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8 Professional Development Skills To Never Stop Working On

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What is one professional development skill that is important to be worked on at every stage in your career?

To help you continue to grow professionally in your career, we asked career coaches and business leaders this question for their best insights. From the ability to learn new things fast to reading more for knowledge, there are several professional skills that you need to keep developing to consistently stay on top of your career and progress to the highest level.

Here are eight professional development skills to never stop working on:

  • Ability to Learn New Things Fast
  • The Ability to Inspire
  • Effective Listening Skills
  • Digital Literacy
  • Problem-Solving Skills
  • Relationship Building
  • Ability to Take Initiative
  • Reading More for Knowledge

Ability to Learn New Things Fast

The days when you would learn something in school, then enter the workforce and apply everything you’ve learned your whole career, at the same job probably, are long gone. The ability to learn new abilities and adapt in a short amount of time is more important today than what you actually know. This is why I find it important to develop the ability to learn new things faster. Nobody is absurd, nobody expects you to become an expert in something in just a few days, but the ability to learn the basics quicker, and use this as a foundation to build upon later, while you approach new projects is essential in today’s work landscape. How you do this is entirely up to you, but you need to be aware of your learning process, your strengths and weaknesses, so you can improve as you learn.

Ionut-Alexandru Popa, JPG MEDIA SRL

The Ability to Inspire

Inspiration is a valuable asset that can magnetize the most skilled employees to your vision. It is the foundation of motivation and helps you exude charisma as a leader. There are innumerable ways to inspire your peers and employees. Whether it’s your work ethic, the way you handle high-pressure situations, or simply your positivity in the face of challenges, inspiration proves to be a shining light in the toughest of times.

Dillon Hammond, Achieve TMS East

Effective Listening Skills

Having been a mentor and delivered many professional seminars over the years, I have often been asked the question “what is the most important professional development skill to develop that I will use throughout my career?” My answer is quite simple: the skill of effective listening is one you will always need, and can really differentiate you. 

It’s fair to say that most professional roles require high level communication skills, and one of the most elusive of these is being a great listener. It is also common knowledge that many people feel that they are effective listeners and yet the reality is that most of us are not! This is a skill that can be developed, and will require consistent effort and refinement throughout your career. But it is also a competency that pays great dividends.
Communication is not a competition, it’s about real understanding, and that never goes out of style. Being an effective listener is a skill that will benefit you throughout your career and life.

Greg Forte, Precision Medicine Group

Digital Literacy

It’s hard to come up with jobs that do not rely on technology and digital solutions. And those occupations that don’t yet do so will undoubtedly undergo digitization in the future. Therefore, a professional development skill that is essential to be worked on for continuous career advancement is digital literacy. Being technology-oriented, knowing the latest programs and solutions necessary for the job allows you to grow in your position and also increases your chances of promotion or job change. At the same time, it keeps you up to date with the market without the danger of becoming a non-attractive employee or digital ignorant. Not to mention how big a role tools and technology play in helping us with everyday tasks. Therefore, do not hesitate to learn new programs and applications, familiarize yourself with updates to old ones, and look for new technological solutions to make your work easier.

Nina Paczka, Resume Now

Problem-Solving Skills

You have two options when anything goes wrong: either whine or do something about it. The latter is what will draw attention to you. Employers value employees who can think on their feet and solve problems quickly. The only certainty is that nothing is certain. Problem solvers, often known as high performers, are vital to a company’s ability to deal with unforeseen difficulties. Never go to your supervisor with an issue you don’t have an answer for. So, if a problem arises, take some time to plan out a solution before bringing it up to your employer.

Scott O’Brien, PPC Ad Lab

Relationship Building

Networking – which is basically building strong relationships, is essential for career success and professional development. The large majority of people I work with have become successful in their professional life because of “someone who knew someone”. Being a person that is known, loved and trusted can help build a career much faster and to a higher level of success than being an expert at a certain area – focus on the relationships and come through for people.

Jessica Pierce, Career Connectors

Ability to Take Initiative

Initiative. Whether you’re in your first job or running a company, it’s always important to stay driven. Taking initiative on projects can earmark you as an important player at work, and that can lead to bigger opportunities. It shows that you’re confident and willing to put in the effort. As you move up the ladder, it only becomes more important to demonstrate that you’re prepared for leadership roles. While initiative may not seem at first glance to be a skill you can develop, it takes hard work to stay driven at all levels.

Vimla Black Gupta, Ourself

Reading More for Knowledge

No matter the stage of your career, consumption of knowledge can never be overrated. There is merit to our most successful entrepreneurs and businesspeople releasing their ‘books of the year’ lists. Avid readers, of both fiction and non-fiction, expand their worldviews, their curiosity, and their ability to think expansively. At every stage of one’s career, a trail of books should follow in the wake. As an homage to the old slogan, Reading is Fundamental, reading is truly fundamental for one’s success at any level.

Stacy Berg Jackson, SBJ Consulting, Inc.

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12 Tips To Help You Transition Industries in Your Career

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To help you best transition industries in your career, we asked career coaches and business leaders this question for their best advice. From creating a financial cushion for support to engaging with the right professionals on LinkedIn, there are several practical tips that may help you best maneuver your career change from one industry to another.

Here are 12 tips for transitioning industries in your career:

  • Create a Financial Cushion for Support
  • Consider Owning a Franchise
  • Don’t Be Ashamed of Switching Fields
  • Clarify and Focus on Where You Want to Be
  • Attend Industry Events
  • Subscribe To Industry Publications Or Websites
  • Uncover Milestones in Your New Field
  • Find a Mentor in The New Area To Guide You
  • Focus on Transferable Skills
  • Ask for Help From Friends
  • Get Ready To Double Your Efforts
  • Connect and Engage With Professionals on LinkedIn

Create a Financial Cushion for Support

It’s normal to feel anxious over making a career change, but you’re presumably doing it for the right reasons. Changing careers, on the other hand, sometimes means beginning from a position that is lower than your present one. As a result, the greatest professional advice I can give you is to create a financial “buffer” that you can tap into until things really take off in your new career.

Hector Ruiz, BBQ Grill Academy

Consider Owning a Franchise

Transitioning industries may seem like an impossible challenge to overcome. However, one path people can take is to consider owning a business through franchising. The best franchise models will provide full training and ongoing support to the franchisee, and so you don’t need to have industry experience. Of course, it’s important to do your research and see which industry and franchise might be right for you. Franchising is also a great way for military veterans to transition into business ownership.

Chris B., Minuteman Press International

Don’t Be Ashamed of Switching Fields

As someone who explored many careers in my early professional life (from law school to marketing to running a team building company), my best tip for transitioning industries is not to be ashamed of not fitting in the first field you try. Most professionals in the modern world cycle through multiple jobs, and few folks stay in one industry for the entirety of their careers. Having experience from other industries can give you a unique perspective and advantage in the job market and new roles. Not to mention, the topic can be a great conversation starter and a way to connect with new coworkers. Instead of hiding your earlier work, embrace it and find ways it can benefit you in your new working journey.

Michael Alexis, TeamBuilding

Clarify and Focus on Where You Want to Be

Do you know which industry, or sector, you want to go into? Figuring out your game plan is the key to successfully transitioning industries. For instance, where will your skills and experience be of the most use? More importantly, what do you really see yourself doing? Where do you think you can make a difference? Deciding all that first, will give you clarity and focus to drive your career transition. Good Luck!

Linda Scorzo, Hiring Indicators

Attend Industry Events

If you, like many others during this time, are considering a career transition, you should try to attend at least one industry event within the space you are looking to move into. At these events you can attend different talks that can give you a glimpse into what a typical workday will look like. You can also start to gain quality contacts that can give you their thoughts on how to best break into the industry as well as quality information on their experience working within that space. Who knows, these contacts can even become references that can help you land that first job.

Brandon Brown, GRIN

Subscribe to Industry Publications Or Websites

Learn the lingo and trends of the industry that you are considering by subscribing to industry publications, podcasts, websites, LinkedIn groups, etc. You will be able to demonstrate your understanding of the industry, including challenges and opportunities, and articulate how your previous experience is relevant during an interview. You will also gain a deeper understanding if the new industry is an area where you can be successful.

Scott Baker, Stage 3 Leadership

Uncover The Milestones in Your New Field

Beginner’s Syndrome or even Imposter’s Syndrome is nearly inevitable when you’re transitioning from one industry to another. A way to curb the fear of inadequacy is to take time to chat with peers and research the milestones you can expect to hit as you move forward. For instance, if you’re transitioning into educational technology, some of the early milestones might be to understand the prominent learning theories that instructional designers focus on. A more graduated milestone might be mastering a learning management system (LMS). If on day one you haven’t mastered the LMS, knowing that there are many stepping stones before you get there will make the transition less stressful.

Carla Andre-Brown, Mailbird

Find a Mentor in The New Area To Guide You

Think about getting a mentor. Finding a mentor in your area is helpful since they have already been in your shoes and have the expertise necessary to provide you with the most effective advice to become successful. Keep in mind that the shift into a new job or sector can be difficult at first; finding people to connect with and the skills you need can be a scary process. Working with a mentor can help you get started on the correct path. Mentors can also recognize your existing talents and areas for improvement. Mentors also have important connections in the sector, which might help you along your path.

Ryan Warner, 1AND1 Life

Focus on Transferable Skills

Transferable skills are those that can easily be leveraged across industries and sectors. Professionals who are pursuing a career transition should focus on identifying and then amplifying the skills they have that are value additive across industry and sector. They should think broadly about the skills they’ve gained in different job roles, community engagement, leadership initiatives, degree programs, and even within the home. 

You can assess transferable skills by assessing the skills you leverage that are equally as beneficial to a specific role. While the skill may have been used in one way within one sector, that same skill could be reengineered to support another sector. An example might be: critical thinking. The skill could have been used to improve operational processes within the tech industry but be reengineered to support special projects in the transportation industry. The same mindset and competencies can provide value and steer innovation within a new space or place.

Chelsea C. Williams, Reimagine Talent Co.

Ask for Help From Friends

Remember your classmates. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you went to college with that may be able to help with a referral. Put yourself in your college friend’s shoes. If you could help her you would, right? A referral from someone within the company is worth more than almost any amount of experience! Scroll your alumni Facebook page!

Erin Banta, Pepper

Get Ready To Double Your Efforts

Transitioning industries, even when it is a well-thought-out move, requires extra work. For starters, you have to acknowledge that people who work the same job positions in different industries handle very different tasks and responsibilities. For example, even a generic position like that of a personal assistant will have a very different profile from one industry to another. So get ready to double your efforts and know that despite the experience you may have in your position, shifting industries would mean learning just about everything from scratch.

Kris Harris, Nootka Saunas

Connect and Engage With Professionals on LinkedIn

As you’re considering a transition, start connecting with people on LinkedIn who hold positions you’d like to have. Pay attention to what they’re posting and engage with their posts. Once you’ve formed an online rapport with them, ask them if they would be open to a phone call for some career advice. Most people want to be helpful especially if you’ve demonstrated that you’re sincerely interested in what they do.

Susan Siravo, Susan Siravo Media
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12 Career Trends Experts are seeing in 2022

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To help you discover the top career trends of the year, we asked recruiting professionals and business leaders this question for their best insights. From hybrid roles to 4-day work weeks, there are several career trends that have emerged in 2022 that you should prepare to adopt in the near future.


Here are 12 career trends experts are seeing in 2022:

  • Hybrid Roles
  • Job-seekers Have the Upper Hand
  • Intellectual Property Matters
  • The Turn Toward Freelance Careers
  • Job Hopping & Prioritizing Quality of Life
  • VR & AR Implementation
  • Soft Skills Lead Organizational Agility
  • Benefits Outweighing Paychecks
  • The Spotlight is on Diversity & Inclusion
  • Embracing Fractional Resources
  • Employers Expected to Contribute to Emotional Health
  • 4-day Work Week

Hybrid Roles

Because many of us within the workforce had to switch over to virtual work during the pandemic, we have become accustomed to the working lifestyle that it provides. Though some businesses have returned to the physical office, some employees still may prefer virtual work. What organizations are considering is an increase in hybrid style roles that offer benefits to workers that excel within the office and those that find virtual work more appealing. Organizations should consider offering these types of roles as they can attract high-quality, competitive talent.

Brandon Brown, GRIN

Job-seekers Have the Upper Hand

In 2022, finding quality talent is becoming more competitive. In the job climate we’re in, employees and job-seekers definitely have the upper-hand when it comes to negotiating higher salaries and better benefits. The companies that understand this will inevitably feel positions with the best of the best in the talent pool.

Jae Pak, Jae Pak MD Medical

Intellectual Property Matters

From my vantage point, as an attorney, I can see that demand for protection of copyrights and trademarks for writers, designers, musicians, etc. is growing. That is because new digital technologies keep emerging and keep getting more popular. Because content is so accessible, creators are more protective than ever of their intellectual property. As a result, I’m seeing a lot of jobs opening up for aspiring litigators in that spectrum. Intellectual property law is becoming a vast and lucrative field. Attorneys who specialize in it already are being highly sought after.

Alan Ahdoot, Adamson Ahdoot Law

The Turn Toward Freelance Careers

Individuals and organizations alike are capitalizing on the gig economy. Though it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, many people enjoy online job flexibility. Some have launched online businesses or turned to full-time freelance work to secure financial stability while traveling or focusing on other responsibilities. Organizations will increase their gig opportunities to offer professional fulfillment, security, and job flexibility as the workforce turns to freelance work.

Justin Soleimani, Tumble

Job Hopping & Prioritizing Quality of Life

Young members of the U.S. workforce are no longer gaining years of experience with one employer; instead, these professionals are interested in gaining different skills with various companies. Why? Since the onset of the pandemic, employees have been laser-focused on one thing: quality of life.

Suppose a company can’t provide flexible benefits such as remote work. In that case, many job seekers will find a different employer who will, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing – it keeps businesses, small and large, in check.

Cesar Cruz, Sebastian Cruz Couture

VR & AR Implementation

I’m seeing a lot of companies looking at virtual reality and augmented reality. In the past, we’ve seen this technology in video games, but now it’s being used to train employees, provide customer service, and even sell products. It’s an exciting trend that will only continue to grow as more people become comfortable with the idea of using VR and AR technology and I believe there will be a huge push for these technologies to be implemented in many fields, from medicine to education to entertainment, creating a lot more jobs for potential candidates in this area.

Shaun Connell, Connell Media

Soft Skills Lead Organizational Agility

Staffing, skills, adaptability – 2022 has seen plenty of macro-level shortages, and we’re seeing one commonality between how organizations are choosing to tackle issues on this front: soft skills. You may think soft skills are simply being able to banter a bit at the digital water cooler. As research has ramped up, it turns out soft skills drive a wide range of pressing business issues. Employees with managers with reportedly bad emotional intelligence (a measure of soft skills) leave 70% more often. When they leave, their skills do too.

Soft skills are also the most transferable of skills, allowing individuals to be placed in a range of projects and roles. With the madness that has been the last three years, HR has wised up to how soft skills can dramatically reduce churn and promote agility. This has resulted in weighing soft skills more highly in candidates as well as enacting programs to boost soft skills in their workers.

Merrill Cook, Arist

Benefits Outweighing Paychecks

Benefits are starting to matter just as much, or more than, a job’s salary. In the current job market, companies that offer the most comprehensive benefits are seeing much more interest than those that just offer the best pay. Job seekers are now willing and able to look far and wide for jobs with the best benefits and are willing to choose the jobs that promote their best work-life experience over just those with the highest pay.

This has made many companies rethink what sort of benefits they offer to attract potential hires. It’s a wonderful thing. The quality of the work experience of many professionals is increasing. When workers are satisfied with their lives they’re more productive, which benefits companies as much as it does employees. This is a trend I hope to see continue into the future.

Caleb Ulffers, Haven Athletic

The Spotlight is on Diversity & Inclusion

Over the last few years, social justice movements have seen a huge growth in awareness and we can see this being reflected in the job market as well. As a younger, more aware workforce penetrates the job market, companies are being called to rise to the occasion and take more social justice movements into account. They are now consciously incorporating inclusion initiatives, diversity in their workforce, equity, and a conscious yet authentic brand image.

Marc Roca, 4WD Life

Embracing Fractional Resources

To cover key roles the past couple of years, many of us have had to rely on part-time or fractional staff members and often these placements worked out exceptionally well. Companies like ours are becoming more comfortable with contracted partial-time staff becoming an ordinary part of our management and workforce. We have customers to serve and work to be done, but alternative arrangements to the traditional 40-hour salaried employee can regularly do the job.

Corey Donovan, Alta Technologies

Employers Expected to Contribute to Emotional Health

With remote work and drastic societal changes becoming the norm, employees want to work for companies that invest in the emotional health of their workforce. This goes beyond a daily check-in or a regular pat-on-the-back. They’re looking for policies and programs that ensure companies care, even when times get rough and you’re not in the best emotional state of mind. I think that it’s a significant development, as mental struggles have become less of a taboo. Because we’re all ‘not okay’. This will result in a healthier company culture and a more resilient business.

Bibi Lauri Raven, Bibibuzz

4-day Work Week

One trend we see in the work market is a 4-day workweek. Some companies are embracing this new — more flexible — way of working that allows employees to work 4 days a week. It is still unclear if it consists of condenses 40 hours in 4 days or reducing working hours to 32. However, people are experimenting with shorter workweek to understand what are the real benefits and what are the potential risks.

Maciek Kubiak, PhotoAiD

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12 Most In-Demand Career Roles In 2022

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What career roles are the most in-demand for companies in 2022?

To help you identify career roles that are in high demand in 2022, we asked hiring managers and recruiters this question for their best insights. From Tech Development to Data Scientist to Marketing Operations Professional, there are several career roles that are noted as among the most in-demand for companies in 2022.

Here are 12 of the most in-demand roles for companies in 2022:

  • Tech Development and Support
  • Hiring Manager
  • Robotics Engineer
  • Human Resources Professional
  • Cybersecurity Expert
  • Copywriter
  • PR or Brand Specialist
  • Artificial Intelligence Specialist
  • Data Scientist
  • User Experience Researcher
  • Project Manager
  • Marketing Operations Professional

Tech Development and Support

Network development and support. Between companies’ reliance on websites, social media, and online reacting as well as office technology in the hybrid work era, businesses are in dire need of tech development and support. This can range from web design to in-office IT. Not only are potential employees proficient in how various platforms can work in demand, but those with the skills to build and maintain them are essential. Careers in tech and online development are highly sought after.

Brett Estep, Insured Nomads

Hiring Manager

Hiring managers are an in-demand role for most companies this year. With the Great Resignation still looming over businesses’ heads, the need for new hires is great. Companies will have to rely on experienced recruitment professionals to fill those vacancies.

Isaiah Henry, Seabreeze Management

Robotics Engineer

As a recruiter who actively seeks talent in the machining and manufacturing industries, one career role I’ve noticed become high in demand this year is Robotics Engineer. From my observation, there has been at least a five-fold increase in job vacancies for such positions compared to 2021. Almost all industries are in need of AI and robotics specialists right now, from industrial and biotech to logistics and consumer, due to the growing number of companies leveraging these technologies for business operations and services. Employers and recruiters are striving to attract qualified talent with skilled and targeted efforts as the need for designing both software and hardware for robotics solutions remains higher than ever and is bound to increase further.

Anjela Mangrum, Mangrum Career Solutions

Human Resources Professional

Today, hiring an experienced human resource team is crucial. For example, human resource professionals have the tools and education to develop winning retention strategies based on employee feedback. As the average amount of time an employee spends with an employer continues to dwindle, it’s more important than ever to focus on retention.

Cesar Cruz, Sebastian Cruz Couture

Cybersecurity Expert

Increased dependency on online tools and platforms, especially driven by the shift to remote and hybrid work environments, has made the role of cybersecurity experts a highly essential one. Their expertise is coming in handy in not just integrating cybersecurity solutions into evolving organizational structures but also in maintaining the integrity of these solutions throughout the process cycle.

From decimating security threats and putting in place preventive measures to creating a secure online environment and setting up security protocols that help manage employee behavior, the cybersecurity expert of the day has plenty to do.

Mary Jurgensen, Gary and Mary West PACE

Copywriter

Content is still king, and whether you’re building a website, running a blog, or executing a video marketing strategy – you need good copy. There are, of course, AI writing services that will surely replace the need for inexperienced copywriters. But great copywriters who understand what drives a customer are and will be in high demand. They do highly skilled work that takes knowledge, creativity, and years of practice.

Georgi Todorov, ThriveMyWay

PR or Brand Specialist

2022 has been a  challenging year but with those challenges one thing is evident.  The ability to tell your company’s story in the sea of the internet is becoming apparent.  PR / Brand specialists I feel are in high demand. When you have someone who can help create more brand awareness with your company physically and digitally is now key.  Companies need professionals who can tell the world about the story of your brand the right way. As more companies take suit the only thing left will be higher SEO costs or having a brand that people recognize and go to each and every time.

Krisztian Riez, Condo Control

Artificial Intelligence Specialist 

In 2022, the most in-demand careers will be those that involve artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a system that can perform tasks usually requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception and speech recognition. AI systems are trained to do these tasks by being shown many examples of the task and receiving feedback on their performance. AI is already making an impact in our lives today through things like Siri and Alexa and these forms of technology will only become greater in demand.

Nick Cotter, Growann

Data Scientist 

The most in-demand career role for companies in 2022 is expected to be data scientists. Data science is a relatively new field that combines statistics, computer science, and business analysis to help organizations make better decisions using data. With the continued growth of big data, companies are increasingly turning to data scientists to help them make sense of all the information they are collecting.

In addition to being in high demand, data scientists also tend to be well-paid, with salaries often exceeding $100,000 per year. If you’re interested in a career in data science, now is the time to start learning the skills you need to be successful in this growing field.

Lukasz Zelezny, SEO ANT LTD

User Experience Researcher

Companies are starting to understand the critical role UX research plays in informing online and offline product design. UX research roles are opening up across industries because it’s necessary to properly understand the needs, motivations, and experiences of users to create products and services they’ll love.

Paul Chesterman, EthOS

Project Manager

Businesses are feeling the crunch and have more of a need than ever before to maintain efficiency. The best project managers can evaluate the key metrics a company needs to hit and create a proactive plan to come in on time and under budget. Whether a company is already successful or not the continued need to deliver on product and even launch new initiatives in an uncertain economy is more challenging to navigate than ever. A skilled project manager is a must in current business.

Zachary Hamed, Clay

Marketing Operations Professional

With the technology backbone of marketing, and the need to integrate systems, manage the tech stack, and all of the requirements and data flow between them all, one of the fastest-growing needs inside of companies today is the marketing operations role. While it varies in definition, at a high level it’s the role that manages the business marketing processes. They manage assets, budgets, data, campaigns, demand gen, performance management, analytics, conversion tracking and more. Systems include platforms like salesforce, marketo, pardot, hubspot, close.io, outreach, netsuite, and more. 

There are a number of ways to learn about this role – would highly encourage people interested in shifting into marketing operations to join a slack community dedicated to marketing ops. There are also a couple of really great podcasts that discuss marketing ops weekly for more insights.

Ali Schwanke, Simple Strat
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9 Tips to Help You Move into a New Career

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What is one tip you have for someone looking to launch into a new career?

To help you launch into a new career, we asked career coaches and successful entrepreneurs this question for their best insights. From finding your transferable skills to talking to those who know you, there are several tips that may help you break into a new profession.

Here are nine tips to help you move into a new career:

  • Find Your Transferable Skills
  • Don’t “Fake it Until You Make it”
  • Turn “What I’ve Done” Into “What I can do for You”
  • Start Building Your Network Early
  • Write Down Your Then, Now, and Next
  • Research, Listen, and Network
  • Upskill to Prepare to Launch a New Career
  • Ask for Help
  • Talk to Those Who Know You

Find Your Transferable Skills

It doesn’t matter if you are going from a pastry chef to an astronaut, every job, every volunteer experience, every class taken, has provided you with a skill that you can bring to another sector of your life. Find those skills from your past experiences and highlight them on your resume and cover letter. If you are having trouble finding these transferable skills, try reviewing job posts you are interested in and see what skills are listed on the job posting that you have. A lot of the time a little creativity is all you need.

Bryor Mosley, Southern New Hampshire University

Don’t “Fake it Until You Make it”

One strategy that a lot of people employ when wading into a totally new area is to fake it until they make it. In other words, they pretend to know a lot more about the industry and role than they do in reality. In my opinion, this is a terrible technique for breaking into a new vertical and gaining the trust of new team members. It is a much smarter play to own your lack of expertise and show some humility, while at the same time expressing your passion to learn and gain experience.

People, especially managers, will respect you more for being humble and genuine than feigning expertise. Most people are smart enough to be able to see right through a phony. Plus, when you try the “fake it till you make it” approach, it just takes one tough question or misstatement to expose you. Don’t run the risk – just own your inexperience and be cool about it.

John Ross, Test Prep Insight

Turn “What I’ve Done” Into “What I can do for You”

A good starting point is your resume. Rewrite it as a skills-based document instead of a chronological listing of your previous experience. Consider a personal website where you introduce yourself with a YouTube video. Create short video case studies highlighting your problem-solving prowess that will help you succeed in your new profession.

Your goal is to reinforce the fact you have the skills to succeed in a new career and previous job titles aren’t significant. Finally, mentally prepare yourself to be looked at like you’re applying for your first “real” job because that’s how many prospective employers will see you.

Joshua Chin, Chronos

Start Building Your Network Early

Having a professional network in your new industry before you make the transition will give you access to more opportunities when you’re ready to make the switch, and your resume is likely to get more serious consideration from hiring managers if you’re referred or recommended by someone connected to the company. This is often a big hurdle for those switching careers since they don’t have experience in the industry, which can make it a challenge to compete with applicants who are already established in the field. You can kill two birds with one stone by attending workshops, conferences, trade fairs, or certification courses that help you gain the skills and knowledge you’ll need in the new industry while making connections with other professionals.

Archie Payne, Caltek Staffing

Write Down Your Then, Now, and Next

The space in time when you are on the brink of launching into a new career is incredibly special. It is a pivotal point where you have this rare view of where you’ve been, where you are now and can see a wide view of what could be next. You have both the benefit of hindsight (to learn from), the benefit of aversion (to understand what isn’t working), and the benefit of motivation (to understand what drives you and what you really value).
This window is temporary, and it’s unlikely that you’ll remember it all when you make a decision and are 1 year into your new career. 

So, write it all down. Write down answers to why you did what you’ve done already, what worked, what didn’t, and what you learned. Write down how you feel right now, what sensations arise for you when you think of change, and what feels important to do differently. Write down what you want to take with you for your next chapter and what outcomes you’d love to achieve. Take stock, and enjoy reflecting on your journey in a year!

Hannah Ray, TAKE Coaching Amsterdam

Research, Listen, and Network

Launching into a new career is an exciting endeavor! Some folks are prone to jumping headfirst into unknown territory while others refrain from making impulsive decisions. Know ‘why’ you’re desiring to pursue a new career. Map out questions you have pertaining to this transition and the type of work you expect to be performing in the future. Conduct your own research. Do not blindly rely upon third-party resources from people to companies painting a picture of your desired career. 

Engage actively in this learning process by engaging in online and offline forums, network with people in those respective career paths, talk to headhunters representing roles in that respective career sector, weigh the pros & cons of this career choice, connect with institutions (academic & professional) that can share more information; etc.  Remember we live in a world where the majority of the population is in “sales mode”. It’s important that you exercise sensible judgment when making this important decision.

Sasha Laghonh, Sasha Talks

Upskill to Prepare to Launch a New Career

Upskilling offers a significant advantage in the modern labor market. Launching a new career is hard. The barrier to entry is often difficult to overcome and this is especially true for individuals who have spent a considerable amount of time in a career they would like to leave behind. These individuals could have plenty of experience but it may not be relevant to another industry.

Employers are mostly considered by this fact. Individuals should want to obtain new skills before they enter a new career for a better chance of success. Getting more formal education can be expensive, but other methods are available. Bootcamps are available for a variety of information economy skill sets such as marketing, coding, sales and graphic design. Upskilling presents a significant advantage for individuals who are looking to enter a new career.

Sean Doherty, Box Genie

Ask for Help

There’s going to be a lot to learn as you begin your journey into a new career. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from a manager, coworker, or anyone else. Reach out to other professionals in your desired career on LinkedIn and other business networking platforms—be sure to briefly explain why you’re looking to make a transition and ask well thought out questions—it shows that you are proactive, resourceful, and an effective communicator.

Dan Gray, Kotn Supply

Talk to Those Who Know You

With many companies making layoffs right now, the time is perfect to launch into a new career. Daunting, scary, and something you’ve always wanted to do. The best ideas during times of RIF and redundancy have come out of layoffs. Explore what you are passionate about and where your knowledge is or what you want to learn about. Engage with that space. Contribute and learn. Ask questions and network. 

Talk to those who know you well. Family, friends, and colleagues from past and present. Ask them what your strengths are, and what you are great at. Don’t ask what they think about you – just what they feel your strongest self is. Know what you ‘want to be famous for’.  Follow it with energy and passion. The rest will follow.

Duncan Evemy, DE Talent Consulting

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