Changing Industries 101

Picture this; you’ve just graduated from university, focused on finding a role within Marketing. BOOM, offer made and accepted within a tertiary institution (congratulations!)

You learn, you grow – a year goes by, and you receive an internal promotion (YOU’RE KILLING IT!) Another two years go by, and another tertiary institute has been keeping a watchful eye on the projects you’ve been delivering. They offer you a role working with them (more money, better title, new environment, who could say no?) You’re there for a few years, still learning and growing; but you’re beginning to feel like you have achieved what you needed to within the tertiary sector.

You start exploring new opportunities in other interest areas. But you are hit with a roadblock you didn’t expect; WHY aren’t you securing interviews? WHY isn’t the hiring manager seeing you are clearly capable? Are you beginning to feel like you have pigeonholed yourself into the tertiary sector? Well, you kinda have. BUT DON’T FRET. This article is here to show you how you can change industries successfully.

• Pre-cursor; it’s not going to be easy – You’re going to need to hustle and grind to show that your skillset is entirely transferable and that the next industry you join isn’t just a taster or phase that you’ll abandon after a few months. When an organisation employs you, they invest in you – they are looking for a return on that investment. For example, a number of candidates come to me from a commercial background, feeling like they want to move into a NFP role and give back to their community. Knowing that these industries are very dissimilar, the NFP client is worried that the Commercial candidate will get cold feet. Vice versa, the Commercial client is worried that the NFP candidate will miss the social values of their previous industry. The client is taking a risk on the candidate who is changing industries – we need to show the client that you are a risk well worth taking.
• Do your homework on your next industry, and ensure your values align – As said in my previous article on Interviews, it is so imperative that your values align with the industry you are looking to move into. ESPECIALLY when you are creating content for that organisation. Someone who is vegan wouldn’t apply for a role at D’Orsogna; someone who is against gambling wouldn’t apply for a role at Sportsbet. You may think you can overcome your values for a role, but they are embedded pretty deep within us. So; are you thinking of moving from tertiary to health? AMAZING. Research the various hospitals, foundations and institutes across your city. Google the projects they are working on and the funding they are needing. Follow the thought leaders within this space on LinkedIn and Twitter. Research as much about the industry as you can, so when you apply for a role within that industry, the hiring manager can see your keenness, passion and intent.
• Identify your transferable skills and make them very apparent to the hiring manager – Applying for a Communications Advisor role at a hospital, when your background is in Marketing at a university, is going to confuse a hiring manager UNLESS you make it plainly clear that your skillset is transferable and you want to change industries and potentially roles. Mold your resume to reflect the role you want. This is definitely not me telling you to lie or embellish. This is me telling you to position your CV to the role you want next. Include in your resume all of your Communications skills, and all of the Communications activities your Marketing roles have required; include all of your duties that are similar to the duties the hospital role requires. Proudly display your achievements and projects you have worked on that align with the health industry. Make your resume relatable for the hiring manager, so that you aren’t a candidate who is looked over.
• Network – connect with other Marcomms professionals within the industry you want to work in, befriend them and gain intel from them on how to best approach the industry. These may be via Meetups, or this can simply be done via LinkedIn. This new network might namedrop you within their organisation when a role arises – this valuable connection you have made could be the start of the next phase of your career (and a BEAUTIFUL friendship!) Also, build your personal brand for your network to see. Write content that relates to the industry you wish to work in; share articles that you find interesting that relate to your industry for your network to see. Build your brand of how you want others to see you.
• Be prepared to answer the question as to why you want to change industries – You can’t simply say “I was scared of being pigeonholed in one sector” or “I thought I’d give this a try” or “I don’t like my current industry anymore for reasons XYZ” – you need to show why you’re the organisations next best hire, even though you’ll require some additional training and hand holding until you are up to speed. Other candidates applying for the role may already be in the industry and not need this at all. You need to be confident and back yourself, and you can do this by being prepared going into it with a solid reason as to why you want this.

REMEMBER; What story have you been telling, and what story do you want to tell? Bring over your skillset and experience from the story you have been telling, and tell a new story about how these can compliment your values and add value to your next industry.

Do you have any additional suggestions for people looking to change industries? Have you successfully done this and have some tips? Post below for your Marcomms community to see!

Sasha Kinane - Senior Consultant, Marketing & Communications

03 9448 3016 | [email protected] | 0439 986 652