How to enter a new industry without starting from scratch

Whether you want an entirely new career or are just hoping to launch a new business, the idea of entering a whole new industry without proper experience seems almost impossible, right? You’ve invested so much time and energy in all of your work, it seems crazy to start over in a new field, right?

There are plenty of reasons why someone would want to start over in a new industry. Perhaps they have become restless in their work and having to do the same thing over and over again. Sometimes people move into a profession that they are not passionate about because, at the time, that was the only job or option available to them.

There are a lot of reasons why someone’s career might not be fulfilling. Sometimes people just realize their career wasn’t what it was. This happens all the time, and it’s important to know that it’s never too late to try to change careers. It’s all about getting the right strategy when trying to change careers while entering a completely new industry. Sure, the idea of entering a completely new industry, especially at the peak of your career, seems unattainable but it can actually happen. Will it be easy? It most likely won’t be the case, but it doesn’t make it impossible.

By leveraging your experience and even transferring your skills, you can find plenty of opportunities awaiting you in the new industry you hope to enter. The upside to this is the fact that hiring managers and recruiters will welcome even candidates with little or no experience in their industry. It is always helpful to have an outside perspective and this can help businesses and other organizations grow and continue to stay innovative. So do you want to know how to get into a whole new industry without having to start over from the bottom? Then read on to find out how!

Do a thorough search

Do you know what industry you hope to enter? Is there something you are very passionate about that you want to pursue? A good step in the right direction would be to do some research and maybe even take a course or two. This will help you acquire skills and even learn some industry-appropriate terminology.

For example, let’s say you want to get into the agricultural industry. You specifically want to be involved in raising livestock, maybe even horses. In this case, it is very helpful to go to Equestrianmag.com because then you will be able to learn a lot about horses such as how to care for them and the sports they are involved in. Just finding the right websites is a great step in the direction of letting yourself know more.

Think about the skills employers want

If you are hoping to work for an organization rather than to run a business, you will need to consider the skills that employers want from candidates. This is easy to do. You can go to a lot of job sites for the role you want in a specific industry and see what some of the requirements are.

This can include specific skills such as programming, graphic skills, driving, or even other skills. Some other requirements can include a degree (these tend to be flexible), certifications, and licenses as well. It is helpful to research a pattern such as keywords or recurring requirements as they can help you figure out what you need to get in order to enter a new industry.

Ask yourself what your transferable skills are

What are some of the skills you already have that you can bring with you into your new career? These can include both hard and soft skills. Even though you are planning to enter a new industry, it is safe to assume that you will have transferable skills. Your skills and experience will not only be relevant to the current field in which you work. Sometimes, the skills you have in one field can be more valuable in another, so this may be beneficial to you.

Think about how you will write your resume

Did you know that you should meet your resume about the job and the field you are applying for? The entire resume work can be very confusing as it is difficult to fully determine what is true and what is false. So it is best to know the objective of your resume.

How can you get employers’ attention? How can you make yourself look like a good candidate? You’ll want to do some research on this topic. It can also be helpful to look on LinkedIn at the profiles of people who have roles similar to something you’re after in the industry you’re trying to break into. This can give you an idea of what keywords to use.

Think about your brand

Everyone has a brand, it is the way you sell yourself to prove that you are worthy and reliable. This is not just something companies have. You will want to think about your brand and how you can reposition it so that you appear as a desirable candidate for the industry you wish to enter.

You’ll want to highlight and even prioritize your transferable skills. This is another part of building your resume and online profiles such as LinkedIn.

Start communicating

Even when you’re trying to break into a new industry, you’ll still need to network. You should let your network know that you are actively looking for job opportunities as 85% of jobs are filled through referrals alone. So it’s best to think of your colleagues, ask your friends and family and even reach out and connect with strangers.

Sure, it’s quite intimidating honestly but networking has been known to help a lot. You can also reach out to someone through a networking website and ask them for coffee or dinner so you can get some advice. It is also better to write down some questions to ask. Going to specific industry related forums and seeking advice there can also help.