7 Ways to Launch a New Career.

2020 killed your job and your industry isn’t hiring (same!). Or you’ve realized your chosen career no longer fulfills you and you want a change.

Now what?

Whatever your reason for taking this next big step, know that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and uncertain. Building your career took a lot of time, and the idea of starting over can terrify the best of us. You’re not alone. But just being here shows you’re already researching ways to forge this new path, and that takes guts and resilience.

Now that you’re done spending those hours (or days) staring into the middle distance, take a few deep breaths and try these seven steps for launching a new career.

Take Time to Reflect  

Taking time to reflect on your situation may seem counterproductive when bills are piling up and your severance—if you got one—is running out. Or if your current job feels more toxic by the day. But this is an important step that will save you time and frustration down the road.

Find your resume and reflect on all you’ve accomplished so far. What skills did you develop? What goals did you reach? What connections have you made?

Comb through your resume and make a list of what you liked and didn’t like about your past jobs. What sparked your creativity? What accomplishment are you most proud of? What do you want to accomplish in your next career? What made the hours fly by? What did you dread doing? What felt harder than it should have? Notice any patterns you see emerging.

This is when that employer-favorite interview question of where do you see yourself in five years comes in handy. What tasks or projects would make you feel happiest and most fulfilled five or more years from now?

Take stock in your skills.  

Make a list of your skills and things you enjoy doing. Think of this as a brain dump; just jot down everything that comes to mind. Are you bilingual? Are you a good writer? Do you have a knack for data mining? Have you used Microsoft Office or Adobe software suite? Any experience with content management systems like HubSpot, or customer relationship management systems like Salesforce? How about Slack, Jira, Trello, GitHub?

Don’t forget to include soft skills in your list. These skills are also important as they reveal who you are as an employee. Examples of soft skills include critical thinking, willingness to learn, adaptability, organization, problem-solving, and teamwork.   

Get creative and think of things you’re good at and enjoy doing. For example, do your friends usually come to you for advice? Are you great at escape rooms, or do you love challenging video games? Outline the skills needed for these activities.

Research New Career Paths

Now that you’ve got a better idea of what makes you tick as an employee, it’s time to consider the best career path for you.

An easy place to start is by making a list of your dream jobs. Find these jobs on different job boards, such as Indeed, ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn, and Monster, and see what skills these jobs require. If you have the skills these employers are looking for, great! Make sure your resume highlights those skills. If you don’t have the skills needed for your dream jobs, don’t panic. Check out the Certify Those Skills! tip below.

If you don’t know what your dream job is just yet, try conducting a job search by skills. Indeed has a great article on how to get started.

During your research for a new career path, don’t forget to seek out recession-proof jobs. According to TopResume, jobs in the medical field, specialized care, law enforcement, public utility services, financial services, and education services are great places to start. If none of those industries appeal to you, build up a recession-proof skillset with transferable skills so you can weather any economic climate.

Certify Those Skills!

Does your next career require skills you don’t have? Or do you need to brush up on a few skills you haven’t used in a while? Now’s the time to certify your skills to jumpstart your new career by taking an online certification course (or three). These courses are often free, and you’ll earn a certificate you can add to your resume and LinkedIn profile. Bonus: you can now add “self-starter” as one of your soft skills.

Google Classroom, HubSpot Academy, EdX, and more offer free online courses and certifications for almost any skill. Some universities, such as Stanford and Harvard, also offer free courses and certifications. Courses can last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks, and there is often an exam after you complete the coursework, so don’t skip the lectures.

Build Your Online Portfolio  

A resume only goes so far in today’s job market. An online portfolio shows potential employers you know your stuff and can give you the edge over your competition. If you’re seeking a creative job—writer, artist, web developer, graphic designer, and photographer—an online portfolio is often required as part of the application process.

If those words fill you with as much anxiety as they did me when I first started, don’t worry. Having a small (or non-existent) portfolio when embarking on a new career is not uncommon. 

To get started, identify and find your best projects. This may require some digging and creativity on your part. When creating my online portfolio, for example, I had to rework past articles I wrote because they were only meant for an internal audience. To do this, I created my own website, then added these works after changing sensitive information.

Since I wanted to get into content marketing, I sought out freelance work to build my content writing portfolio and credibility. Freelance hiring platforms such as Upwork and Flexjobs are a create place to start your freelance journey.  

If you’re not going for a creative job, think of your online portfolio as a CV of your greatest professional accomplishments. You can highlight your experience with case studies, listing your certifications, demonstrating your research experience, public speaking experience, and more.

Check out College Info Geek for a fantastic article for beginners on how to create an online portfolio and build your own website.

Reconnect and Network

Time to find (or reset) that LinkedIn password and make some new connections! Reach out to past and, if applicable, present colleagues on LinkedIn. You may know someone who works in your newly chosen industry who can give you advice or even help get your foot in the door at their company. If not, don’t be afraid to reach out to people who have the job you want. Most people are happy to answer questions about their jobs and to make new connections in their industry.

Another effective way to network is by joining a professional organization in your chosen industry. Professional organizations look great on a resume, and they offer a way to connect with like-minded professionals. Here’s an article on how to get started with finding the right professional organization for you.

Seek Out Professional Development Coaching 

You don’t have to do this alone. Professional development coaching companies, such as YourNextStep, exist to help you with your career transition, though there is often a fee.

I used a professional development coach to review my resume, and the experience drastically changed my job-seeking approach. My coach interviewed me to get an idea of what I was looking for, then did a thorough review of my current resume. We optimized it together, and after a few iterations, it was perfect. I went from zero to four interviews within the first week.

Job placement companies can also help you write cover letters, practice for your interviews, and connect you with potential employers. While they can be costly, if you have the means, don’t overlook this important tool.

You’re now a bit more ready to embark on this new adventure. Remember to be patient and kind to yourself during this process; changing a career doesn’t happen overnight. There will be bumps in the road—and sometimes full detours. This is a normal part of the process, and you’ll learn and grow with each new challenge. Now, take a deep breath, let it out, and get started. You’ve got this.