Navigating the Unknown: 5 Tips for a Successful Career Change

Which door will you take?

Going through a career change isn’t easy. I know because I recently transitioned to IT consulting at Deloitte Digital after spending 9 years in academia. It was a challenging but rewarding experience, and I learnt a lot along the way.

Here are some tips for those embarking on a career change:

1. Build a strong network: Building a strong professional network is important in any career, but it’s especially important when making a career change. Attend industry events and join professional organisations to meet others in the field .Reach out to people in your new field and ask for informational interviews or advice. I personally reached out to a few of my university’s alumni that worked at a company I was interested in and they were happy to do some informational interviews with me, which were hugely helpful for my application.
2. Don’t underestimate the transferrable skills you have: Even if you think your “hard” skills won’t be directly relevant to your new career, don’t underestimate how transferrable they can be. For example, my experience in research and analysis has been invaluable in my new role as a consultant.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn from others: When you’re starting out in a new career, there’s a lot to learn. Don’t be afraid to ask questions…