How to Change Industries After a Layoff: A Complete Guide

A layoff can be the catalyst for a change you've been putting off. Maybe you've been unhappy in your industry for years. Maybe your industry is declining. Maybe you're simply ready for something new. This guide will help you successfully pivot to a new industry.

Is an Industry Change Right for You?

Reasons to Consider a Change

Your industry is declining:

• Consistent layoffs across companies
• Automation replacing jobs
• Shrinking market overall
• Outsourcing trends

You've been unhappy:

• Lack of passion for the work
• Values mismatch
• Toxic industry culture
• Limited growth opportunities

You want new challenges:

• Feel stagnant in current field
• Curious about other industries
• Skills translate to growing fields
• Personal interests align elsewhere

Reasons to Stay in Your Industry

It still makes sense to stay if:

• You enjoy the work, just not that employer
• Your industry is stable or growing
• You have significant expertise and seniority
• Changing would mean starting over at a junior level
• You need income quickly and can't afford a pivot

The Honest Assessment

Changing industries usually means:

• Taking a step back in seniority (sometimes)
• Lower initial compensation (often)
• Steep learning curve
• Longer job search
• Having to prove yourself again

It can also mean:

• More fulfilling work
• Better long-term prospects
• Renewed energy and motivation
• Access to growing fields

Only you can decide if the trade-off is worth it.

Step 1: Identify Your Transferable Skills

The foundation of any successful industry change is demonstrating that your skills translate.

Universal Transferable Skills

These skills apply across virtually all industries:

Leadership & Management

• Managing teams
• Project management
• Strategic planning
• Decision making
• Conflict resolution

Communication

• Written communication
• Presentations
• Negotiation
• Client relationships
• Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical

• Data analysis
• Problem solving
• Research
• Financial analysis
• Process improvement

Technical

• Software proficiency
• Technical troubleshooting
• Systems thinking
• Digital tools

Interpersonal

• Teamwork
• Emotional intelligence
• Networking
• Mentoring

Exercise: Skill Inventory

List your top 10-15 skills, then rate each:

1. How strong am I? (1-10)
2. Do I enjoy using this skill? (1-10)
3. How transferable is it to my target industry? (1-10)

Focus on skills that score high on all three.

Translating Your Experience

The key is connecting your experience to your target industry's needs.

Before (industry-specific):

"Managed $5M advertising budget for consumer packaged goods brand"

After (transferable):

"Managed $5M marketing budget, optimizing spend across channels to achieve 25% ROI improvement"

Before:

"Sold medical devices to hospital systems"

After:

"Managed complex B2B sales cycles with multiple stakeholders, consistently exceeding quota by 120%"

The accomplishment stays the same—the framing becomes universal.

Step 2: Research Your Target Industry

Choose Your Target Wisely

Consider:

• Growing industries with hiring momentum
• Industries that value your transferable skills
• Fields you have genuine interest in
• Realistic entry points given your background

Research:

• Industry reports and trends
• Job posting volume
• Salary data
• Required skills and backgrounds
• Growth projections

Growing Industries (2024-2025)

Industries actively hiring and growing:

• Technology (AI, cloud, cybersecurity)
• Healthcare and healthtech
• Renewable energy and cleantech
• E-commerce and digital retail
• Financial services (fintech)
• Professional services
• Logistics and supply chain

Understand the New Industry

Before applying, learn:

• Key terminology and jargon
• Major companies and players
• Current trends and challenges
• How your function operates in that industry
• What success looks like

Resources:

• Industry publications and newsletters
• LinkedIn industry news
• Podcasts
• Industry associations
• Online courses

Find the Entry Points

Some roles are natural bridges:

Functions that transfer easily:

• Sales (sells different products, same skills)
• Marketing (same skills, different audience)
• Finance (money works the same everywhere)
• HR (people are people)
• Operations (processes translate)
• Project Management (same skills, different context)

Harder to transfer:

• Deep technical specialists
• Highly regulated roles
• Industry-specific expertise

Look for roles that explicitly value your transferable skills over industry experience.

Step 3: Bridge the Gap

The Skills Gap

Identify what's missing:

• Industry knowledge
• Specific technical skills
• Certifications (if required)
• Network in the new industry

Ways to Bridge

Education and Certifications:

• Relevant courses (Coursera, LinkedIn Learning)
• Industry certifications
• Professional development programs

Read: Best Certifications After Layoff →

Side Projects:

• Volunteer for organizations in target industry
• Take on freelance projects
• Build a portfolio demonstrating new skills
• Start a blog or content about the industry

Networking:

• Informational interviews in target industry
• Industry events and conferences
• LinkedIn engagement with industry leaders
• Professional associations

Transitional Roles:

• Roles at the intersection of old and new industries
• Same function, slightly different industry
• Consulting or contracting to get exposure

Step 4: Rebrand Yourself

Update Your Story

You need a clear, compelling narrative for why you're changing industries.

Formula:
"I've spent [X years] developing expertise in [transferable skills] while working in [old industry]. I'm now excited to apply those skills to [new industry] because [genuine reason]. What I've learned about [relevant insight] will help me [add value]."

Example:

"I spent 10 years in retail operations, where I specialized in supply chain optimization and data-driven decision making. I'm now excited to apply those skills to healthtech because I'm passionate about improving healthcare delivery. My experience managing complex logistics with tight margins directly translates to the operational challenges in healthcare supply chain."

Optimize Your Resume

Your resume should emphasize transferable skills over industry-specific experience.

Changes to make:

• Lead with a summary highlighting transferable value
• Use industry-neutral language in bullet points
• Quantify achievements in universal terms
• Add relevant coursework or certifications
• Include any exposure to target industry

Before headline:

"Senior Account Executive, Pharmaceutical Industry"

After headline:

"Senior Sales Professional | Complex B2B Sales | Healthcare and Life Sciences"

Update LinkedIn

Your LinkedIn should reflect your pivot:

• Headline signals new direction
• Summary tells your transition story
• Experience reframed for transferability
• Skills updated for target industry
• Content engagement in new industry

Step 5: Network Your Way In

Industry changes happen through relationships more than applications.

Informational Interviews

These are essential for career changers:

Goals:

• Learn about the industry
• Understand what skills matter
• Build relationships
• Get referrals to others

Questions to ask:

• "What's a typical day like in your role?"
• "What skills are most valuable in this industry?"
• "What background do successful people in this role have?"
• "What advice would you give someone transitioning from [my industry]?"
• "Who else would you recommend I speak with?"

Script:

"Hi [Name], I'm exploring a transition from [current industry] to [target industry] and I'm impressed by your career path. I'd love to learn about your experience and get your perspective on making this kind of move. Would you have 20 minutes for a brief call?"

Aim for 20-30 informational interviews while job searching.

Industry Events and Communities

Get involved:

• Attend industry conferences (even virtual)
• Join industry-specific LinkedIn groups
• Participate in professional associations
• Engage in industry Twitter/social conversations

Show up consistently: Familiarity breeds trust. The more people see you engaged in the industry, the more credible your pivot becomes.

Leverage Connectors

People who work across industries:

• Consultants
• Recruiters specializing in your function
• Vendors/partners who serve both industries
• Former colleagues who've made similar transitions

These people can make introductions and vouch for your transferability.

Step 6: Target the Right Opportunities

Job Search Strategy

Prioritize:

1. Roles at companies you have connections to
2. Roles that explicitly value transferable skills
3. Companies known for hiring career changers
4. Startups (often more flexible on background)
5. Adjacent industries (stepping stone approach)

De-prioritize:

1. Senior roles requiring deep industry expertise
2. Highly technical industry-specific roles
3. Companies with rigid hiring criteria

Types of Companies to Target

Startups:

• Often value generalists
• Less rigid about backgrounds
• Willing to take chances on smart people
• Faster hiring processes

Growing Companies:

• Actively hiring
• Need people who can learn quickly
• Less entrenched in "this is how we do it"

Companies Undergoing Change:

• Digital transformation
• Entering new markets
• Fresh perspective valued

Consulting Firms:

• Hire for skills, train for industry
• Exposure to multiple industries
• Project-based makes transitions easier

The Application

Cover letter matters more for career changers:

• Address the industry change directly
• Explain your genuine interest
• Connect your experience to their needs
• Show you've done your homework

Be selective:

• Quality over quantity
• Tailor each application
• Apply where you have an angle (connection, relevant project, etc.)

Step 7: Interview Successfully

Handling the "Why the Change?" Question

You'll be asked this. Be ready.

Structure:

1. Brief explanation of your background
2. What sparked your interest in new industry
3. Why your skills transfer
4. Genuine enthusiasm for the opportunity

Example:

"I've spent 12 years in financial services, where I developed strong analytical and client management skills. Over the past few years, I've become increasingly interested in the sustainability space—I've taken courses, attended events, and done volunteer work in this area. I'm excited about the opportunity to apply my financial expertise to a mission I care deeply about. Your role combining financial analysis with sustainability strategy is exactly what I've been working toward."

Proving You Can Do the Job

Expect skepticism. Overcome it by:

• Showing deep research into their business
• Connecting past wins to their challenges
• Demonstrating quick learning ability
• Having specific ideas about how you'd contribute
• Providing references who can speak to your adaptability

Questions You Should Ask

• "What does success look like for someone transitioning from outside the industry?"
• "How do you typically onboard people from different backgrounds?"
• "What industry knowledge would be most valuable for me to develop quickly?"
• "What do top performers in this role have in common?"

The Timeline Reality

Industry changes often take longer. Set realistic expectations:

Scenario	Expected Timeline
Same function, similar industry	3-6 months
Same function, different industry	4-8 months
Different function, different industry	6-12+ months

Speed up the timeline by:

• Networking intensively
• Being flexible on level/compensation
• Targeting warm opportunities
• Developing relevant skills proactively

When to Consider a Stepping Stone

Sometimes a direct pivot isn't possible. Consider intermediate moves:

Stepping Stone Strategies:

1. Same function, adjacent industry

   • Retail → E-commerce → Tech
   • Healthcare → Healthtech → Tech

2. Same industry, new function

   • Build skills that transfer more easily
   • Then change industries later

3. Hybrid roles

   • Roles that bridge both worlds
   • Consulting, partnerships, business development

4. Internal transfers

   • Join a large company in your current industry
   • Transfer to a different division later

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Key Takeaways

1. Transferable skills are your currency — Identify and articulate them clearly
2. Do your homework — Learn the industry before you apply
3. Rebrand yourself — Update your story, resume, and LinkedIn
4. Network extensively — Industry changes happen through relationships
5. Be patient — This takes longer than staying in your field
6. Consider stepping stones — Sometimes indirect paths work better

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Related Resources:

• Certifications Worth Getting →
• Freelancing After Layoff →
• Networking Strategies →