Source:pexels.com

When you’re not feeling challenged or rewarded by your day-to-day job, it’s difficult to look forward to going in to work each morning. Changing careers can be one of the best ways to change your life and discover your passions. Progressing into a new career can be smooth when done right, however, there are still some challenges that you must overcome, especially if you start your new career as a side hustle. For instance, moving from a position as a receptionist for one company to the same role with a different brand is easy,  however, the process becomes a lot more complicated when you’re changing your industry and specialty.

Today, countless professionals are moving into technical fields driven by trends like digital transformation, tech industry growth and increasing demand for technical staff on each organisational level.

Below is some simple steps that could be implemented to put your skills to the test in a technical environment.

Step 1: Define Your Why

Changing your career isn’t a small step, it requires lots of considering and planning to ensure you are heading towards the right career path. You must find something that you’re genuinely committed to if you want to push yourself past the initial fear factor that tells you it would be better to play it safe.

If you’re making a significant change, such as moving from an admin assistant role towards an official HR position, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to achieve your goals overnight. You’ll need to obtain a continual and persistent commitment to accomplish these successfully. During the intermediate stage between your non-technical and technical jobs, you may encounter a psychological phenomenon known as the emotional cycle of change. This term refers to the experience that most of us have when we make a positive change in our lives.

“At first, we feel great about the idea and excited about the new challenge. Then, when we discover how tough migrating into a new job can really be, we lose our enthusiasm.”

Don’t expect to be ready for your technical job as soon as you decide on your changeover, aim to be prepared for the process to be tough and challenging whilst rewarding.

Visualisation is a great way to remind yourself of what you want to accomplish. If you know why you want to move into a technical job in the first place, it’s much easier to picture yourself in the role of your dreams and get that extra motivation to get it done.

Ask yourself, what do you want to achieve out of this new role, and how will your life adjust by making the move?

Step 2: Find a Role You Care About

Obtaining the skills required for a high-pressure technical job isn’t easy, this involves a lot of your endless energy, time, and even money in the process. Also, you need to make sure you’re committing to a role that you can be attracted to. If you’re still undecided what kind of position is right for you, consider seeking people who are in similar positions to the ones you’re interested in. Speak to those people about their experiences and find out what they dislike or enjoy about them. Connect with associates on LinkedIn, and visit conferences and industry events to expand your research.

Every career has its advantages and disadvantages. Doing your homework will make sure that you’re not tempted to give up on your changeover, if you encounter any possible barriers along your career path.

Step 3: Figure Out the Skills You’ll Need, and Earn Them

Technical roles do require a great deal of skill, sometimes you’ll be able to use some skills you’ve already acquired in your non-technical job. For example, if you’re a retail assistant now, you can use the people skills you’ve developed by interacting with clients to support your plan for connecting with customers online as a digital marketer. However, you will also need to develop some new skills too, which involves educating yourself.

Try and get hold of job descriptions from companies looking for candidates to fill the role that you ultimately want to get, and compare the job description to your curriculum vitae and ask yourself what you’re missing. It could be that you need to learn how to use a particular piece of software, like CRM tools or digital marketing services. It may well be that you need to improve your computer skills or learn how to resolve issues on your computer operating system. This is an excellent skill for any technical employee to have, which is letting them know you are self-sufficient and won’t be stopped by minor problems.

Once you’ve created a list of skills you need to gain, you can begin planning how you’re going to develop these new talents one small step at a time. Remember, take your time, as you might not earn all of your new skills overnight. Some things you’ll be able to teach yourself with online resources, like fixing common PC issues, and other things you need to learn from a professional on a night course or at a local college. Obtain a plan that works for you.

Step 4: Start Building Your Experience

As you earn some essential skills relevant to someone in the position you want to achieve, it’s worth looking at ways that you can gain experience along the way too. If you want to hold on to your current job until you’re ready for the change, volunteer to spend some time working at a company that offers opportunities in the role you want.

Volunteering will give you a chance to see what it’s like working in a technical position, so you can decide if it’s the right career for you…

It also means that you’ll get your foot in the door, when the time comes to apply for your new role. If volunteering options are not available then it could be worth to consider freelancing to test your skills. You can offer your new services for a small price, and use your connections with freelance clients to build a portfolio, which will show your new talents to potential employers in the future.

Pursuing Your Technical Career

When you decide to take the leap into a new career, this could be the most challenging step you may take in your life.

However, that doesn’t mean you should underestimate the encounters that come with moving from a non-technical role to a technical position. With so much to learn and discover, it will take time before you feel comfortable and confident in the job of your dreams.

Career change cover letters

Approaching a cover letter for a new career can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. When crafting a cover letter for a career change, it’s essential to highlight your transferable skills, enthusiasm and how your previous experiences align with the requirements of the position you’re applying for. Clearly state your intention to transition into the new field and briefly explain your motivation for the career change.

In the body of the cover letter, focus on showcasing relevant skills, accomplishments, and experiences from your current or previous industry that demonstrate your ability to succeed in the new role. Emphasise skills such as leadership, problem-solving, communication, or project management skills. Provide specific examples of how you’ve used these skills to achieve results in your previous roles.

Career change CV advice

When creating your CV for a career change, the biggest difference is to really highlight your transferable skills, relevant experiences, and enthusiasm as directly as possible. 

In the professional experience section, focus on highlighting accomplishments, skills, and responsibilities that are transferable to the new role. Ensure any projects, initiatives, or achievements that demonstrate your ability to succeed in the new career path stand out and use action verbs and quantifiable results to showcase your impact in previous roles and illustrate your potential value to prospective employers.

When listing your education and qualifications, focus on highlighting any relevant degrees, certifications, or training programmes that support your transition into the new field. Include coursework, projects, or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your interest and proficiency in the target industry.

The good news?

If you can create a plan that works for you and commit to the transfer process, you’ll be on your way to a successful new career.