If you are switching careers, or what I refer to as a Career Switcher, you are incredibly well-positioned for jobs in UX, Product, and Tech. Whether you are switching careers from teaching, nursing, academia, or anything else there are some important mistakes you want to avoid, especially if you are switching careers into UX (also known as user experience).
In this episode of The Career Strategy Podcast, Sarah shares 3 common mistakes career switchers make and how to avoid them so you can stand out as a high-value candidate and leverage your previous career experience.
TIMESTAMPS
0:31: Today I'll share some tips for career switchers to stand out by avoiding some common mistakes and mindset traps.
1:12: Skills like communication, critical thinking, writing, teamwork, and dealing with conflict are TIMELESS.
1:30: Companies who are hiring don't just look for candidates who know all the right software or methodologies, because these things can be taught much faster than soft skills.
1:58: Number one, stop hiding your experience because you don't think it applies and is connected.
2:28: How to leverage your previous experience on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
4:07: Number two, stop waiting for the perfect job and strategically apply. Rejection is okay.
5:48: Applying to jobs is a test. It's an experiment to see if your resume, LinkedIn, et cetera, can get you an interview. Rejection in your job search is feedback.
6:04: Rejection is not a definition of your self-worth or a signal that you're doomed in your career or your life.
8:43: Number three, don't skip the portfolio because you don't think you have anything to put in it, and don't go spend weeks or months making fake projects.
6:44: Remember, just because you have not held a job with the literal word UX in the job title (or whatever job title you want in the future) does not mean you haven't been doing these things already.
7:53: Software changes and can easily be taught, but skills like these are timeless and take much longer to learn. So highlighting these skills might give you an edge over other candidates.
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