Discussion thread Adrianne Ngo

Inspirations

How did you make transitions to a new direction in your career? What are some suggestions you'd like to share with others that are trying to make a new pivot in their profession?

29 answers

Cynthia Armistead Newman

Senior Customer Solutions Engineer

I transitioned from administrative work to tech a long time ago. To do so, I worked on developing the technical skills I used to do admin current jobs and learning as much as possible about the programs and operating systems we were using. I was one of the co-founders of a PC users group and parlayed that into technical consulting work on the side. Then, I volunteered with an organization where I did technical support to another reference showing I could do the work. When my ISP posted about their need for tech support people, I jumped on the opportunity and got the job!

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Penny Connor

Founder

Build your self-confidence FIRST and FOREMOST. Become thirsty for knowledge. Once those are seriously in tact, no one or thing can stop you. Visit Darlene's website to learn how to build a formidable rock solid personality that attracts what you want - www.thehigherlevelmethod.com

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Inês Quito

Rising Star

My suggestion is to never give up! The truth is that when you really love what you do, you will always stand out. And companies sense and want that - someone who is willing to learn and work on what they're passionate about, even if their work experience or college degree is in a different field.

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Kait Hilton

Rising Star

Listen to your gut and be open to opportunities!

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Heather Romanoff

Manager of Raiser Operations

Like many others, I'm still in transition. I was multi-tool of a manager in the retail industry for 20 years. After 2 decades of trying to "fix" the industry from the inside, I decided to pursue my education in hopes that I could be a more effective fixer at a higher level. I'm still in this weird stage where my transferrable skills and general management & strategy capabilities make me suited for many titles and industries. It's tough because many organizations would prefer to hire people that are more specialized.

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Jenna Pierce

Rising Star

Be willing to try new things and explore your horizon. There is definitely a lot out there and with a lot of potential to be great.

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Michelle Bucknam Newell

Rising Star

I transitioned from an Advertising and Public Relations Manager at a casino, to a career in Real Estate as a Realtor. After learning and understanding the job of a being a Realtor, I tried to find ways to use my experience as a marketer to benefit me in my new career. I was able to do that by marketing myself! To my surprise, this brought me ahead of the Real Estate game when I learned how much marketing goes into Real Estate. While other Realtors were paying marketing companies an arm and a leg to promote themselves, I was able to pocket that money and do it myself. Everyone's situation is different but I think there is experience that you can take from any career that can be used to help you excel in a new career. Even if it's going from being a Retail Salesperson in a clothing store to a Doctor. Guess what, Doctors require people skills as do Retail Salespeople. Boom.

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Gabrielle Fortier

Rising Star

Make genuine connections in everything you do. Who knows, those connections could change your life. Don’t be afraid to not know everything and be humble.

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Cybele Wu

Rising Star

I am still working on this one. But it is important to tell your story. Sometimes you have to dig back to your past and see the connections. Having a good mentor who can pull out those stories has been helpful. I have found a number of great ones through ADP List.

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Allison Franco

Rising Star

I'm currently in that transitioning period where I feel shy and vulnerable stepping into a new field but I'm excited. I'm a former teacher looking to break way into the tech field, unsure of the outcome but going in with so much enthusiasm. I'm open to all advice and networking, and would love to hear of other former teachers leaving the classrooms for a change.

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2 replies

Deven Rudder

Operations Assistant

This is what I'm actively going through. I have gotten call backs for positions that are well out of the scope of something I typically do. Take the time to tailor your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile to the career path you want to assume. See how your current experience transcends to this new path. You can't rely on credentials alone as there are going to be other applicants who look better on paper. Take the extra step to reach out to the employer directly whether through email or a professional networking app. Your drive, determination, and willingness to put yourself out there has the potential to supersede more qualified candidates.

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1 replies

Michelle Hoilett

Rising Star

Always do things that you're passionate about. When you like something that you do, your creativity comes into play. This could also result in you growing and enhancing your skills.

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Isaiah Galloway

Rising Star

I was a Cashier for about 3 years up until the pandemic caused my location to foreclose and as of now I’m a brand ambassador of Renewal by Andersen. I would say take it all in with open arms, the only way to swim is to jump in the water.

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Tanya Triber

Design, Sales & Social Media Management

I am in this process now! About a year ago I was feeling very stagnant in my job. I had applied for other positions but was overqualified for many and not quite qualified enough for the ones I really wanted. That's when I starting thinking about going back to get a Masters. I've done some form of marketing my entire work life, but never had a formal education in it. I realized a marketing career would tie together many of my strongest skills and allow me to finally find a career with a lot of growth potential. I came to this realization by really looking back and the consistent themes in my favorite positions and by also considering what I wanted out of a future career. For some, a Masters may not be necessary. But for me, it's really fueled my passion and given me the confidence to know I can make a successful career change.

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