How can you make yourself more marketable in a new field?

As an executive career coach specializing in transition consulting, learning how to identify your transferable skills is key. These transferable skills do not always have to come from work experience. They can come from volunteering, education, and extracurricular activities. I was able to work helping tech professionals experiencing layoffs because I had volunteered for several years as a career coach supporting underemployed/unemployed job seekers facing age discrimination. Being a former recruiter, it came naturally to me to support professionals.

Two words: TRANSFERABLE SKILLS! We all have them, but it can be hard to pinpoint them on your own. Having a clear goal for your career change or industry shift is critical to identifying existing transferable skills while finding skills you can or need to build. Independent projects, freelance work, volunteering, or part-time roles can be a great way to get hands-on experience in those skills while alternative learning methods (bootcamps, courses, LinkedIn Learning, etc) can be a great way to get exposure to new industry jargon and skills.

Skill assessment: Identify the key skills required in the new field and assess where you stand in relation to them. Education and training: Pursue relevant courses or certifications to acquire the necessary knowledge and expertise. Networking: Connect with professionals in the new field through networking events, online communities, and social media platforms.

Consider reflecting on the skills and strengths you’ve honed in previous roles and not just jobs. This also includes those cultivated through hobbies, interests, and interactions with others. I remember a candidate who excelled in a national TV dance competition, demonstrating transferable skills such as confidence and composure in the spotlight. These skills were instrumental in securing a job that required such abilities. Never underestimate the diverse skills you’ve acquired from various experiences.

Often clients stay too high-level when identifying transferable skills. As for the example if you have skills in communication, what type of communication, with who, about what, when, etc. You need to peel back the layers on your skills to truly identify your strengths and more importantly your preferences.

Learning new skills is necessary to successfully market yourself into a new role. I'd like to add it is also important to show that you have fully understood or even advanced your skill set in certain areas. You are able to showcase your newfound knowledge in value validation projects where you can help identify a problem in the company currently and present how the solution can be addressed. It is even better if a solution can be provided in the project as well. I know in the tech industry, many professionals are given projects and tests during the initial interviewing stages.

As a coach who works with bootcamp grads moving into #tech, learning new skills is he first step they take to make themselves marketable in the new field. The new skills in engineering or design will help them learn the new field of #tech and land interviews. Building up these skills through internships and volunteering is equally important since it helps #careerchangers practice the skills they learned, build their #network and generally grow their #cnofidence.

Start by building small habits that help you learn. e.g., learn a new language for 1 min everyday, practice a new tool for 5 mins everyday. When you focus on building habits instead of trying to learn new things, you are creating a system that would promote continuous learning all your life. You will be learning new things on a daily basis. Then you can start being intentional about what you want to learn. Always play the long term game. Don't just think about your next job! Think about your lifelong career.

Treating every experience as a stepping stone is essential. Openness to learning allows us to absorb new skills and knowledge, embracing both strengths and weaknesses along the way. What truly counts is our ability to channel these experiences into skills and knowledge that resonate with us, crafting a pathway to future roles that we are passionate about.

I started from the ground again. Switching for academic, from a Senior Lecturer to a yoga instructor. I obtained my credentials first, went through the mill for teaching yoga, learned the extras by joining yoga sessions offered by other yoga instructors as well. What helped me is, my 20 over years of experienced as a lecturer, though I had to modify to fit into another industry, the yoga instructor. As for networking and marketing, I used and am still using social media platforms. Been favourable and I’m still at growing my business further.

Networking is the MOST important action you can take in the job search in a new field, such as #tech. Reach out to recruiters, hiring mangers and people in your target role in order to create connections who can help you land referrals, intro and more. Most valuable is that you get to practice talking about yourself, which means #networking helps grow your confidence in your new skills.

One thing that is helpful for people who feel overwhelmed by engaging people they may know or not know as well is to find commonalities. This is actually easy to do on LinkedIn because you can access most profiles and see what the potential connection posts about, their work history and other interests. You are able to engage from that perspective and take on more of a casual approach. Instead of looking at it as intrusive, look at it as if you are inviting people an opportunity to connect. Do not put too much pressure on yourself. Many people are happy to help people who are helping themselves.

Never underestimate the power of networking. Building and nurturing professional relationships can be a game-changer in your job search. Networking not only opens doors to new opportunities but also enriches your perspective, helping you to learn more about the industry and the roles that resonate with your career aspirations. Remember, every interaction is a step towards landing your desired position

Relationships are the only real currency in the world. If you focus on building your network and being memorable to that network about what you are truly looking for, you will create opportunities. Also, make it easy for your network to help you by providing information that they can review to remember or forward on to other introductions.

Networking and engagement stand out! In a new field you will not only need to repurpose your expertise, but also build a community that believes in you. Networking provides an avenue to connect with people who could have influence or sponsor you in the new field. For instance, receiving an endorsement or an opportunity to collaborate on a project could make you more visible. Engagement, on the other hand, avails the opportunity to showcase what one knows. Doing this consistently could establish one as a go-to-resource, hence more marketable. LinkedIn is top in providing a platform for both networking and engagement.

Taking up on a free lance basis special project based assignments from the target industry and target domain role is extremely helpful in building your work portfolio. Using your network get introduced to prospective employers and offer to take up such projects ( pro bono basis) which gives you an opportunity to build up your case by handling areas which you never handled before. It is not a question whether you earn money through such projects, it helps in building your credibility and gives confidence to the prospective hiring managers that you will be able to pick up and handle the career shift.

A portfolio is required or preferred in certain positions and industries. It can be helpful but keep in mind it is not about the quantity of content but the quality that will matter in the end. There are many jobs that do not require portfolios. This is specific to certain roles, more specifically creative or tech fields. If you are marketing yourself to a new field, you want to think from the perspective of the person viewing your portfolio. Make sure the content is relevant and aligns with what the company is looking for. When in doubt, it is okay to ask specifically if this is unclear.

It really varies based on your professional field. For instance, in emerging fields like the social sector, engaging in volunteering, participating in interest groups, and pursuing relevant studies can be quite beneficial. In contrast, for fields like design, having a well-crafted portfolio showcasing your previous works is essential to demonstrate your track record and proficiency. Ultimately, consider the perspective of an interviewer: What elements in a portfolio would impress them and vividly display your competencies? Tailor your portfolio to meet these expectations and prepare thoroughly!

Showcase your portfolio on the internet everyday! It's free! Share what you're working on with your LinkedIn community. Create long form posts, and videos. Market your skills online but with the focus on how your skills solve problems faced by many. Make a lot of noise! Attention is the currency!

Your brand must be reframed specifically to the new role you are seeking. Yes, it is that serious. If you were previously a program manager in education and you want to be a project manager in tech, you must shift to the latter. You must research what is the day like for a PM in tech. You must learn the terminology commonly used in that industry. It helps connect with people already in those roles to inform you of certain insights. Lastly, your brand is about what makes you unique from everyone else who does the same thing. It is also what people say about you when you are not present. A great brand is relevant, and shows awareness and impact.

You brand is who you are to others. If you define your own, or not, it still exists. Spend time reviewing your materials, online presence, and ask how people would describe you. These are great signals to what your brand is and how you might be to adapt it.

Avoid sending a generic resume to multiple jobs. Instead, customize each one, particularly the objective statement, to align with the specific role you're applying for. Highlight how your unique brand and vision resonate with the job and company values. Show genuine interest and enthusiasm in the position, making it evident that you've thoughtfully considered how you can contribute. Remember, a personalized touch can make your resume stand out, showcasing not just a candidate, but a personality with a distinct value proposition.

Your brand must clear enough to see how you would add to a new team. What are you known for? What types of problems do you solve? How- alone, through productive team-building? Through unique tecnical expertise? Regardless of the field you were in and the one you want to move into- your brand must allow your potential new boss what you could bring to the table leveraging your background as you assimilate into your new environment. So, your brand must change to also include the ability to integrate your old knowledge to the new circumstances in ways that will successfully solve problems and advance your new team. This evolution of your brand will happen with or without you, so be intentional about shaping and communicating it.

Imagine your future self! What are their values? What are their strengths? What are their goals? How do they talk, walk, stand? Where do they work? Where do they live? What choices do they make everyday? Now, practice living like that person everyday! In whatever you do, ask yourself: What would that person do in that situation? And do exactly that! And that way, you are practicing your future brand today!

For my career success working with a mentor really was a game changer. You get insight from someone in the role, you aspire to be in within a few years, this way you can easily learn from his or her experiences and implement findings right from the start of your journey. Furthermore being connected to a more senior person in your domain your aspired domain can also give you great chances in terms of larger network. IF you are looking to find a mentor, please feel free to reach out. We are connecting especially Data and Computer Vision Professionals on a daily basis.

Consider learning new skills and getting certified. Employers look for specific certifications in resumes for some roles. There are so many different free learning websites that will give you certifications: - Linkedin Learning: Have a look, type in keywords or the skill needed to get access to training and certifications. - SkillShare: Expand your artistic skills - Coursera: Gain new transferable skills - Khan Academy: Provides free education on SQL, computer programming, test preparation (LSAT, SAT, etc) Don't forget to add the certifications to your LinkedIn and your résumé!