Ask L2: Making a Career Shift

“I earned a graduate certificate in IT Management and want to change my career path. I have had some difficulty in obtaining employment, despite receiving advice and resume edit assistance from the university.”

Disclaimer: Identities are kept confidential. The advice given here should be taken at your own risk. If you are having true mental or physical issues, please seek professional assistance.

I could use your advice - I am a middle-aged female looking to make a career shift. I have a BS in engineering and have worked in a male-dominated field (and office) for most of the last 17 years. I went back to school part-time and earned a graduate certificate in IT Management and I would like to change my career path. I have had some difficulty in obtaining employment, despite receiving some advice and resume edit assistance from the university.

It seems that although I have professional experience, the role I'm seeking would be different from my previous positions, and I have the educational background but without having worked with specific titles assigned to my name. I could use some direction in what I may need to do differently to make the change. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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One word—network.

I’ll say it a few more times: Network, network, network.

If your resume doesn’t tell the story, you need to do it before they see your resume. Use LinkedIn to make so many friends that your resume is a formality of the process. The majority of employment decisions are made based on referrals anyway. Applications are just not the key to getting through all of the red tape that comes from that process. So skip them.

Make friends in every space because they could know someone in the space you want to be in. Show them that you’re kind, reliable, and fun to work with. Be a resource for the things they need without an agenda. Be present in those relationships and don’t treat them like “online friends”.

Change your tactic. You will find the role because someone wants you to have it, not because your resume screams it. You will be happier with it.

L2