Learn how to answer the question: why did you change careers? Discover tips on how to showcase your transferable skills and achievements in an interview.

One thing I've found helpful is to emphasize the skills you have that are transferable to the new role. Explain how you believe this will be beneficial to the organization. Highlight unique experiences you've had that can be applied to the position. Demonstrate how you have been able to learn quickly and effectively in the past. This will demonstrate to the potential employer your ability how you adjust and adapt to new environments. Discuss any education or training you have completed that is relevant to this new career. Explain why you are making the change and why you are excited to pursue this new opportunity at this particular company or organization. Demonstrate throughout your enthusiasm and dedication to this pivot in your career.

How do you explain a career change in an interview?

Changing careers can be exciting, rewarding, and challenging. But how do you convince potential employers that you have the skills, motivation, and fit for a new role? In this article, we'll share some tips on how to explain a career change in an interview, and how to showcase your transferable skills and achievements.

1 Identify your reasons

Before you apply for a new job, you need to have a clear and honest answer to the question: why did you change careers? Maybe you wanted to pursue your passion, learn new skills, find a better work-life balance, or make a positive impact. Whatever your reasons, they should reflect your values, goals, and interests, and not sound negative or defensive. Avoid criticizing your previous employer, industry, or colleagues, and focus on the positive aspects of your career change.

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Freda L. Thomas, MBA, CPC, ACC, ELI-MP, CPRW

LinkedIn Top Voice | ICF Certified Professional Coach | Certified Resume Writer building resumes for professionals with limited time to invest in updating their own credentials | Book a Free Review - Visit my ABOUT
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One thing I've found helpful is to emphasize the skills you have that are transferable to the new role. Explain how you believe this will be beneficial to the organization. Highlight unique experiences you've had that can be applied to the position. Demonstrate how you have been able to learn quickly and effectively in the past. This will demonstrate to the potential employer your ability how you adjust and adapt to new environments. Discuss any education or training you have completed that is relevant to this new career. Explain why you are making the change and why you are excited to pursue this new opportunity at this particular company or organization. Demonstrate throughout your enthusiasm and dedication to this pivot in your career.

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2 Highlight your skills

One of the main challenges of changing careers is convincing employers that you have the relevant skills and experience for the new role. To do this, you need to identify and showcase your transferable skills, which are the skills that can be applied across different fields and situations. For example, communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership are transferable skills that are valued in many jobs. You can also highlight any specific skills or qualifications that you gained or updated during your career change, such as certifications, courses, or projects.

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3 Demonstrate your achievements

Another way to impress employers is to show them the results and outcomes of your previous and current work. You can use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and provide concrete examples of how you applied your skills and solved problems in different contexts. For example, if you switched from sales to marketing, you can describe a situation where you used your sales skills to create a successful marketing campaign, and how it increased the revenue or customer satisfaction.

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4 Research the employer

Before you go to an interview, you should do some research on the employer and the role that you are applying for. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you are genuinely interested and motivated to work for them. You can look at their website, social media, news articles, or annual reports to learn about their mission, vision, values, culture, products, services, and goals. You can also use this information to prepare some questions to ask the interviewer and demonstrate your curiosity and enthusiasm.

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Freda L. Thomas, MBA, CPC, ACC, ELI-MP, CPRW

LinkedIn Top Voice | ICF Certified Professional Coach | Certified Resume Writer building resumes for professionals with limited time to invest in updating their own credentials | Book a Free Review - Visit my ABOUT
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Start by researching the company’s website, social media, and check out any press releases about the company. See what their mission and values are and find out what makes them stand out from their competitors. Research the qualifications, skills, and experience you need for the position. Knowing this information will help you craft your resume and prepare for the interview. Research the people you will be meeting with. Know their roles in the company. Practice your responses to common interview questions. Conducting research may sound like a daunting task, but it can pay off in the end. Knowing as much as you can about the company and the role will give you the confidence you need to present yourself as an ideal candidate.

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5 Show your fit

Finally, you need to convince the employer that you are a good fit for their organization and team. You can do this by expressing your alignment with their values, culture, and goals, and by showing your personality and attitude. You can also mention any relevant hobbies, interests, or volunteer work that relate to the role or the industry. For example, if you switched from accounting to teaching, you can mention that you enjoy tutoring or mentoring others, or that you are involved in a community or educational project.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you explain a career change in an interview?

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1 Identify your reasons

2 Highlight your skills

3 Demonstrate your achievements

4 Research the employer

5 Show your fit

6 Here’s what else to consider

Career Path Planning

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