Thinking of changing industries during this difficult time? You’re not alone

Many of you have reached out to me over the past several weeks to say that you’re thinking about looking for work in new industries. With all of the uncertainty in the world right now, several of you have even asked me if I think you’re crazy for considering such a big change. The answer is that you’re not crazy for thinking about making a move. In fact, it’s natural.

We’re living through an unprecedented experience. Tens of millions of people have lost their jobs in a short amount of time. People are worried about their health and the wellbeing of their loved ones. These cataclysmic events naturally cause people to reevaluate what’s important to them and where they might want to do with their lives in the future.

“I want to leave teaching and get into the business world,” wrote Nilam P. on a post I published about career changes. “To ease my way into it I have been applying to companies that focus on education.”

Similarly, Emily B. wrote that her current sector is being severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. “I have a feeling I will need to pivot to a different industry - the path is rather unclear as to how to accomplish this. I'm actively networking and seeking advice as I know my skill set is transferrable.”

To help those of you who are exploring a career change, I reached out to Jenny Blake. She is the author of Pivot and a career strategist. 

Should you make the move?

A lot of you are struggling with the decision to make a change or not. Blake said there are three factors to consider when thinking about transitioning into a new field. The first factor is your risk tolerance, which is your personal like or dislike of uncertainty. The second is something she calls your Pivot runway, which is your financial cushion. The third is whether or not you have an urge to move into a new field regardless of the obstacles that you face. 

A person who does not like change and does not have the financial resources to withstand a prolonged job search may want to reconsider making a move, for example. 

Yet, a person in that situation who has an incredibly strong desire to move into a specific field may still decide to try and make the jump. “If someone is really unhappy, you just got to make a move,” said Blake.

Which field should you move into?

If you decide to make a change but are struggling to figure out where you want to go with your career, Blake said it’s important to examine your strengths.

“I always encourage people to look at what is working for them — even if it’s a small fraction of what they are doing,” she said. “What do you get complimented on? What are you the go-to person for?”

“From there, people tend to uncover their natural gifts and talents.”

Once you discover your strengths, she said it’s also important to identify who you want to serve with those talents. Do you primarily care about providing for your immediate family? Do you want to help others with your talents? Identifying your motivation can help point to an area of interest in the job market.

Additionally, Blake said you should take note of what grabs your attention. Do you care about a specific cause? Or, is there something in popular culture that you can’t get enough of? 

Answering these various questions — what you’re good at, who you want to help, and what you enjoy — can lead you to an area to explore for opportunities.

How do you break into a new field?

Something that may hold many of you back from pursuing a career in a new field is the daunting task of getting your foot in the proverbial door without much industry experience. As always, networking is key to any job search — regardless of the industry that you’re exploring. Also, Blake said it’s important to work on filling your skills gap, which is what is essential for the role you want and something you’re not equipped to do.

Blake said she also suggests people explore projects as one way to start a relationship with a company. “You’d be surprised how many companies are willing to engage with you as a contractor.”

In addition to helping prove yourself to an employer, a part-time project can help you decide whether you like that field, if you can become an expert in that area and if you can grow a career in that space.

If you do decide to pursue a career change, Blake said you should visualize two kinds of success. What does success look like given current circumstances? What does success look like in your wildest dreams?

Setting those goals can help keep you on track. “They help us hold onto a dual dream,” said Blake.

Lastly, it’s important to know that these types of changes are possible. Kim Y. wrote on my post that she transitioned from the food industry to pharmaceuticals after a layoff due to the pandemic. “All I did was convinced them that although I may not have pharmaceutical experience, I do have all the transferable skills to do the job.”

Are you thinking about make a career change? What approach are you taking? Join the conversation.

? Want even more #GetHired?

I broadcast each week on #LinkedInLive to discuss job search strategies during this hectic and uncertain time. Follow my profile by clicking here if you’d like to get a notification when we go live on Fridays at 1 p.m. ET. I’ll be chatting this week on #GetHired Live with Jenny Blake, who is the author of Pivot and the expert I interviewed above. We’ll be discussing job search strategies and answering your questions.

? The follow-up:

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has seeped into almost every aspect of daily life, including job interviews. We discussed some of the pandemic-related questions you may encounter during conversations with potential employers in the last edition of #GetHired. In addition to standard questions, recruiters and hiring managers may want to know how you’re handling the crisis, what you learned about yourself, if you can work from home and what you’re doing with your spare time. Here’s what people are saying about these questions.

? Other news to help you #GetHired:

Another 3.17 million Americans filed jobless claims in the week ending May 2, according to the Department of Labor. The number foreshadows what is expected to be a record-breaking jobs report on Friday. Analysts estimate that the April unemployment rate will jump to 15% or higher — whereas it hit a 50-year low of 3.5% just two months ago. Here’s what people are saying about the news.

More than 20 million U.S. jobs were lost in April, according to ADP. Jobs were hardest hit in the service, hospitality, trade, transportation, utility and construction industries. The data, which look at the four weeks leading up to April 12, foreshadows an unprecedented month-over-month increase in the national unemployment rate, which will be released on Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rate is expected to increase nearly fourfold to 15%, reports Bloomberg. Here’s what people are saying about the data.

Farms are looking to staff up as traditional labor supplies are disrupted, according to Chris Anderson, my colleague in Singapore. He writes in Making Sense of Coronavirus that there is a renewed focus on farm work due to the ongoing pandemic. Farms need people to do work, but migrant labor shortages and travel disruptions are causing issues. As a result, some governments are offering grants and other incentives to keep farms operating. Here’s what people are saying about the trend.

Here’s who’s hiring right now. As I’ve said before, we’re doing our best to connect you with companies that are still hiring during these troubled economic times. Part of that effort is a regularly updated list of companies we know to be hiring. Some of those include Amazon, Walmart and CVS Health. Click here to see more.

? Up next:

I know many people dread crafting the perfect resume for a job. In the next edition of #GetHired, we’ll discuss all of the pieces of information you should include on your resume, what you should save for the cover letter and the bits that should stay off the page. Let me know in the comments below how you craft your resume.

? The #GetHired Job Search Guide:

As I’ve said before, I will do my best to keep you up to date with the latest tools and tips to help you #GetHired. To keep track of those various pieces of information, I created a one-stop-shop where I’m summarizing and linking to a lot of my newsletters. You’ll also find accompanying LinkedIn Learning courses below most of the topics. Click here to check out the guide.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to reach out to me if you have ideas on topics or questions I should address in future editions of #GetHired. You can also email me at GetHired[at]LinkedIn.com.