How can you show your value in a new field?

Transferable skills are often touted as the way to get into a new field. This is only 50% true. What we additionally need are value validated projects that demonstrate your transferable skills. These projects can be self-initiated and an example for marketing could be that you design and develop a website that successfully brought in mounting traffic, resulting in sales conversion. Even if the products in the new field are different, you're already in the top echelon of potential candidates for the role.

When I switched from being a designer to more of a creative strategist role, I had to think about my approach differently. In my previous roles, I was solely responsible to execute deliverables. But as a CEO and a fractional creative consultant, my role shifted to understanding business goals, key objectives, customer journeys, and vision to create cohesive assets. This changed how I view projects and the delivery model. I no longer viewed as project deliverables but rather what's the business outcome driving forward. This impacted the creative direction in crafting a brand experience for long-term success. The key is to understand who you are first. Then, reverse engineer your goals. Not the other way around.

You can have 10 skills at the same time but if you do not identify the real skills that you can use to help people or solve problems. Then you won't have clear goals. Find a key skill that can be used to help people. Sit down and think which skills you acquired and now are being used.

It also important to remember that chaning careers require you to get exposer to the sector before entering it. The hard thing is to get people in the new sector to realise the invaluable experince you have and can bring to the table

A career pivot is a wonderful time to learn and showcase new skills. Take advantage of any opportunities to learn, stretch, and grow during this time. Take online courses, attend workshops and webinars. Read anything and everything relevant that you can. Share these learnings with your audience so that they can grow too. You will also begin to attract followers and connections in your new area of expertise.

Building your network and reputation is a crucial aspect of establishing yourself in a new field. Proactively connecting with individuals who can offer guidance, support, and opportunities is a great way to accelerate your learning and growth. Reaching out to mentors, peers, and influencers through platforms like email and LinkedIn demonstrates your eagerness to engage with the community.

When you change careers and our fields, you are still the same person. Your core values, beliefs and strengths do not change. Yes, you need to update and tweak certain things on your profiles, and perhaps the content that you share will have a different subject matter. But who you are, your tone, your persona, your values — should and will remain the same. That is why authenticity is key. You have not changed. Your job has.

People follow people. That's how I was mentored and it turned out to be 100% true. When you leave the organization to enter a new field, your personal reputation or brand is brought to the new company. This immediately value adds to the new company who benefits from what you stand for, your style of doing things because there would be customers loyally who follow you to this new company for those traits you uniquely exhibit.

By aligning your personal brand with your new field, you're not only presenting yourself as a knowledgeable professional but also creating a cohesive narrative that resonates with potential employers, clients, or collaborators. This kind of consistency can set you apart and demonstrate your commitment to making a meaningful impact in your chosen domain. Crafting a personal branding statement or pitch is another valuable step

Setting goals and action plans is a proactive approach to improvement. By outlining specific targets and steps to achieve them, you're actively charting your course for growth. Whether it's enhancing your skills, expanding your knowledge, or refining your personal brand, this commitment to self-improvement not only showcases your dedication but also reinforces your value to your field.

If you absolutely have no experience in the field you’re trying to get into, that’s alright. You have something else and it’s called passion and genuine interest to know more about the subject. You can showcase your skills by working on sample projects. This will not just show them what you’re capable of but also give them an insight that you’re ready to go above and beyond to learn more and that’s always appreciated. P.S. Don’t forget to mention these are sample projects.

The best way you can bring value in a new field is via your unique experience and network. Businesses thrive when there is a cooking pot of diverse ideas and execution strategies. It strengthens the business by providing different angles of solving problems and increasing value. When I ventured into the health-tech space from the recruitment industry, I was able to inspire health-tech solutions that also took care of the growing problem of staffing challenges for the healthcare industry. My insights from recruitment brought forth a different dimension and value-added to the team.

Volunteer and Intern: Offer to volunteer or intern in your desired field, even if it's unpaid. Hands-on experience can be invaluable and may lead to job opportunities. Highlight any relevant volunteer work on your resume and LinkedIn profile. Mentorship: Seek out mentors who are established professionals in your new field. They can provide guidance, advice, and insights. A mentor can also vouch for your dedication and passion when you're building your personal brand.