By Contributing Author
Whether you are planning on developing a start-up in a new sector, or you are looking to work within a different sector, some industries can appear to be closed off to outsiders. Although you might believe that many of the top industries are difficult to break into unless you have worked your way up from a young age, this is not always the case. If you are looking to start afresh or expand your skillset into a new industry, here are some major steps that you should take to enable you to do this.
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Know Your Facts
Research is paramount to any successful business or career, and before you take any definite action, you should find out as much as you can about the industry that you are interested in. Luckily, with the invention of the internet, conducting research is now incredibly simple. All you have to do is to google your industry and find specialist journals and guides that can inform you of the latest news and occurrences happening in the sector. You should also consider speaking to people within the industry and finding information about many of the top companies that are already operating at the top of the sector.
Take the Right Qualifications
Even though many of today’s top millionaires do not have a degree to their name, a degree can open many doors to you that have previously been closed. This is especially important if you are applying for jobs, where the first impression that potential employers will have of you is a paper or digital application form. You should look into which qualifications in your industry will have the most benefits for you, and the role that you want to take within your industry, as well as the college that you want to attend. For instance, online degrees can be excellent options for those who want to set up their business or gain work experience while they learn. Wilkes University offers family nurse practitioner courses that can help you to break into and advance within the healthcare industry from anywhere in the country—or even the world.
Create a Network
As a businessperson or career-minded individual, you will have heard how important networking is to your future. However, networking is one of the only ways in which you can break into a new industry. Networking can help you to form connections with industry professionals who can advise you on the next steps to take, give you information about job positions, offer partnerships and collaborations with you, and can even become your first clients. Creating a network around you will help you to form mutually beneficial connections that will allow you to find out more about your industry and even make progress within it, especially if you are looking for a job or you are trying to secure a meeting or market a product.
Consider Your Transferable Skills and Experience
Even though you may have been previously working in a different industry, you will most likely have some of the skills and experience that you need to excel in this sector before you even begin. To help you to make steps without having to take additional qualifications, you should consider the transferable skills and experience that you already have to your name, as they can help you to excel in your new industry. For instance, an understanding of business will help you to manage any new company, regardless of its products or services, while many employers look for general skills such as written and oral communication, IT proficiency, and leadership abilities.
Start Projects
The most important step that you can take though, and often the simplest one, is to work on new projects. This means proving your skills and expertise in your new industry before you even start to apply for jobs or try to set up a business. This could include sharing your knowledge by starting up a blog or talking at conferences, creating an account on social media, setting up your own website to use as a personal promotion, or getting crafty if you are looking for a creative career such as marketing. Starting any type of project can enable you to have physical evidence of your skills, which you can then show to potential employers, or use to create a portfolio that can act as a resumé. This will then enable you to prove your talents even if you are struggling to find professional experience or a formal pathway into the industry of your choice.
