So how do you change your career partway through your working life? And more importantly, how can you switch jobs without experience in your new field? Fortunately, there are lots of ways you can do this. These range from joining a company which will subsidize a qualification while you work, to volunteering roles that turn into permanent employment.<\/p>\n
In this guide, we\u2019re going to look at the ways you can change career without experience. We\u2019ll examine how you can maximize your chances of gaining employment, to sprucing up your resume and emphasizing your transferable skills rather than your qualifications.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve ever thought about switching career path, read on! We\u2019ll provide all the tips and advice you need to get your new job hunt started.<\/p>\n
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Why Change Career?<\/h3>\n
People change careers for a multitude of different reasons, personal or professional. Here are some of the most common reasons why someone might pursue a career change later in life:<\/p>\n
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- People change. Many people choose a career path in their teens or early 20’s \u2013 but a few decades down the line, they realize they\u2019re not the same person anymore. Their wants and needs have changed, and their heart may not be completely dedicated to their existing role.<\/li>\n
- Starting a family can mean taking time off work. When the children are grown, many people choose to go back to work in a different capacity. This can mean part-time roles or less demanding jobs so that you can still care for your family. Perhaps you’re now looking for a\u00a0family-friendly medical career<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Work-life balance has become a vital issue in the modern workplace. So many people spend their 20s and 30s working themselves into the ground to get ahead. But then they become burnt out<\/strong><\/a> and want to strike a better work-life balance. This is one of the main reasons why so many people consider making a move.<\/li>\n
- New challenges. Many people who have been in the same job role for years feel like they want to try their hand at something new. They want a fresh challenge, something to help them learn new skills and develop as individuals.<\/li>\n
- Left the military. You may have served your country for many years, but are now looking for the best jobs for military veterans<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If you feel that you slot into one of the above categories, you might already be thinking about a career change. If you are, here are some great tips to help you make the transition with no experience.<\/p>\n
Changing Careers with No Experience<\/h3>\n
You don\u2019t need dozens of qualifications to change careers. There are lots of medical roles which don’t require a degree<\/a><\/strong>, for example \u2013 or training which can be carried out while you work.<\/p>\n
Here are some things you\u2019ll need to consider before you get started:<\/p>\n
Be Prepared to Start Over<\/h4>\n
If you\u2019re transitioning into a new job, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll be starting at the bottom of a whole new career ladder. This might mean that you end up accepting a temporary pay cut \u2013 at least until you have more experience. You\u2019ll need to be ready to prove yourself all over again in a new field, working your way up.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, you\u2019ll already have the experience of navigating a workplace. You should find the career climbing aspect much easier the second time around. Eventually, you\u2019ll work your way up to the same perks and salary as you had before \u2013 if not more.<\/p>\n
Education is Often Necessary<\/h4>\n
There are hundreds of roles out there which require no qualifications to start off with, but you may need to get certified or take a course while you work. For example, phlebotomy is a field you can go into without any medical qualifications. However, you will need to take a short course to get the relevant certification<\/strong><\/a>. Just because you don\u2019t have the experience up front, doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t apply for these kinds of roles.<\/p>\n
You May Need to Volunteer<\/h4>\n
Volunteering is a great way to try your hand at a range of different career paths before making your choice. You can get your foot in the door at various workplaces, then decide which one you enjoy the most. Of course, this may mean that you need to dip into your savings, or volunteer alongside your existing job for a while.<\/p>\n
Tips that Will Help You to Change Careers<\/h3>\n
If you\u2019re happy with all the considerations above, it\u2019s time to start your new job search. Check out these top tips for changing careers with little to no experience.<\/p>\n
Think About Suitable Career Options<\/h4>\n
There are hundreds of potential jobs out there which you could apply for. The first thing you\u2019ll need to do is narrow down the search and decide what you want to be. Do you want to go into sales and marketing? Has the medical field always appealed to you? Perhaps you want to go into teaching or work with animals.<\/p>\n
If not sure which route to take, think about your strengths and abilities. Are you good with people? How are your analytical skills? Maybe you\u2019re great at organization, or fantastic at thinking on your feet. By pinpointing your natural strengths, you\u2019ll be able to develop a better picture of the jobs you\u2019d excel in.<\/p>\n
You should also think about what you want from your new career. After all, it needs to meet your needs. Do you prefer to work late at night<\/strong><\/a>, or are you happy to do a regular 9-5? Are there specific benefits or perks you desire? Would you be willing to relocate, or will you be searching within a specific radius of your existing home? These are all important questions you\u2019ll need to answer when thinking about changing careers.<\/p>\n
Prepare Your Resume<\/h4>\n
Anyone who is hoping to bag a new job needs to give their resume an overhaul. If you\u2019re trying to switch to a whole new career path, you\u2019ll need a resume that reflects your skills rather than your qualifications, and your story rather than your history.<\/p>\n
Instead of listing your work experience in the traditional way, craft a resume that details who you are and what you have to offer a company. Focus on your skills more than anything \u2013 especially transferable skills that are relevant to any job.<\/p>\n
For example, if you\u2019re switching from a regular office job to a position like a phlebotomist<\/strong><\/a>, you might not think there\u2019s much crossover concerning skills. But think about the fact that your office job means you\u2019re great at multitasking, and you can prioritize effectively.<\/p>\n
You may also have developed excellent interpersonal skills, which will come in handy when communicating with different types of people. If you worked in customer service, your ability to be unruffled and reassuring would be useful when calming nervous patients.<\/p>\n
So instead of putting together a resume focusing on your last places of work, build it around your relevant skill-sets. Rather than listing the daily tasks of your previous job, provide your most significant accomplishments and how they relate to each skill-set. Of course, you can add in your work history at the end of the resume, but don\u2019t make it the primary focus.<\/p>\n
Your cover letter will also be an excellent opportunity to tell your story to a prospective employer. You can outline what you have to offer a company going forward and provide a little context for your skills-based resume.<\/p>\n
Spruce Up Your Social Media<\/h4>\n
It\u2019s controversial, but social media now plays a role in hiring decisions and can affect whether you are selected for a role. So before you start your job search, be sure to spruce up your social media sites. Facebook and Twitter will be an employer\u2019s first port of call, so change your privacy settings to hide anything unprofessional.<\/p>\n
LinkedIn<\/strong><\/a> can also be a valuable asset in actually finding work \u2013 especially if you decide to go freelance. Add all of your experience to your profile, make sure you\u2019re forging connections with people, and update regularly to keep yourself at the forefront of potential customers\u2019 or clients\u2019 minds.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nThink Outside The Box<\/h4>\n
If you\u2019re trying to change your career entirely, it\u2019ll be much harder for you to get a job the traditional way. Applying for roles, you find on jobs boards, or similar sites puts you in direct competition with more qualified candidates. You may need to think outside the box to bag yourself a new position.<\/p>\n
Use your network of friends, family members, and former colleagues to spread the word about your job search. Word-of-mouth recommendations can go far, even in today\u2019s tech-obsessed society. You can also attend networking events or business socials to make new connections and perhaps hear about exciting opportunities that may be relevant to you.<\/p>\n
Look for Educational Opportunities<\/h4>\n
Certain roles don’t require any specific experience, but you will need to undergo a certain qualification. All roles in medicine will require a certification. If this is the field you want to go into, start looking for local classes or courses in your area. Depending on your area of study, you could be fully certified within a matter of months, and ready to kick off your new career.<\/p>\n
Some professions will take slightly longer to train for. But crucially, you don\u2019t always need qualifications or experience to start the training. Many courses accept total beginners, allowing people to start from the very bottom and learn the basics.<\/p>\n
Careers You Can Enter Without Experience<\/h3>\n
Let\u2019s take a look at some well-paying jobs that don\u2019t require much experience. This should give you a little inspiration, as well as demonstrating that there are plenty of positions out there for a hard working person willing to start from the bottom.<\/p>\n
Medical Transcriptionist<\/h4>\n
Transcriptionists are required to perform basic administrative tasks, as well as creating documents and reports from their superiors. Medical transcriptionists are slightly different \u2013 they must be able to peruse medical documents with a keen eye, correcting errors and ensuring that everything is filed and submitted promptly. After all, the health of patients is at stake.<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t need any previous medical experience to be a transcriptionist in this field. All you need is a high school diploma. If you have that, you can take a certified medical transcriptionist program, which usually takes between six months and a year. After that, you\u2019ll be a fully qualified medical transcriptionist with a new career path at your feet.<\/p>\n
Phlebotomist<\/h4>\n
Sticking with the medical field, phlebotomy is another well-paying position that doesn\u2019t require extensive experience. In fact, phlebotomy is thought to be one of the best entry-level jobs in the whole medical industry.<\/p>\n
Phlebotomists draw blood from patients, as well as organizing, transporting and storing it safely when it\u2019s taken to be tested. In this role, you\u2019ll be working a lot with other people \u2013 and many phlebotomists work as contractors or freelancers, so you\u2019ll be acting independently.<\/p>\n
There are two easy ways you can enter the phlebotomy field. You can take an associate\u2019s degree in phlebotomy at a community college<\/a><\/strong>, specializing in phlebotomy, or take a dedicated phlebotomy training program. This will have you certified within a matter of months, and you can get your phlebotomy business up and running.<\/p>\n
Air Traffic Controller<\/h4>\n
As an air traffic controller, you\u2019ll be responsible for ensuring that all planes within a certain vicinity take off and land safely. You\u2019ll also need a cool head on your shoulders because you\u2019ll be the first port of call for pilots or flight staff if there\u2019s an emergency.<\/p>\n
Becoming an air traffic controller doesn\u2019t require any previous aviation knowledge or experience. You\u2019ll need to take an approved training course, which will give you all the information and experience you need. On-the-job training is also offered in some cases, with the ability to shadow existing air traffic controllers while you learn new skills.<\/p>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/career-change-jobs-with-no-experience.jpg\")
<\/p>\nClaims Adjuster<\/h4>\n
Claims adjusters are tasked with managing and investigating insurance claims, including property damage, personal injury, and loss of property. All you need to get started in this profession is a high school diploma \u2013 the rest can be learned on the job.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re lucky enough to bag a role in this field with no experience, you\u2019ll be trained by a senior claims adjuster. Then, if you want to progress and get promoted<\/strong><\/a>, you may need to look at further qualifications or education.<\/p>\n
Construction Project Manager<\/h4>\n
You don\u2019t need to have any experience building houses to work as a project manager in construction. All you need is a bachelor\u2019s degree in any field, and an opportunity to work with an existing construction manager while you learn the ropes.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll need to be immensely organized and great at scheduling and budgeting to excel in this role. But if you manage to get yourself a foot in the door, you could end up earning up to $100,000 annually. Not bad for a job that doesn\u2019t require a specific degree!<\/p>\n
No Experience? You Can Still Switch Careers<\/h3>\n
- Work-life balance has become a vital issue in the modern workplace. So many people spend their 20s and 30s working themselves into the ground to get ahead. But then they become burnt out<\/strong><\/a> and want to strike a better work-life balance. This is one of the main reasons why so many people consider making a move.<\/li>\n