Why You Should Consider Appen for Your Next Career Move
There are so many ways to discover new opportunities. Let’s take for example the job search process, which has become a lot more accessible and convenient thanks to technology. Unfortunately, that still doesn’t make it any less challenging. This is especially true if you’re looking for your first job in the tech industry or trying to switch career paths. There are so many things to consider when switching industries, one of which being if your resume will be viewed favourably if you apply for a role with a different company than your current one. However, with the right amount of research and preparation you can significantly increase your chances of success in your job search no matter what industry you’re applying to. In this article we’ll share some tips on how to boost your chances of passing an interview and getting hired in another company without completely changing careers.
Stay Updated
It can be easy to get stuck in a routine and forget to challenge yourself when you’re at a job you’re comfortable in. If you’d like to switch careers but are unsure of how to approach the process, then staying up to date with what other companies are hiring for and what skills are in demand can help you gain a clearer sense of where you could potentially fit in. You’ll have to start by doing some research. Start with the company websites of your potential employers and follow this up with a Google search for articles on the hiring process. This will give you a good idea of the kinds of positions that are open and the kinds of skills that are being sought after. Once you have a better sense of what companies are hiring for, you can begin to research which skills and experience are most sought after by hiring managers in your industry. You can do this by reading articles and blogs on the subject and following relevant social media pages and subreddits.
Network, Network, Network
If you’re trying to switch industries, then the best way to get your foot in the door is by building relationships and getting your name out there. Networking is one of the most effective ways to do so. Start by identifying your closest connections and potential referral sources. You could do this by keeping track of the people you’ve met throughout your career and the people you currently work with. Alternatively, you could use online tools like LinkedIn or Zoom to search for professionals and influencers in your desired industry and see if they’d be open to connecting with you. Once you’ve identified your closest connections, you can then consider how and when you can reach out to them. You might want to start by sending an introductory email, or you might want to invite them out for a coffee if you’re in the same city. Regardless of the approach, your goal should be to get their name out there and let them know you’re interested in working in their industry.
Update Your Resume
If you’re switching industries, or even just looking to make a career change, it’s important to reevaluate the skills and experiences listed on your resume and see if any need to be added or removed. If you’re trying to make a career switch and are applying for roles in marketing or sales for example, then you might want to consider removing certain skills and experiences like those relevant to engineering, programming, or any other technical skill that you might have in your current job. However, what you want to do is add an experience section to your resume. This can be the place where you list out the skills you picked up in your current position. These are the skills that hiring managers are looking for in candidates as they’re usually transferable.
Take an Assessment
If you’re having difficulty identifying which skills you picked up in your current position might be transferable, you can consider taking an online assessment. There are a number of online assessments that can help you determine which skills you possess. These can range from general career aptitude tests, to personality assessments and more. The advantage of taking these assessments is that they provide you with specific details about your strengths, weaknesses, and potential career path. This is particularly helpful for those who are unsure of what industry they’d like to get into or who have been in their current field for a long time. It’s important to note that a lot of these assessments are not 100% accurate, but they can be helpful tools in your job search nonetheless.
Incorporate your current skillset
Just because you want to transition to a new industry doesn’t mean you have to completely change the skills you possess. You might want to consider tailoring your resume to include the skills you picked up in your current position. If you want to transition into marketing, one way to do this is by making use of marketing buzzwords and skills that are often used in engineering such as problem solving, critical thinking, and attention to detail. By including these types of words in your resume, you can emphasize the skills you possess while also making it clear that you want to work in the marketing industry. This can be particularly helpful if you notice that hiring managers are favouring candidates with engineering experience but who have the communication skills to make a smooth transition into the marketing industry.
Conclusion
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and feel like you have to completely change careers to discover new opportunities. This isn’t the case though. You can make a lateral career move as long as you’re willing to put in the time and effort to prove to hiring managers that you’re a good fit for the job. The first step is to stay updated on what companies hiring in your desired industry are looking for. From there you can decide what skills you picked up in your current position are transferable and how you can incorporate them into your resume and cover letter to make it clear that you want to work in your new industry.