Making a career change can be intimidating. Many people who daydream about switching careers never go through with it because of their fears and anxieties.

But you don’t necessarily need to have trained or worked in an industry before to find yourself a job in it. By showcasing your transferable skills – plus your interest and dedication – you can make the best possible impression to employers when you try to land a new role.

Always start by researching the industry you are interested

Whether you want to change the company or try out a new field, it is important to do thorough research and have a clear picture of what the industry is about, which skills are in high demand and which attributes can help you stand out from other candidates.

You could start by subscribing to industry blogs, attending industry events or conferences and surfing through job posts on popular portals like SEEK, Indeed to help you understand the key responsibilities and selection criteria of your new career path.

You could also use networking sites to identify and contact people working in your area of interest. Most of them would be happy to help and give advice to help you set a strong foundation.

Transferable skills from your current or previous roles can make all the differences

According to Indeed, transferable skills are any skills you possess that are useful to employers across various jobs and industries. These might include skills like adaptability, organisation, teamwork or other qualities employers seek in strong candidates. Transferable skills can be used to position your past experience when applying for a new job—especially if it is in a different industry.

If you can discuss your transferable skills using specific examples and explain how you can use these skills to help them, recruiters are much more likely to see you as an ideal choice for the role. Examples paint a clear picture of your experience and abilities for an employer, versus answering questions with a hypothetical. Especially in case of a career change in particular, examples help an employer understand how your experience fits into the new role.

It is more important than ever to upskill and increase your opportunities

Did you know that 95% of HR managers are actively seeking micro-credentials in candidates’ profiles? Micro-credentials are mini-qualifications obtained through sector-endorsed courses to help you build up professional skills and competencies.

Attending seminars, webinars and industry meetups are also great ways to get up to speed with industry and technology updates. By taking these short courses or meetups, you will not only increase your skills, but also boost your confidence and potentially help to build important new networks. With additional new skills under your belt, this is your platform to explain and emphasise your increased market value. 

Volunteering does count in your new career path

You might wonder if it’s acceptable to put volunteer work on your resume when you’re applying for jobs. It certainly can be, especially in the case of career change. Volunteer work can be an excellent way to showcase key skills such as event planning, fundraising, or problem-solving and should certainly be integrated with your other paid work experiences.

You could also try volunteering in a way that’s tailored to your area of interest. This will allow you to acquire additional skills, learn about a new company or industry, expand your networks and potentially open up pathways to paid work.

After you’ve included key work experiences and internships, list relevant volunteer experience under your professional history section. Format your volunteer work using the same structure you used for previously held jobs, but make sure you identify your role as “volunteer” along with any additional titles held like management or leadership positions. 

If you have volunteer experiences that are unrelated to your industry, you might consider including a brief volunteer work section at the bottom of your resume if you feel it will set you apart from other candidates or provide helpful context for employers.

ABOUT COURSES4ME

Courses4me is a new age online education company, with decades of experience in both the public and private education space. Our founders have a combined 27 years’ experience in education and training and have come together to provide quality and affordable education for everyone that is looking to upskill.

Courses4me has established a high level of respect in academic circles within a range of disciplines in Australia and beyond. The courses are recognised by The International Approval and Registration Centre (IARC) – a dynamic, non-profit association with headquarters and administration centre in Queensland, Australia.