Timing is everything. In a buoyant economy, where skills are short, and there are more roles than people to fill them, it’s an ideal time to consider transferring your skills into a different space. In a challenging economy, when the pendulum has swung the other way, organisations are much less likely to take a risk on candidates who do not meet their full specification.
That said, the key word here is effort. How much you’re prepared to put in will mean everything when trying to make your career dream come true.
A good start is to grab a big piece of paper and at one end write where you are, and at the other where you want to be. Specifically:
Where you are:
You could even ask a couple of people you work with why they enjoy working with you to help you identify your strengths.
For where you want to be, use the same questions as above, but this time put yourself into the new role when providing the answers. Again here it could be really useful to find someone who currently does that job so you can pick their brains about what’s really needed.
Identify the crossover and the development needs
Then you’ll need to identify what transferable skills you have in your current role. Transferable skills are the ones which are common to both roles. Try and find the common denominators, and these become your selling points and the key elements helping you to move into your new role.
Identify the development needs
Then find the areas where you have a lack of knowledge, skill or experience. These will form your action plan. It may be that you can move sideways in your existing company – by far the lowest risk option. It may mean taking a course in your free time. If you are not working at the moment, now could be the time to do some voluntary work to gain experience and critical skills you may not have. The CEO of MIND, a major charity, started as a two-day a week volunteer with them.
The key to persuading someone to give you an opportunity in a new role is some experience and if this is gained through unpaid work it gives you a stronger case as it demonstrates your commitment. If you’re freelancing, can you do a 4 day week perhaps and spend the fifth day gaining the new skills you need?
Clearly it’s not possible for everyone to take time out like that. Mortgages and family commitments get in the way. In that case perhaps a five year plan to get where you want to be takes you there in small steps. Develop one new piece of knowledge or skill at a time with a big end goal in sight. It’s not a race and who knows what opportunities may come up along the way?
When you’re finally ready to go for it, follow the suggestions in our next section to make it happen or start searching for creative jobs, marketing jobs, design jobs, event jobs and PR jobs here. Back to Career Clinic
