Ask a Recruiter
Q: The industry that I’ve been working in has changed a lot since 2020 and I want to make a transition, but I can’t seem to even get a response. What am I doing wrong?
A: Whether you’re in public education, healthcare, event management, or any of the other industries dramatically impacted by the COVID pandemic, it’s understandable that you might be ready to make a move in a new direction. Unfortunately, you’re not the only one!
As challenging as career changes are, it’s all the more challenging when you’re competing with many of your own colleagues and those workers who already have experience in your desired field. This doesn’t mean that it’s impossible, just that you might need to approach the process differently.
First things first: you have to know where you’re going if you want to find the way there. A successful career transition is defined more by intentionality and focus than a high quantity of applications, so the more you know about the direction you’re moving in next, the better you’ll be able to access the tools necessary to make it happen.
Once you’ve done that? Set aside your resume completely and delve into networking. Resumes are best for the “square peg seeking square hole” job search that might have defined your career up to this point — but when you’re making a change, you need to leverage your personal connections (and maybe make some new ones while you’re at it) to get yourself in front of the right people, who can see you as a person instead of just a PDF.
So, if you’re feeling frustrated by the 300th resume submission to get swallowed into the void, take a step back and reconsider your search from a more strategic perspective.
Good luck out there!
