Let’s Chat… Industry Career Shift!

Welcome back, everyone! Today we’re here to guide you through a few things to think about if you’re exploring the idea of a potential career shift into a new industry. It can definitely feel a bit intimidating to conceptualize adjusting your entire career, but we want to make sure that you know you never have to feel stuck in a role! There are an endless number of responsibilities, roles, companies, industries, and more that candidates can take on through a career lifetime. So, if you have any kind of itch to make the move, keep reading below to find out how to start…

Shifting Careers into a New Path

  • Self-Reflect: Before you make a large decision, it’s crucial to spend time assessing how you truly feel. After (always) implementing the 24-hour rule, you will be ready to clearly analyze how you felt in your previous position, about your career path and responsibilities, and even about your opportunity for lateral and vertical advancements. If you are struggling to identify aspects of your role that helped you to feel fulfilled or content, then this is a great indicator that you may be ready for a career 180.
  • Acceptance: It is all too easy to fall into a trap of feeling like you should have every aspect of your life figured out at an early age; we’re here to tell you that this is not the truth! You will likely undergo identity, career, and several other types of adjustments at multiple times throughout your life, and that is absolutely ok. The next step towards initiating this change is accepting your decision and supporting yourself.
  • Strengths and Weaknesses Assessment: A great way to begin gauging new opportunities is through gaining an understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses. By channeling these aspects of your personality and skills, you will be able to start envisioning jobs that appeal to your interests and abilities.
  • Consider Environment: Can you envision yourself in a completely new city or environment? Are you ready for a new climate or a complete restart? Transitioning into a new role is a perfect time to explore a new location.
    • Extra tip: We encourage you to begin comparing the price of living across various cities to be able to assess how you would be able to sustain a comfortable routine in a new space.
  • Utilize Your Network: Once you have started to visualize a new place, role, skill, or other aspect of your new endeavor, then you can begin nailing down other people’s perspectives both of your decision and of their personal experiences. Utilize your network, mentors, friends, and family to gauge new opportunities before diving in headfirst! Consulting mentors and connections you’ve built will allow you to gain perspective about different industry moments and existing opportunities.
  • Apply! Especially at Esquire, we understand and encourage you to get your foot in the door in whatever manner you can! Whether this means throwing an application out on Indeed or LinkedIn, passing along your information to a connection, or setting up an information interview/coffee chat, you never know when your next best opportunity may fall into your lap. Remember to be confident both in yourself and in your capabilities; you’ll land the position in no time!

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