3 Must Do Tasks Before You Change Careers

3 Must Do Tasks Before You Change CareersChanging Careers? Here Are 3 Must Dos3 Must Do Tasks Before You Change CareersAre you looking to change careers? No matter if youre unemployed, thriving at your current job, or somewhere in between, its a good time to act. Why? The economy is recoveringat least thats what the business pundits sayand employers are beginning to add a few jobs to their payrolls.So, here are three bases you must cover well in your search for a new careerDefine your transferable skills. In other words, make a clear connection between your present and your future. Write a list of the skills youve accumulated up to this point in your career. Then, write a list of the skills that will be needed in your new career. Highlight those that are exact or near matches. For example, editing and writing skills from a career in journalism can transfer well into a marketing environment.Utilize the cover letter. Your resume alone may not be enough to convince a hiring manager that , even without direct experience, youre qualified for the new role. Thats where your cover letter comes in handy. Use it to tell the hiring manager how your skills and experience from other industries can help the company. Its better that you point out that connection than assume theyll figure it out. The more youve thought about how you can make the switch, the better you can articulate it. Using the example above, you might write something like thisMy 10 years of editing and writing experience in print and online media would fit very well with the email messaging, content editing, and copywriting needs of the position.Work your network. Check your LinkedIn contacts, your address book, or your old Rolodex. Do you know anyone who works at a company youd like to work for? Or anyone who can introduce you to someone at that company? Do you know or need to find someone who works in a position or industry youd like to work in, who can give you valuable information about what its like? Th ese are the kinds of contacts you need to makeonline and in-personto ensure that the change youre considering is the right move for you.Of course, changing careers usually isnt simple, and there are more bases you need to cover. But these three are very important as you weigh such a critical decision. You dont want to make the switch having left any questions unanswered.