There seems to be somewhere around the of 30 to 40 age in interest in changing careers and it’s really not a bad idea, it’s never too late. I’ve got a couple of articles that talk about that that you might want to check out, but basically it ends up being where some people want to switch entire industries or career field altogether.
Your qualifications count!
And that can be a very challenging, frustrating and kind of scary thing to go through. Well it doesn’t have to be, okay? If you don’t think you’re qualified for the job, maybe you’re not a hundred percent qualified but it’s no guarantee that the rest of the applicants are qualified either.
As long as you’re the best candidate for EVERYTHING that they are looking for, not just the ones and two requirements on education and technical background or whatever they are looking for. But until you know exactly what to do with your information and how to present it it can be tough to figure out what to do.
So, here are four ways to show you’re still a good candidate IF it doesn’t appear that you’re qualified at first glance.
Number 1 – Tailor Your Resume For The Job
I had a very hard time doing this myself so I completely understand where you’re coming from. And the number one thing I can say about this, if you just have a generic resume that you plan to present to everyone you’re applying for, good luck. Really, good luck.
You’re going to have to get used to hearing those, “Well, thank you for your application but at this time we have chosen another candidate and we’ll keep your resume on file for blah, blah blah blah. No one likes those emails. It’s horrible feedback, it doesn’t give you any kind of direction where to go from here. But what you can do is create a super-mega resume.
This is something you’re never going to submit but it includes maybe your top two or three positions you’re interested in, like if you’re an engineer or okay bad example and you’re interested in an analysis position, an engineer position, and maybe a project management position.
Well get the top three or four job descriptions over at monster.com or in the dot com or whatever, put them all together and pull out the common things that are among them and those five to ten top things are what you need to tailor your resume to look like.
So pick your accomplishments already, make them fit those five to ten things and put that in your gigantic mega resume. Now when you apply those specific position just leave out the ones that don’t fit. From a copy editor and there you go. You’ve done all the hard work up front and all your submissions from there on can be specifically tailored for what you’re looking for.
Number 2 – Be Positive And Happy
Yes, here’s the fluffy bunny touch-feely portion of this video. I like to go there. I started it just straight self-help and I’ve moved on to more career-oriented stuff and I have to tell you, you still have to keep in mind.
If you’re not being positive and happy about what you are doing it’s going to shine through in everything that you do. And the phone calls, how you answer, the messages you leave, the emails you send, the cover letters and EVEN the way you write up your resume and the attention you pay when talking on phone interviews if you make it that far or in person interviews.
Really, going into interviews with the mindset that there is at least one thing I can learn from this interview was the biggest secret I ever found out. Regardless of what the outcome is, there’s always at least one thing you can take out of it that gets you that one more tip prepared for the next interview.
That’s what you should focus on. While you’re being positive and happy, don’t focus on the negative or, “Oh gosh, I need this job.” That may be true but it’s not going to help if you focus on it.
Number 3 – Be Open to Training and Learning
I understand once people get comfortable in their positions or the things that they do or wherever they’re at, it can be tough to consider jumping into learning new things or training up to the next level. Unfortunately that’s just the way it is nowadays.
You have to be able to say, “Yes, or maybe” and “I will give it my best shot.” Or, go ahead and learn the stuff up front if you see a position up front you really, really want and you’re hankering for it and you’re part of the way along and it looks like there’s, you know, 75% or above confidence that you’re going to get it.
Go pick up a book. Go find five websites and start digesting the information. Immediately watch four or five YouTube videos. Get up to speed at least on an introduction of the subject so you can talk intelligently with someone that can direct to what part you need to go for the position you’re going for. Any little bit helps and if you’re really serious about it, it’s not a big deal. It’s a logical next step.
Number 4 – Talk To Those Who Know For Tips
If you have friends that are in the position that you’re looking for, perfect. That’s great. Take them out to coffee or something, thirty minutes, pick their brain, and ask them ten questions. And you’re golden.
If that doesn’t work you can go to LinkedIn and find people that are in groups that are related to that position or people that are in, maybe even the company you’re interested in. Although, be careful about tipping your hand too much.
But it’s still showing interest. And many other resources out there, blogs, YouTube videos, any of those kind of things that will give you a step up or a tip you need to do the things, find the things, learn the things that are important to the position that you’re looking for.
Your As Qualified as You Seek
Whether or not you are really qualified for a job can be dished-down into:
- Do I have a degree?
- Do I have these technical things?
- Do I have this license?
I understand that part of it. But sometimes there’s a familiarity with this government code or this contractual requirement process, whatever. Some of those things are not as important.
Sure they’re important but when it comes to a recruiter picking or to meet the best base requirements, it’s going to down to how great of a candidate you are all together, how well you communicate, you work with people, the feel they have with you, and how you presented yourself. In addition to the hard skills that are listed on your resume and that are garnered or gathered during interviews.
If you take these four ways to show that you’re still a good candidate, the tailoring your resume for the job, being positive and happy, being open to training and getting information from those who know, you should be looking to or focusing on, then you’ll be well on your way to proving that you really ARE qualified and will be a good fit.
Take these steps, get out there and re-focus your four efforts and your new career is on its way.
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