My best advice for career switchers:
1. Act as if you’re already in the new role.
Most ppl think “I’m in academia trying to break into entertainment.”
The secret is to convince yourself you’re already in entertainment. See your transferrable skills thru the lens of the new job
1. Act as if you’re already in the new role.
Most ppl think “I’m in academia trying to break into entertainment.”
The secret is to convince yourself you’re already in entertainment. See your transferrable skills thru the lens of the new job
2. Frame your experience only through the lens of the new position/industry.
You might be proud of your previous work but it's time to move on. Don’t get caught up in what you did before.
Focus on the 20-30% of what you did that’s most relevant to your new role.
You might be proud of your previous work but it's time to move on. Don’t get caught up in what you did before.
Focus on the 20-30% of what you did that’s most relevant to your new role.
3. Connect the dots for the hiring manager.
If your skills don’t look obviously relevant, be explicit and explain the connection.
Actively frame how you want them to view you. Otherwise they'll pick a random frame and you won't like what they pick
If your skills don’t look obviously relevant, be explicit and explain the connection.
Actively frame how you want them to view you. Otherwise they'll pick a random frame and you won't like what they pick
4. Create *proof points* of experience in your new industry.
∙ Write a newsletter
∙ Launch a side project
∙ Host an event
∙ Share insights on social
∙ Start an interview series
If your past doesn’t look relevant on paper, this will show you're serious.
∙ Write a newsletter
∙ Launch a side project
∙ Host an event
∙ Share insights on social
∙ Start an interview series
If your past doesn’t look relevant on paper, this will show you're serious.
5. Show up with ideas of what you want to do.
This does not mean creating an elaborate Keynote deck or roadmap.
It means you apply for roles where you have hypotheses of gaps you can fill & how you'll fill them.
The more senior the role, the more you'll be expected to lead.
This does not mean creating an elaborate Keynote deck or roadmap.
It means you apply for roles where you have hypotheses of gaps you can fill & how you'll fill them.
The more senior the role, the more you'll be expected to lead.
If you found this helpful, I write a weekly newsletter on how to
∙ ignore best practices
∙ sharpen your leadership instincts
∙ see nuances others miss
bit.ly/wes_newsletter
∙ ignore best practices
∙ sharpen your leadership instincts
∙ see nuances others miss
bit.ly/wes_newsletter
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