Switching Careers: Should You Stay Or Should You Go?

If you’ve been doing the same thing for a couple years and suddenly wake up in a panic thinking, “This is SO not what I want to be doing right now,” don’t worry, you’re not alone. Changing jobs can be stressful enough, but changing careers entirely can legitimately cause a panic attack.

- Karen Fong

Having said that, you wouldn’t be the first person to suddenly decide you wanted to go from, say, being a banker to an architect. Lots of people switch careers and go on to be successful; it just takes a bit of courage (and research… don’t just jump into something without really thinking about it).

Beyond the resume

“Today, employers look beyond experience when hiring. The most attractive candidates are the ones who also bring to the table transferable skill sets that could benefit any organisation, regardless of their line of business. For example, a bank relationship manager with good exposure to regional business practices and great communication and leadership skills could be a viable candidate for a regional leadership role,” says Frank Koo, Head of Southeast Asia

(Talent Solutions), LinkedIn.Frank also believes that more employers are looking at their organisation’s culture before hiring. “You’ll see more employers ask candidates about their values and passion to assess how well they can fit into the company and work with existing employees,” says Frank. “That’s why it has become important for any professional to ensure that beyond relevant work experience, they’re also able to articulate their passions and personal interests.” Being able to do this both in an interview and online is crucial.

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