Leveraging Previous Experience in New Fields

The Strategic Flaw Undermining Career Transitions   Throughout my career guiding professionals through industry and functional transitions, I've identified a consistent pattern among those who struggle to pivot successfully: they position themselves as inexperienced candidates in the new domain rather than as valuable cross-pollinating experts.   This fundamental positioning error creates unnecessary obstacles in an already challenging process.   Successful career pivoters employ a distinctly different approach: • Value Reframing: Positioning their outside perspective as an asset that brings fresh thinking to entrenched industry challenges • Problem-Solution Alignment: Identifying specific issues in the target field that their unique background equips them to address differently • Strategic Narrative Construction: Developing a compelling story that connects their existing expertise to the future needs of the target industry • Selective Credential Building: Acquiring specific knowledge markers that demonstrate commitment while leveraging existing transferable skills   The most effective career transitions aren't accomplished by minimizing differences or attempting to compete directly with industry insiders on their terms.   Rather, they succeed by deliberately highlighting how cross-industry perspective creates unique value in solving the target industry's evolving challenges.   For professionals considering a pivot, the critical shift isn't in acquiring years of new experience, but in reframing existing experience to demonstrate its relevance and value in the new context.   What unexpected industries have you seen professionals successfully transition between by leveraging seemingly unrelated backgrounds?   Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights and truths here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju   #deepalivyas #eliterecruiter #recruiter #recruitment #jobsearch #corporate #careertransition #crosspollination #industryshift #careerstrategist

Trade up on your skill set: One of the things I’ve done very well in my career is to leverage my existing skills to step into a role that would offer me the opportunity to learn new technologies of interest. I offer something I’m very good at in exchange for something I’d like to learn or achieve. Let’s walk through some examples: To land my first SE role, I traded my deep knowledge of bioinformatics pipeline development for an SE job where I could learn deeper software engineering concepts and software development in an engineering team. To get promoted, I leveraged the skills I learned + the knowledge I had about on-prem HPC to learn about deploying a robust system in Azure where our compute could be elastically scaled based on need. Then, I leveraged my deep experience in bioinformatics software engineering to land a role on a team doing bioinformatics on GPUs. The team needed someone well versed in bioinformatics, who was also a software engineer with HPC experience. There I was able to learn GPU development and CUDA / C++ from experts. After some time, I was able to leverage the knowledge I had gained about GPUs + existing knowledge about HPCs to land on a team needing this experience, where I could learn about ML deployments and kubernetes while providing technical insights about the GPU and HPC setups. The advice here is to take time to get very good in a domain, and then trade that experience at a place where you can leverage it, but also learn something new. I’ve found that learning to do your job is the most effective way to learn. It’s accelerated because you: 1. Have knowledgeable people on the team to learn from 2. Spend most of your day working on the thing you are learning (not small windows after hours) 3. Have to do it to get paid This is a pathway to keep expanding your skills and broadening your marketability. It not only solidifies knowledge in one area, but also keeps that brain building new neural connections. It’s scary at first, but once you realize you can do it, the opportunities are immense. #softwareengineering #learning

Considering a Career Transition? Doing this one thing can make the difference between being overlooked or being selected for an interview and landing an offer. ✅ Be the obvious choice – Don’t assume recruiters will connect the dots. They’re often scanning for an exact title match. Your job? Bridge the gap for them. Translate your past experience into the language of your target role so they see you as a natural fit. Example:  Transition from a Project Manager → Product Manager Let’s say you’ve been a Project Manager for years but want to move into a Product Manager role. A recruiter or hiring manager might not immediately see the connection because they’re looking for candidates with direct Product Management titles. Instead of listing: ❌ “Managed project timelines, budgets, and stakeholder communications.” Reframe it to match Product Management language: ✅ “Led cross-functional teams to deliver customer-focused solutions, prioritizing features based on business impact and user needs.” Why this works: “Led cross-functional teams” aligns with how product managers work across engineering, design, and marketing. “Customer-focused solutions” signals an understanding of product development, not just project execution. “Prioritizing features based on business impact and user needs” shows a product mindset—something critical for a PM role. ✨ Bonus: 📎📄 Attached is an in-depth example of how to identify your transferable skills and effectively highlight them as relevant experience. This can be a tool that assists you with your resume, interviewing and negotiating. 💡 Need guidance? Assisting clients with career pivots and transitions is something I excel at. Plus - I’ve successfully navigated several transitions in my own career, so I’ve lived it. Let’s connect! #CareerChange #CareerAdvice #JobSearch #CareerTransition #Laidoff #CareerDevelopment #CareerGrowth #JobSeeker #CareerPivot

Attention - Career pivot!? It is rather often that I receive direct messages from candidates asking for advice on how to manage a significant career pivot. Changing careers at a mature stage in life is a little like going on a very tall roller coaster - it can be both exciting and scary. Here are some thoughts to consider: ↝ 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Start by assessing your skills, interests, and values. Understand your strengths and what drives you. This self-awareness will guide you towards a career that aligns with the true you! ↝ 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘁-𝘂𝗽: Understand the financial implications of a career change. Determine how your income might be affected during the transition period and plan accordingly. In today`s environment it almost always takes longer than planned. ↝ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲: Take the time to learn about potential career directions. Look into industries that interest you and explore the job market demand, required skills, and educational or training pathways. Talk to real people to gain insights! Make sure that you take into consideration local market specifics. ↝ 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀: Identify your skills or knowledge that can be transferred as well as gaps between your current experience and your desired career. Courses, certifications, or workshops can be helpful (and costly). ↝ 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: Leverage your existing network and reach out to professionals in the new field. Networking can be critical in your decision making as well your eventual success. ↝ 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: If possible, gain practical experience in your new field through volunteering or internships. This can help you confirm you are on the right path; acquire hands-on experience and expand your network. ↝ 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Understand that changing careers may take time and effort. Consider adjusting your plans based on new information or opportunities that arise. ↝ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁: Resilience on this journey will be critical. Job hunting and career changes are often challenging, but maintaining a positive mindset will increase your chances of success. ↝ 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁: Once you've made the change, periodically evaluate your career satisfaction and progress. Be open to making further adjustments if needed to ensure long-term fulfillment. ❓ Anything you would add? Any questions? ------------------------------------------------- Oh, hey there! I am Dana - Recruiter with a 💡 ☝🏼 Like this and want more interesting content? 🍪 Share if others could benefit from this too! 🔔 Follow me and 'hit' the bell on my profile.

Experience isn’t just about years—it’s about depth, diversity, and impact. In HR (and many other fields), I’ve observed three patterns that often differentiate good careers from great ones: 1️⃣ Length vs Depth: Spending many years doing the same tasks doesn’t automatically make you more capable. Depth comes from tackling challenges that stretch your skills, from handling complexity, and from truly understanding how HR drives business outcomes. 2️⃣ Diversified experience > Domain restriction: Working across industries or multiple HR sub-functions—be it Talent Acquisition, L&D, Compensation & Benefits, or OD—broadens your perspective. Interestingly, solutions from one industry often spark innovation in another. What you learn in retail could transform logistics; what works in IT could enhance healthcare HR practices. Cross-industry insights can be surprisingly powerful, often in ways you wouldn’t expect. 3️⃣ Expanding your role vs switching jobs: It’s tempting to chase titles across companies, but deepening responsibility and stretching your current role often delivers more value. Taking ownership of new initiatives, leading cross-functional projects, or designing strategic interventions within your existing role accelerates growth far more than hopping for the sake of a resume. The takeaway? Your career is a portfolio of experiences—choose breadth, depth, and strategic stretch over mere chronology. Curious to hear from my network: which cross-industry or cross-function insights have transformed your approach to HR?

Ever felt like your experience in one industry might hold you back from making a leap into another? I’ve been there—and so have many of the professionals I work with. Recently, I was helping a talented executive transition from the electric vehicle (EV) space into a new sector. At first, it seemed like a tough sell. Their network was mostly EV-focused, and every conversation circled back to the same familiar faces and companies. Here’s what made the difference: we started looking beyond the obvious. Instead of only talking to EV peers, we reached out to adjacent circles—think cleantech VC portfolios, smart city initiatives, and cross-industry events like TMC, NTEA, and ACT Expo. These are places where innovation is happening fast, and where fresh perspectives are valued. What surprised us was how many companies outside the EV bubble were hungry for proven operators who understand technology, scaling, and growth. Suddenly, what seemed like a narrow background became a real advantage. The key insight? Don’t limit yourself to your current circle. Your experience can be a differentiator in the right environment. Sometimes, it’s about showing up in the rooms where your skills are rare, not redundant. If you’re considering a transition—whether for yourself or your team—think about where your expertise could stand out, not just fit in. Have you made a leap into a new industry? I’d love to hear how you approached it. Drop a comment or like if this sparked any ideas for you. #careertransition #networking #innovation

If you’re switching careers, your background and your experiences ARE your superpowers. Every single time my students get hired BECAUSE of their unique experiences, industry knowledge, and perspective, not despite it. Ask yourself: ↳ What problems have I helped solve before?  ↳ What problems excite me? ↳ How does that help me in this new role?  ↳ What industry am I really familiar with?  ↳ How can I leverage it for this new industry? My students have leveraged their backgrounds to switch from: - Education into healthcare —> leveraging the mission-driven component of their work  - E-commerce analyst to e-commerce product designer —> leveraging industry knowledge  - Interior designer into product design —> translating design in the built space to design in the digital space  - Social work into edtech —> leveraging advocacy and empathy for people for a mission-driven product So before you dismiss your experience as “not relevant” for the new role you desire, think again. I actually think it’s your secret sauce.  _______ Follow Karen Woodin-Rodríguez for inspiration & advice on switching careers. ✨

Are you contemplating to pivot into data analytics & data science field? As someone who has been in the field since 2013, and who's been mentoring and coaching others in the data field for the past 7 years, here are my thoughts: 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞: 𝟏) 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 Instead of learning SQL or Python from scratch, focus on using AI tools to meet existing analysis needs. For example, master how to craft prompts to generate SQL or Python code, or use GenAI to build processes, streamline data workflows, and uncover insights faster. You can also harness LLMs to enhance your analysis and insights generation, rather than slowly building your portfolio through years of hands-on experience. Use LLMs to critique and refine your insights and recommendations, ensuring that what you propose aligns with business goals and stakeholder questions. 𝟐) 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 Focus on industries with bright futures like GenAI, healthcare, cybersecurity, green energy, or mental health. These sectors are more likely to need data professionals to drive growth through analysis and insights. Do your research by searching for industry reports or talking to seasoned practitioners to identify promising industries. Reports or analyses published by organizations such as below can be your start, e.g. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, McKinsey Global Institute, World Bank, CB Insights, or Gartner. 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: 𝟏) 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭, 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 Instead of pursuing yet another bootcamp or credential (though you do need baseline technical skills), start by volunteering, interning, or offering to help current practitioners with projects. Build a portfolio using open-source data, freelance on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, and secure your first data job—even if it’s not a 100% match to your current criteria. The ideal industry or company will come later once you’re in the door. 𝟐) 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 Whether it’s validating a specific industry’s need for your skills, creating opportunities for referrals, or honing your pitch for future interviews, networking is critical for career transitions and building long-term influence in your field. Identify “hubs” of people or communities that can help you gain new opportunities. Communities such as Women in Big Data, Women in Data Science (WiDS) Worldwide, or Data Science Association (that I helped co-found), can be your starting point. If you've been contemplating or ready to make the switch, book a Discovery session (via my profile) as your first step! Let’s explore how I can help you in our 1:1 coaching space—where to focus, and what steps to take to launch your new career in data analytics.

𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐒𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐒 | 𝐌𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐘: One of the most common mistakes candidates make in interviews is focusing solely on their past experience WITHOUT connecting it to the company’s current needs.   📌 Interviews are about how your experience CAN HELP the company solve its current challenges. ❌ Don't rely on the hiring team to connect the dots for you. ✔ You need to make it clear to them what you bring to the table. It's a small, but critical mindset shift. ------ 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐘 𝐄𝐗𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄: My client, with a med comms consulting/fellowship background, landed an interview for a Medical Information role at a medical device company. She was concerned her lack of direct experience and having just 1 year vs 5 years in the posting, would be a limitation. 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐂 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐂𝐇: We researched the company’s needs, learned about their recent FDA approval and team expansion, and discussed their current position and anticipated challenges. From there, we restructured my client’s responses to show how her skills could directly help and practiced relating this with the interviewer/company: 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄'𝐒 𝐀 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄: 👉 RELATE: "I understand your company is preparing for the launch of XX . . . . that must be exciting!" 👉PAINPOINT: I'm sure you'll need a lot of help for the challenges ahead given that it's a new product in the XX market <𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦, 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦> 👉HER SOLUTION: "I've worked with . . . For example, just recently. . . ." 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭. 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, we practiced confidently handling 'objections' about her 'lack of direct experience' . . . to which we had several strategies for: 👉 𝐀𝐒𝐊 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: What specific medical information skills are you looking for that's most important for this role? 👉 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄 <and different ways to respond> 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? The client went in with the CONFIDENCE and CERTAINTY on how she can help the company. 🙌 The interview went well, and is awaiting for the next step of the interview process! ______ ⏵Please like and repost if you find this helpful 😃! ⏵If you need help, please DM me or join my industry program! #interviewing #medicaldevice #medicalaffairs #pharmajobs #biotechs #careercoach #careergrowth

TRANSITIONING YOUR WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE SKILLS TO NEW VERTICALS This week, Crown Castle announced more terminations as it attempts to right the ship. This outcome was inevitable based on current events. Unfortunately, so many skilled professionals find themselves unemployed. But this is not the end of the story, I promise you! As the wireless telecommunications landscape evolves, many skilled professionals in site development and wireless infrastructure find themselves at a crossroads. Once reliant on these skills, the industry moves in different directions. However, the expertise you have honed over the years is still relevant. It is about strategically pivoting your skill set to new, thriving industries. We will all experience setbacks in our professional lives. I have had my own. The loss of Verizon as a primary client. T-Mobile’s decision to bring DAS work in-house. These setbacks made me more resilient and allowed me to pivot to redefine my success. I want to encourage everyone impacted this year by the industry workforce reductions. Below are a few verticals where your experience in wireless infrastructure can be invaluable. Site development and infrastructure expertise, project management, site assessment, and infrastructure development skills are transferable. 1.        Renewable Energy Sector. 2.        Data Center Infrastructure. 3.        EV Charging Infrastructure. 4.        Smart City Projects. 5.        Fiber and Broadband Deployment. Your ability to manage complex projects, understand technical requirements, deliver on expedited timelines, and navigate regulatory landscapes will be highly valued in these verticals. The key is to frame your experience in a way that resonates with these new industries, highlighting the transferability of your skills and your adaptability to new challenges. Embrace the change, and you will find that your skills in wireless infrastructure open doors to exciting new opportunities. If I can help in any way, please message me, and let's have a conversation. #transitions #careerchange #hope