Whether you are looking for a change or are in an industry that is not doing well, moving to a new industry can be just what you need. This can give your career just the boost it needs and make your career flourish even more.
Your cover letter and resume should demonstrate the skills that you will bring to your new industry that will benefit the company you are applying to. Networking can be a great way to get your name out there with new industries and demonstrate your knowledge that could benefit these companies. Although there are some specific skills to individual industries, for the most part skills can be transferable across industries.
If you have an industry you are really interested in moving into, learn more about it and what they are looking for. If you know someone in the industry, meet with them over coffee and pick their brain to learn more about it and what you need to know. This also applies to challenges facing the companies you apply to and interview with. If you come to the interview with solutions to these challenges, it will help you stand out among the crowd.
Companies want someone that can hit the ground running. You can learn a lot from industry journals, which will teach you the lingo and what skills you may want to add to your skill set. You also want to do research as to who the key players are in the industry so you can talk about the industry, with confidence, that you know what you are talking about.
Be prepared to answer the question about why you want to change industries. They want to hear your passion for the industry and not just that you were unhappy in your old career. They want to see someone that has the enthusiasm to take on new challenges.
What industries are your connections in? If they are all in the industry you used to work in, then you are going to need to branch out. Start making connections with people in the industry you want to break into. These valuable connections will allow you to learn more about the industry and network with people that can allow you to break into the industry.
If you’re not using LinkedIn as a resource, change that today. Join groups in the industry you want to work in. Participation in these groups may lead to new opportunities.
