How to make a career change
A career change means entering a new type of work or switching to a different field or industry. It’s a growing trend as people have longer working lives and a more varied skill set than previous generations. In Australia, over 57% of people have made a career change with 19% making that step in the last 12 months.
The younger generations typically change jobs or careers more often than their older counterparts. In fact, Generation Z - those born between 1997 to 2012 - can have as many as 17 jobs and up to 7 careers over the course of their professional lives.
People change careers for different reasons including pursuing a passion project, seeking a job with better growth and progression, better salary or to find a work environment or industry that better aligns with their values. Making a career change may seem like an overwhelming task but it can lead to a career that better reflects your interests and values and provides you with a greater sense of satisfaction and purpose.
If you are thinking of making a career change, here are steps you can take.
1. Skill Assessment
Making a career change is not a decision you can make overnight. It takes careful reflection, planning and critical thinking. First, conduct a skill assessment and research the industry and relevant roles you’re interested in.
Conduct a self-assessment
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Why do you want to leave your current job?
- What are your priorities in a role? (e.g. autonomy, salary, flexible hours)
- What are your core values? (e.g. innovation, creativity, compassion, community)
- What do you want to achieve from your new role?
- What do you aspire to be?
- What new skills do you want to learn and how do you want to use them?
VANESSA PASSI SILVA, KBS Career Advisor
‘If you’re unsure about the [career] direction to take, start by reflecting on what excites and motivates you. Identify your transferable skills and think about how they can add value in a new field. This self-reflection can guide you toward a path that feels both meaningful and rewarding.’
Match your skills to industry roles
If you have a clear idea of the direction you want to take, research various roles in your industry of interest. For example, if you’re interested in Marketing, you can research roles in digital marketing, market research or social media.
Identify the roles (that you’re most interested in) that align with your core values. Then conduct a skills gap analysis by making a list of your current skills and skills you need to develop. The steps we talk about later will help you fill the skills gap.
Resources
Online skill assessment tools – VIA Institute of Character or Career Matcher
Information on different industries and roles – Seek Career Explorer
2. Seek advice
Learn from people who made a career to understand the benefits and challenges and the steps they took. Talk to professionals who are currently working in the industry you’re interested in switching to. You could ask them questions such as:
What does a typical day for you look like?
What did you wish you had known before you started? or
What are the most important skills I need to develop to work in this industry?
Use LinkedIn to connect with people from industry. You will learn valuable insights, build your professional network and keep updated with market trends and opportunities. Repost articles or updates of industry trends and projects to attract attention and increase your Social Selling Index (SSI).
Resource
Map current skills to new careers and find training options - LinkedIn Career Explorer
3. Set goals
Once you’ve decided on the industry and role you are interested in, you will need to develop an action plan. Set yourself realistic short-term goals, specific tasks and time frames.
Examples of goals could be:
Go to 2 networking events to connect with industry professionals next month.
Complete a relevant certificate within the next 6 months.
Gain an entry-level role to develop the right set of skills within the next 6 months.
Check your progress every month to see how you’re tracking. You can adjust the timeline, if needed.
4. Study relevant courses and certifications
Identify courses or certifications that will help you develop the skills required for your role of interest. Many courses offer online classes so you can fit study within your current work schedule. Attend local seminars, conferences and webinars to gain industry knowledge.
Resources
Online learning – explore courses on Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning
5. Network with professionals
In Step 2, we talked about seeking advice from industry professionals to gain market insights and learn from their experience and advice. To do this, you can:
Join industry workshops, conferences and webinars. For example, if you’re interested in Finance, you could join one of CPA Australia’s events.
Subscribe to communication from industry groups to get the latest market news and events.
Participate in local meetups.
Use LinkedIn to connect with industry groups and online forums.
Resource
Networking events - use Meetup or Eventbrite (choose your location).
6. Learn how to write a career change job application
When applying for new industry roles, your cover letter and resume will need to be amended accordingly.
You may not have the technical experience specific to a position in a new industry, but in your cover letter you can still address how your current work experience is relevant and valuable to the role and the company. Remember to also:
Prove how the company’s values and yours align.
Highlight your most impressive achievements (e.g. exceeding sales targets, innovative projects) to show how you can be a valuable employee.
Explain how your soft skills (e.g. communication, creativity, critical thinking) can fulfil the job requirements as well as any technical skills that will be useful (e.g. software programs).
Explain how you can address any skills gap. You can emphasize your passion for learning new skills and work processes and that you’re a fast learner.
You will also need to revise your resume. A career change resume includes a professional summary and focuses on skills and achievements first, then introduces your work experience. Refer to the resources below for more information.
You can also revise your LinkedIn profile to reflect your new career focus. Highlight your transferable skills and relevant education.
Resources
How to write a career change resume (indeed)
7. Gain experience
If you’re looking for a career change into a completely new industry, then it may be difficult to get a paid role. Taking an internship or volunteering will allow you to gain practical experience in a field you’ve never worked in before. Have a look for opportunities in your school, university, current work, local businesses around you, non-profits or startups.
Resources
Internship websites – Seek Internships, GradConnection or Australian Internships
Volunteer websites – Seek Volunteer and Volunteering Australia. You can also go directly to companies you’re interested in and see if they have volunteering opportunities.
Advice from our Career Advisor
Vanessa Passi Silva
Career Advisor, Kaplan Business School
What are the benefits and challenges of making a career change?
Changing careers is a big step that comes with its rewards and challenges. On the positive side, it’s a chance to find a role that truly reflects your interests, values, or lifestyle, which can lead to greater satisfaction and a sense of purpose. It’s also an opportunity to learn new skills, meet people from diverse backgrounds, and unlock potential you might not have realised you had.
It can be tough at times. Stepping into the unknown, starting over in a new field, often in a junior role, or managing the costs and time involved in gaining new qualifications can be challenging. It takes resilience to push through doubts and build confidence, but with thoughtful planning and a growth mindset the journey can lead to incredible personal and professional rewards.
What did you learn from your career change?
My journey transitioning from Hospitality to becoming a Careers Advisor was inspired by my passion for helping others achieve their goals and my desire to support international students in reaching their potential and overcoming the challenges of starting a career in Australia.
Even though I did not realise it at the time, my experience as a Front Office Supervisor in the hotel industry taught me valuable skills in customer service, communication, and problem-solving, which are crucial when guiding students in their career journeys. Combined with the knowledge I gained from my MBA in Digital Management at KBS, each past work experience has taught me something and helped me to bring a unique perspective to education and career services.
Transitioning into this field has been incredibly fulfilling, as it allows me to combine my expertise in operations, marketing, and people engagement to empower others and contribute to their success.
Don’t be afraid to embrace your unique journey. Each of us has a combination of skills, experiences, and perspectives that make us one of a kind. Our individuality allows us to approach challenges creatively and bring value in ways no one else can.
Interested in more career advice? Read our Business Career Guide. Learn how our Career Central team can help you with your job application, academic internships and graduate recruitment.
