How to Change Careers or Roles
By: June Coffey
Tags: Careers, Self Improvement, Career Advice, Recruitment, Career Change

Over 15 years ago, I changed from being a software developer, a role that did not require I speak to people to a recruitment role, all I do is speak to people. My full story here:

How did I do it?

Here are 4 things that helped me:

1. Know your why.

First step was to figure out why you need a career change. Right now, it probably has something to do with the industry or the economic climate.

For me 15 years ago, it was because I did not love what I do. I didn’t exactly hate it, I just did not love it or like it. More importantly, I was not good at it. I am going to blame the fact that I did not love it, yes, I’m sticking with that.

I knew software development was not for me, so I needed to change. At the time, I had no idea what recruitment was. If I had to do it over again, I would research more.

When people come to me for help in changing career or roles, that is the first questions I ask them. Why? If the driving force is not strong enough, you maybe just wasting your time.

2. Find transferable skills.

Recruitment is a sales job. I went from a 2 person in the whole office with headphones on all day to 20 people in the same size room yelling at each other and on the phone all day.

What was my transferable skills? I took from my education, Computer Science. I can tell the audience that I came from the same world. I had great attention to details, this helped me spot mistakes in resumes that could cost someone the job. Lastly, I had excellent research skills. I can figure out what technologies each company have and identify the right people.

I am a firm believer that everyone has skills, you just need to identify yours. Worked at McDonald or another fast food joint? Your skills would be being able to deal with irate customers and excel under high pressure situations. Worked as a babysitter, looked after younger siblings, or is a parent? Your skills would be ability to multitask and time management.

All jobs have transferable skills. You just have to identify it.

3. Find role models.

When I started in recruitment, this is before YouTube. I had to find events or actual people that I want to learn from and go to them to be able to hear them speak. That is what I did.

I started in the office I worked. I watched and observed what the top person in my company did, watch how they spoke, how they work, and modeled it. That is how I knew I had to drop my voice. I learned what part of the job to focus on.

After that, I changed companies and did the same thing again. I also found books and events of the people I want to model.

With YouTube, you can do all that from the comfort of your own home. Find people around the world who has made the transition you would like to and model them. “Success leaves clues”, this is what Tony Robbins says. I believe in it wholeheartedly.

4. Check your ego at the door.

This one was hard for me to grasp. I left a super comfortable job in Information Technology for half the pay to be a recruiter. Often when you change careers, you do have to take a step back. But because of transferable skills, you will move forward much faster than someone without the previous experience. The salary decrease happens 90% of the time.

What I did not anticipate was how little I knew about the field of information technology. I thought walking into the role, because of my degree in Computer Science and because I worked as a developer, I knew the industry. How wrong I was.

Many times, I would walk into meetings and had not the slightest clue what they were talking about. My education nor my experience did not prepare me. I think I had a chip on my shoulder when I started my role in recruitment, but I was failing miserably.

It was not until I came to terms with the fact that I did not know much, that I started to learn and do better. I know now that I could have shortened my success path and saved myself weeks of misery if I just checked my ego at the door.

Change careers and roles are challenging, but sometimes very necessary. I hope these tips help you in your path.