At some point in your career, you might have a desire to change industries. For instance, you might think of switching from the energy industry to the technology, healthcare or manufacturing industries. If you apply for a job in an industry that is different from the industry you have worked in previously, recruiters and hiring managers might struggle to understand how you will be a great fit for their job.
Most job openings and descriptions will specify that professionals who have experience in the particular industry will be preferred. Based on my experience and interactions with various professionals over the years, I know that some professionals think it is a difficult task to transition to a different industry. However, it is possible with the right knowledge, detailed research and adequate preparation.
You need a good game plan to ensure that you have a successful job transition. You need to make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to see you as a good fit for their job openings.
Here are some of my tips and strategies to make it easier for you to get a job in a new industry.
1. Revise or revamp your résumé and cover letter to ensure that you remove specific industry jargon and language that does not apply to the industry you are targeting.
2. Make sure the achievements and skills you add to your résumé and cover letter are easy to understand by most people.
3. Study your target or dream job descriptions and insert key skills and achievements that relate to your target or dream jobs in your résumé and cover letter.
4. Review your LinkedIn profile to ensure that it highlights your skills, education and achievements that relate to your target job and industry. LinkedIn allows you to add up to 50 skills; use this opportunity to remove skills that do not align with your target job and add those skills that do align. In the education and experience sections of LinkedIn, add relevant education, certifications and achievements.
5. Reach out to friends and connections on LinkedIn who work in the industry that you are targeting to learn more about what it is like working in that industry. I recommend setting up informational interviews with them to get your questions answered, especially about the common challenges that come with the sector.
6. Research your target companies and industries to understand their businesses, customers, challenges, competitive advantages and financial profiles. You can use LinkedIn and Google to conduct your research. You can also go directly to the company's website and explore its page.
7. When you get an interview, clearly articulate how your skills, knowledge and experience relate to the job.