There are several reasons why you may want to get started in a new field. Perhaps you have the potential to earn more money or it may open up job opportunities in a career field that you are passionate about. Whatever your motives for pursuing a new field of business, you will first need to gather some information. Everyone wants you to have experience to get experience, and there are certain steps you can take to get your feet firmly planted on the ground in your new field of business.
Determine the Ideal Candidate
Job postings are a great place to find out what is required of a certain position in your new field. They will explain what kind of education, skills, and work experience you will need. This will help you compare what skills you already possess with those that you still need. From here, you can create a plan on how you will accomplish getting the position in your new field.
Conduct Informational Interviews
Everyone knows somebody who knows somebody, so even if you don’t think you know where to start, try talking to the people you know, and it may lead to some very valuable information. Try conducting some informational interviews. Plan out some intelligent questions for them, but also let them tell you what they think is important to know in their field.
Be prepared for some people to be reluctant to participate in the interview, as they might feel like you are out to take their job. Assure them that you just want some information and thank them for their time. These interviews can be valuable because they give you an insider’s opinion to your new field of business.
Read Up on Your New Industry
Google searches on your new field can bring up a lot of useful information when you are trying to get your foot in the door, like analytics and professional profiles of those already in the industry. Check out your local bookstore or library for books published on how to get started in your new field. Blogs and newsletters are also a great way to gain tons of knowledge on the most up-to-date information.
Attend Seminars and Courses
Another way to learn about the ins and outs of your new field of business is to attend classes. You don’t have to be in college, they can be seminars or continuing education community courses. Classes like these are usually open to the public and are put on by industry experts. It’s important to spend some time learning about a course before taking. The internet can help with this by letting you read Success Path Reviews and other comments by past participants in a given program.
They can help you figure out the step-by-step details of the topic, and can potentially be more beneficial than reading books and following blogs because they also give you a chance to do some networking with the other people who attend the class. There are several options of courses or seminars you can take, however, most of them do charge a small admission fee. Your local businesses or community college might put on seminars every few months, so be sure to check back regularly.
A great resource for finding seminars or courses to help you enter a new industry is Coursera. Coursera provides access to hundreds of seminars across all fields from the best schools and professors around the country. The courses are structured like actual college classes, but you don’t have to be a student and you can still receive a completion certificate that you can put on your resume.
Build Credibility
Most companies will want you to have some experience, even if it is a completely new field for you. After you gather all of the information, the best way to gain experience is by actually doing the work, so try your hand at completing some freelance projects or volunteering during your free time.
Getting started in a new field of business can be intimidating, but with the right preparation you will be ready. Figure out what you need to be the ideal candidate, gather as much information as you can, and get a little experience by freelancing or volunteering, and you will be set to firmly plant your feet in your new industry.