Need a Change of Scene? Top Tips for Switching Career to a New Industry

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered many people to look long and hard at their present career path. It has undoubtedly been a watershed moment for all of us on personal, economic and social levels. Nothing will ever be quite the same again.

Some people have had the security they felt in a particular career swept away by the damage done by the pandemic to the sector they work in. Others have experienced it as a time to reflect on where they are in life. Are they doing something that really makes them happy? What do they want their future to look like?

The way we’re often brought up to think about our careers - “what do you want to be when you grow up?” and all that - can make us feel that once we have chosen our path, we have to stick to it. But the reality couldn’t be more different. According to ONS figures, one in 10 workers switch careers every year.

When you apply that across the average working life of most people, that means the overwhelming majority of people change career path at some point, perhaps several times.

If you’re at the point of considering a new start in a different industry to the one you’ve been working in, here are some tips for making the switch as successful as possible.

Carry out an audit on yourself

In business, whenever a major change is planned, the starting point is always carrying out an audit to get maximum clarity on where the organisation currently is, what its strengths and weaknesses are, what people think and feel about the proposed changes and so on. 

There’s no reason not to go through a similar process if you’re considering a career change. Spend some time on yourself, ask yourself some questions. What is it you really want from your career? What are your strengths? What could you improve on, and what are your priorities? The better you understand yourself, the more chance you have of making the right move for you.

Keep an open mind

Never rule anything out because you feel you might not have the qualifications, skills or talent to succeed. Deep down, what you really want to be doing is writing software programmes that control remote spacecraft? If that’s the idea that keeps niggling away and filling you with excitement, don’t keep pushing it down. Nothing is impossible.

Do your research

If you have an idea of an industry or a job role you really see yourself working in, find out everything you can about it. Read about it online, find out who the big players are and make contact with their HR teams. Find out about career paths, progression routes and qualifications. Research where the best jobs are located. Ask around and see if you can track down a friend of a friend on social media and ask their advice.

The more you immerse yourself in information about a prospective industry, the better you will understand what it will take to make your ambition a reality. You’ll also have a clearer idea of which of your existing strengths are likely to stand you in good stead in that particular sector, building your confidence going forward.

It’s all about skills, skills, skills

Finally, if there is one thing that will define your ability to make a switch to a new career, it’s the skill sets you possess. No career path is closed to you if you have applicable skills for a particular industry, or if you are willing to acquire new skills you might need.

In the first instance, look at the transferable skills you already have. This should form a key part of your self-audit. In all likelihood, you will already possess a broad range of valuable skills from your current career that will be attractive to employers in other sectors. 

From the research you do about any new sector you would like to work in, cross-reference required skills against your own experience, and build a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate what you can do. Particularly in areas like leadership, communication, project management, project solving and business administration, skills and experience you have developed in one sector are more or less universal across all.

You will also likely identify skills you don’t have, especially any technical or sector-specific skills that are required in a particular industry. If you have your heart set on a career in that industry, be proactive about re-training by looking for relevant night classes or online courses. As well as learning new skills you need, you will impress prospective employers with your dedication.

If you are looking for a career change, take advantage of our FREE career health check and benchmark your salary, skills and expectations against the industry.