Career start: Successfully positioning yourself for a new role

A career restart requires learning new skills and skillfully presenting previous experiences and competencies. You should showcase your existing knowledge in a way that aligns with your desired role. If you're ready to take this step, this guide will help you leverage your strengths and position yourself successfully in the job market.

Erfahren Sie, was potenzielle Arbeitgeber suchen, und passen Sie Ihre bisherigen Fähigkeiten darauf an. Auch ohne direkte Vorerfahrung können Sie durch gezielte Vorbereitung ein überzeugender Kandidat werden. Zunächst sollten Sie die gewünschte Position genau analysieren.

One of the biggest challenges when entering a new field is competing with experienced candidates. The key to success lies in a comprehensive understanding of the desired role and its requirements. You should have a clear grasp of both the company's expectations and the general demands of the position. This knowledge allows you to realistically assess your suitability and address any knowledge gaps strategically.

A first step is to study job descriptions carefully:

• Suchen Sie mindestens zehn Stellenanzeigen für die gewünschte Rolle und nutzen Sie Plattformen wie Indeed, LinkedIn or Glassdoor. Achten Sie darauf, dass die ausgewählten Anzeigen ähnliche Titel haben und Ihren Vorstellungen möglichst gut entsprechen.
• Collect all the requirements mentioned in one document to get an overview of the expectations of different companies.
• Organize the requirements according to frequency, as more frequent criteria are more important. This will help you to recognize crucial skills and necessary knowledge.

Unterschiede zwischen den Anforderungen entstehen oft durch verschiedene Interpretationen der Position. Ein „Projektmanager“ kann sich auf Kundenbetreuung konzentrieren, während in einem anderen Unternehmen Prozessoptimierung wichtiger ist. Eine genaue Analyse hilft, passende Stellen herauszufiltern und Missverständnisse zu vermeiden.

People from your desired professional field provide valuable insights. Use your professional network, such as LinkedIn, to make connections. Ask specifically about the requirements and challenges of the role you aim for. A brief and polite inquiry can open many doors.

“Good afternoon [name],

My name is [your name], and I am currently undergoing a career change to [new field/position]. Your profile has piqued my interest and I would appreciate the opportunity to ask you a few questions about your professional experience. Thank you in advance for your time!”

Plan to speak to at least five people from your target industry to gain a deeper insight into the position. These interviews will also strengthen your ability to present yourself convincingly and confidently in job interviews.

The next step is to create a complete profile of your skills and experience. This includes:

• Technische Fähigkeiten: Fachspezifische Kenntnisse wie Programmierung, Datenanalyse oder Projektmanagement.
• Soziale Kompetenzen: Eigenschaften wie Kommunikationsfähigkeit, Teamarbeit oder Führungsqualitäten.
• Persönliche Stärken: Charaktereigenschaften wie Zuverlässigkeit oder Anpassungsfähigkeit.
• Ausbildung und Weiterbildungen: Akademische Abschlüsse, Zertifikate oder Kurse, die Ihre Qualifikationen untermauern.

Don't forget to include experience from voluntary work or hobbies that could underline your suitability.

Create an overview of the requirements for your target role and combine it with a profile of your competencies. Highlight your key skills and demonstrate how they align with the position’s requirements. If you lack experience, emphasize your willingness to learn, adaptability, and exude confidence.

A career restart requires courage and flexibility but also opens up many new opportunities. Present your previous experiences skillfully and emphasize your strengths to capture the attention of employers. With the right preparation, you can actively and successfully shape your professional future.