Starting From The Bottom
Finally, most people assume they can walk into a new role in a different industry that’s on a similar level to what they do now.
However, it sometimes helps to start from the bottom and work up the career ladder in a new industry.
Why? The answer is simple: you’ll gain valuable industry experience and discover potential new career progression paths for the future.
Final Thoughts
Moving to a new industry in your career might seem like a challenge at first, but the rewards are worth it.
Spending time researching your new industry and ensuring you’ve got the right skills and qualifications will significantly increase your job prospects.