The unemployment rate this year reached equivalently as low as the unemployment rate during the great depression. Unfortunately, many people were laid off and furloughed from their jobs during this year’s pandemic, which means thousands and even millions of Americans are looking for a new career. It can be hard to imagine changing your career so far into the game, but it’s never too late to start. Here is a guide we created to help you jumpstart your new career path and how to set yourself up to get a new job.
Brainstorm careers
The first step to jumpstarting a new career is to discover what path you want to take. Even if you aren’t sure exactly what job you want to do, you should brainstorm what type of career is of interest to you.
Whether that’s a job in coding, project management, public relations, a job in the field of advertising or marketing, you need to understand your end goal. Deciding what career you want to begin is vital for choosing what job would be the best fit.
Research the industry
Once you’ve brainstormed what career path you want to enter, you need to decide what job(s) you would desire as your own. A great example of this that once you’ve decided you want to enter the career of advertising, you then have to make a decision if that is in copywriting, graphic design, account, UX/UI. etc..
Here is where you should dive into research about the industry and understand where you see yourself fitting in. A great way to research the industry is by reading up on blog posts, looking at infographics to understand the job lifecycle, and watching YouTube videos to understand the functions of the job.
Read up on job descriptions
After you’ve gained a better understanding of the industry and what jobs best interest you, brush up on job listing websites like LinkedIn, Indeed, or job postings on our website to understand the job’s criteria.
Create a master list of the overall experience and skills you will need to begin. If you are starting from scratch, you will likely undertake a junior position, so read up job descriptions that match your skill level.
Reading job descriptions will give you a better understanding of what skills you need to work on and what it will take in terms of learning and attaining experience for the job.
Rebrand yourself
If you are starting entirely from scratch, you are going to have to take a decent amount of time to rebrand yourself. Depending on your previous career, your personal branding may need a 180, you will need to research on how to market yourself within your new career.
For example, if you’re in advertising, it’s crucial to create a resume and portfolio that are unique to you. Modern job searches require a lot of personal branding and marketing, so make sure you are presenting yourself to the hiring managers and recruiters in the right way.
Spark a new network
The best way to create a network for your rebranded self is by using LinkedIn. This social media platform is made for professionals alike one another to connect and network. Using this platform will help you spark connections with other professionals that are also starting in your career or professionals that are high up and well versed.
The best advice you can take away is that it’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know. Establish positive relationships with other professionals on LinkedIn and don’t be afraid to check up on them frequently. The more deeply you develop a relationship, the more likely they will be to refer you to the hiring manager.
Develop relative skills
Based on the job descriptions you’ve read up on, take time to develop the skills that are necessary to obtain the position. A lot of these skills will require online certifications, many of which can you can achieve for free through Google.
For example, if you’re looking for a job in digital marketing, you should obtain all of the certificates necessary to prove that you are qualified for the job. Google provides free information and testing that is a standard guideline for the industry. We suggest you also do further research on other programs and skills that offer free certificates.
Overall, changing your career can be scary, and we want to help you in any way possible. If you desire to change your career and are not sure where to get started, don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at Clutch, and we can help guide you in the right direction.
Clutch is a creative staffing partner. We connect digital, creative, and marketing professionals with companies looking for freelance, temp-to-hire or direct hire resources.
