What do you do if you want to transition your career into R&D and impress potential employers?

As an R&D professional, I'd recommend focusing on transferable skills you already possess. Look for overlaps! Were you in quality control? Analyzing data to pinpoint defects translates to identifying issues in new product development. Did you excel in project management? Keeping projects on track is vital in R&D, ensuring innovations stay on schedule. Highlight these connections in your resume and tailor them to the specific R&D role you're applying for.

No R&D experience? No problem! Look for ways to build your resume outside of traditional jobs. Volunteer with a professor on a research project – it showcases your curiosity and research skills. Participate in hackathons – they highlight your problem-solving abilities and innovation under pressure. These experiences, while unpaid, demonstrate your passion for R&D and set you apart from the pack.

Leverage online platforms! Join R&D-focused groups on LinkedIn or professional forums. Actively participate in discussions, ask insightful questions, and share relevant articles. This showcases your passion for the field and allows you to connect with professionals who can offer advice or even become potential references. Imagine impressing an R&D manager by contributing a well-researched point in a forum discussion they're following!

This can take some time - personally, years. But your nearest expert neighbour may be in a different country or in bed when you're awake and so creating and developing meaning relational networks requires effort and a level of vulnerability. Don't be put off by the apparent abundance of experts seemingly way out of your league - you may be thought of as exactly the same! Introduce yourself, start a conversation with appropriate style to match professional acquaintance. You my find a cold end or a warm lead. But time tells who you really click with and make time in your day to respond. From experience, you have no idea where it will lead and what doors will open for you!

Tooling like GitHub with its social media integration is a great way to promote your abilities beyond your present role. An online portfolio can be a great first window into your experience, capabilities and potential. Caution must be given to misappropriation of IP under present contracts or demonstration of a relatively early level of skill. Your new employer wants to see your wow factor - and where you may not be able to demonstrate this in your existing position, hobby projects may be an excellent choice for ticking off some learning goals and raising your own bar - and letting others see that.

This is what I actually did 2 years back when an R&D role was reffered to me while I was working in an environmental consultancy.? The first thing I did was customizing my CV, showcasing more of my project work rather than other roles I carried. Secondly, I thoroughly went through the job description of the potential role, and matched it to my current skills. Eventually, During the discussion with the employers, I was very much clear about the work I have done already, & what challenges I could take, and How much supervision I initially needed.?? Now its been 2 years, and every other week there is a new R&D query and is swiftly taken care of without any supervision involved.? In conclusion, I'd say orient yourself well & keep steering.