Changing careers could be one of the best decisions you
make in your life. It may also be one of the more difficult
things you will do. Creating a self-inventory and doing
some basic preparation can make a big difference in the way
you view yourself and as a result how others see you. Here
are five tips to help you weave your way through your
transition.
1. Focus on your "transferable skills."
When you change careers the focus will be on the "soft"
skills - referred to as "transferable" or "portable"
skills. These are skills you have used at any and every job
or situation you have been in, including volunteer work and
school.
Examples of transferable skills are: communication skills,
ability to work with a diversity of people, ability to plan
and organize, time management, analytical problem solving,
customer service skills, etc.
Make a list of your transferable skills, keeping in mind
that these are the skills you could use regardless of what
company you worked at, or what position you are applying
for. A good source of desirable transferable skills can be
found in job postings. Print out several postings and
highlight words that reoccur. These are "key traits" that
the employer is seeking – don't underestimate them.
2. Find your uniqueness.
Each candidate is unique. What makes you unique? Think
about your personality and your personal traits. One of the
things that the interviewer is looking for is "someone to
fit in" - who is likeable with the ability to work well
with other team members. Your personal traits could be the
tie-breaker between you and an equally qualified candidate.
Think of at least five personal traits that make you
unique. Some examples are: friendly, flexible, quick
learner, reliable, responsible, easy to get along with,
detail-oriented, loyal, etc.
3. Believe in yourself.
Once you have established what you have to offer, you will
begin to see the value you can bring to the job. When you
believe in yourself and the fact that you have something of
value to offer, it will be easier to show confidence and to
convince the employer that you can do the job. Any sales
person will tell you that when you believe in your product
and its reliability it is far easier to sell and influence
someone to buy.
4. Listen and read between the lines.
Prepare five to ten questions to ask about the company. The
best questions will come from your ears. It is also
important to listen to what is said as a way of formulating
questions. For example, if several of the questions they
asked you centered around a certain topic, for instance
"databases," be sure to ask questions about the database
and the challenges and the problems with the database.
Showing an interest by asking questions demonstrates your
interest in the company.
5. Prepare stories about your past experiences.
When you can show examples of past successes, you will have
a better chance of showing the interviewer that you have
used similar skills in past jobs, even if the job duties
are different.
Changing careers is not easy to do in any market, but in a
tight job market it will take that extra step to
differentiate yourself from the next candidate. Remember,
the employer has a problem – there is work to be done. It
is your job to listen to what the interviewer is looking
for and then to sell yourself as the solution to the
problem. Letting the interviewer know you heard and
understand the job will make you appear more interested in
what is going on at the company, and in turn will make you
appear to be a more viable choice as the best person for
the job.
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Carole Martin, America's #1 Interview Coach, is a
celebrated author, trainer, and mentor. Carole can give you
interviewing tips like no one else can. Get a copy of her
FREE 9-part "Interview Success Tips" report by visiting
Carole on the web at The Interview Coach
http://www.interviewcoach.com
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