1. Transitioning to a New Career
Sarah Rach-Sovich

2. Putting things into perspective…
• Where did you come from?
• Where are you going?
• Plan!

3. Where did you come from?
• Job titles
• Skills
• Achievements

4. Where are you going?
• Related positions/fields
• Transferrable skills
• Dreams & Goals
• Sometimes this is the hardest part

5. Career Plan
• Do some research
• Careers
– www.Iseek.org
– www.Careerinfonet.com
• Companies
– Websites
– LinkedIn

6. Bridging the Gap
• Know your Personal Brand
• Network
– Thought Leader
– Add value
– Innovator
– Be adaptive

7. Cover Letters for Career Change
• Will be different than what you have
done in the past
• Cover Letters
– Honesty
– Transferrable Skills
– Add Value
– Passion and Commitment

8. Cover Letter
• Honesty
– Don’t try to disguise their work
experience or pretend that it is more
relevant than it is
– Focus on the positive aspects of your
career change
• After six years in ad design, I’m thrilled to
bring my skills and knowledge directly to the
customer as a salesperson.

9. Cover Letters
• Transferrable Skills
– Bread and butter of a career change
– Be sure to talk about skills the employer
values, not just the ones you value
– Which ones should you focus on?
• Position description

10. Cover Letters
• Add Value
– Don’t waste too much time explaining
why you want to change careers
– Instead, show how you bring value to
your potential employer
• Why would hiring you be good for them ?
– Your unique background
– Bring something fresh to the team

11. Cover Letters
• Passion and Commitment
– Show your passion!
– They want to be sure you are serious
about the new profession, not just flighty
and undecided
• They are going to wonder about your
stability/longevity
– Have a strong, clear reason why you
want to enter this new career – and why
you will be dedicated to it
• Get personal (appropriately)… show your
passion!

12. Resumes
• The focus will change
• Try a different format
• Sell transferrable skills
• Highlight related experience

13. Keep in mind…
• Stats show that people will change
their careers 7-10 times in their lives
– More opportunities now
– Change happens FAST
– Jobs are being created as well as
eliminated