A layoff can be more than a setback - it can be the opportunity to pursue a career that truly fits you. Here's how to make a successful career change.

Is Now the Right Time?

A career change makes sense if:

• You were unhappy in your previous role/industry
• Your industry is declining long-term
• You have financial runway to invest in transition
• You have a clear direction you want to go

Step 1: Self-Assessment

Before changing, understand yourself:

• Skills: What are you good at? (Hard and soft skills)
• Interests: What do you enjoy doing?
• Values: What matters to you in work? (Impact, money, flexibility, creativity)
• Lifestyle: What work structure fits your life?

Step 2: Identify Transferable Skills

You have more relevant experience than you think:

Your Experience	Translates To
Sales	Customer success, partnerships, fundraising
Teaching	Training, instructional design, product education
Project management	Operations, product management, consulting
Writing	Content marketing, UX writing, communications

Step 3: Research Target Fields

• Talk to people in the field (informational interviews)
• Read industry publications and blogs
• Take online courses to test interest
• Follow companies and leaders on LinkedIn

Step 4: Bridge the Gap

Depending on your target career, you might need to:

• Learn new skills: Online courses, bootcamps, certifications
• Gain experience: Freelance projects, volunteer work, side projects
• Build a portfolio: Show, don't just tell
• Expand your network: Connect with people in the new field

Step 5: Reframe Your Story

Your resume and interviews should connect the dots:

"After 8 years in journalism, I'm transitioning to content marketing. My skills in storytelling, deadline management, and audience research translate directly to creating compelling brand content. I've already done freelance content work for [Client] to build my portfolio."

Popular Career Pivot Paths

• Corporate → Startup
• Individual contributor → Management
• Technical → Product management
• Corporate → Freelance/consulting
• For-profit → Non-profit (or vice versa)
• Traditional industry → Tech industry