Strategies for Making a Late Career Switch

A two-year, full-time MBA program is the ideal choice for many looking to switch careers.

“I think the MBA is a great way to get an introduction generally to business,” Idie Kesner, former dean of the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, tells P&Q. “You get a chance to explore a variety of different functional areas, sometimes without the deep dive that you would necessarily get in an MS program, a customized or specialized MS program. And when you’re changing your career, you need that breadth of perspective. You need that cross-functional disciplinary perspective in order to be successful in whatever executive career that follows.”

For many, making a career switch can be scary—especially if you’re a senior professional competing with younger talent. Octavia Goredema, CEO of Fire Memos and the author of Prep, Push, Pivot: Essential Career Strategies for Underrepresented Women, offered a few strategies to help prepare for a late-career shift and effectively market yourself to prospective employers.

MAKE AGE AN ASSET

Senior professionals have an advantage than younger professional don’t: experience. Goredema recommends using your age as an asset and fully embracing the benefits of your experience and perspectives.

“One way to demonstrate this is by creating a career change elevator pitch that connects the dots between your experience, your transferable skills, and what you can deliver in your next chapter,” Goredema says. “Be ready to talk about what excites you about your new career. Share what you’ve done well in the past and what you want to achieve in your next role. When you believe in yourself and are excited about your journey, it becomes infectious. Your passion for your new career becomes tangible. Other people will hear it when you talk and see it in your demeanor.”

TAP INTO YOUR NETWORK

Identifying multigenerational connections within your network can help unlock opportunities insights into your target industry.

“When you’re starting over, all entry points into your new target industry are advantageous,” Goredema says. “Early- or mid-career professionals in the field you’re targeting will have valuable insights into what it takes to enter the industry and grow. Reverse-mentoring conversations can help you fill gaps in your knowledge and learn about recruitment trends, industry developments, and workplace perspectives that can inform your next steps.”

SCALE UP YOUR JOB SEARCH

Numbers are everything in a job search. Goredema recommends applying the ‘10X rule’ to every aspect of your job search—from applications to networking.

“When I’m working with someone who’s preparing to look for a job, one of the key questions I ask is, ‘Who do you plan to update about your job search, to help you find opportunities?’” Goredema says. “When my coaching client lists off the names, I count them — then I recommend we set a goal of connecting with at least 10 times more people.”

Sources: Harvard Business Review, P&Q