co·nun·drum/kəˈnəndrəm/noun
- a confusing and difficult problem or question.”one of the most difficult conundrums for the experts”synonyms:problem, difficult question, difficulty, quandary, dilemma; informalposer”the conundrums facing policy-makers”
One of the biggest challenges facing people in the workforce today is the dreaded career change. Let me explain this with a story…
Company ABC is looking for an analyst, and they are seeking 3-5 years of relevant experience. Candidate does not have the relevant experience, because he has spent the last 10 years working in a different industry. Sure, the soft skills are very relevant (critical thinking, problem solving, communication, teamwork), however Company ABC is looking for the experience, as well as hard skills in software X, Y and Z.
There is a fundamental mismatch here. Candidate may be an excellent fit for the role, and has the capacity to excel, however when Company ABC reviews his resume – the experience and hard skills just aren’t there. Candidate gets over looked and discarded by applicant tracking systems. How is Candidate going to prove to Company ABC that he is the best fit for the job?
There is a lot of advice out there for career changers to tailor their resume to the job posting’s “soft skills”, aka skills that could apply to just about any job. I’m sorry, but in today’s competitive market that advice is not going to guarantee success. A resume that says you pay attention to detail does not win you a job, skills do.
Fortunately, Candidate doesn’t place too much weight on his resume beyond keeping it updated. Candidate focuses on continuing education, in the analytics realm, in order to 1) have the skills to do the job, and 2) prove to employers that he is serious about his career change from X industry into analytics. Candidate is also fortunate, because his newly chosen career goal in analytics is very skills-based, meaning the years of experience don’t mean quite as much, as long as Candidate has the skills to perform the functions of the job. For example navigating certain software.
In addition to his continuing education, Candidate also builds an online portfolio of analytics work. The portfolio includes some capstone work from his continuing education, as well as freelance projects he created from publicly available data. Candidate also completely re-brands himself as an analyst in every way possible. When people ask him what he does, he tells them he is an analyst. He has business cards printed up that say he’s an analyst. He attends analyst conferences, and makes connections with people in the industry. All during this time, he continues to quietly build his portfolio, adding projects, and improving his skills.
Not long after that, the job offers and interview requests begin pouring in. Why? Because instead of just applying for a job and ASKING Company ABC to take a chance on him… he took the initiative and BECAME an analyst by his own volition. He didn’t wait for anyone else to grant him permission to pursue his career goal. Candidate was confident in his interviews, because he had a rich portfolio of work, ready to present to prospective employers. His resume showing 10+years in a different industry was irrelevant at that point. Candidate successfully proved himself as an analyst, without any companies taking a risk on a career changer.
The moral of this story is: if you’re interested in a career change… especially in any technology or analytics field… get some continuing education, certifications, take online courses, etc. Build yourself an online portfolio, and completely re-brand yourself as that role. Attend local events for that industry, and pass out your business cards to everyone you meet. Keep your portfolio fresh, even if you haven’t scored that new job yet. Very few people are willing to take this type of initiative. By taking all of these steps, you are giving employers something tangible which confirms you are capable of the work.
Have you successfully made a career change? Tell me about your experience below.
Good luck,
Rose