So you want to change careers but there’s one very big hurdle holding you back.
You’re just not qualified! I mean how on earth can you change careers when you only know how to do your current role?
I get it.
Changing careers can feel really daunting and overwhelming.
It feels like you’re at the bottom of Everest without a map!
The good news is, you don’t necessarily need a whole tonne of experience or qualifications to change careers.
In-fact, traditional qualifications are becoming less and less of a requisite and more people than ever are changing careers multiple times throughout their lives.
As Thomas Edison once said: “Genius is 99% perspiration, 1% inspiration.”
The truth is, qualities like resilience, tenacity and hard work are often more important than qualifications when it comes to changing careers.
And before you shirk away from some good old hard work, consider this – if you’re currently in a job that isn’t fulfilling you, then you’re already having to work hard right?
When we’re in a role that’s not drawing on our natural strengths or allowing us to play form our zone of genius, this is when EVERYTHING feels like hard work.
Have you ever noticed that? How when you’re doing something that doesn’t come naturally to you there is SO MUCH struggle?
The reality is, the only way to eliminate ongoing struggle from your work is to find and do work that you really love; work that allows you to express your natural talents.
And so…we’re back to changing careers again aren’t we?
I guess the point I’m trying to make here is that, YES it will be hard work to change careers, but nowhere near as hard as staying in a job that you hate for the rest of your life. So I guess the choice is yours ☺
OK pep talk over. Now onto the practicalities…so how the heck do you change careers with zero experience or qualifications?
Here are a few simple tips…
Simple Life Strategy: How to Change Careers When You Have No Experience
1. Define your zone of genius
If you’re going to go to the effort of changing careers then it’s super important you choose something that aligns with your natural strengths. So it fits then, that you need to know what these strengths are! Definitely start by identifying your strengths and your unique ability. We all have something that we can do really well, that others struggle with. The challenge is to find yours!
2. Find Careers that match your zone of genius
Next you need to find career options that align with your natural strengths. In my Career Change program, I share alot of online tools and databases to help you find out about careers that you didn’t even know existed! It’s a great way to get excited about new options and find new careers. (if you’d like to use one of these online tools, join my Find a New Career in 30 Days Free online Masterclass where I walk you through exactly how to use my favourite career database tool for free. This tool helps you find out about tonnes of new career options. You can register >here.)
3. Choose one career option and get educated
Once you have found a career that aligns well with your natural strengths and passions then it’s time to dive a little deeper. You need to find out what skills and experience is necessary within this role. Look online for job descriptions or interviews with people who have worked in this field. Then find examples in your own background that match (note: for example if you wanted to switch over from being a project manager to becoming a freelance writer – you would simply find examples where you had been a writer in your project manager role).
4. Create the experience yourself!
Don’t have ANY experience whatsoever in the career you want to get into? No problem! Then it’s time to create some. Simply try getting the experience for free in evenings or weekends. Some examples:
• Want to be a writer? Start a blog or offer to guest write for online publications
• Want to be a relationship coach? Offer to coach a few friends for free on the weekends to see how well you can help them
• Want to work in TV? Offer yourself up as an intern on weekends
• Want to work in the health food industry? Start your own market stall on the weekends and sell your home baked health foods.
• Want to be a personal trainer? Offer to train a few friends on the weekends first and see what results you get
Not only does this give you experience in the field, it also gives you a chance to test-drive the career to see if you like it before you jump!
When I first arrived in Australia (from England) with only one year experience in Advertising looking for a sponsorship visa, I was initially met with a lot of resistance. The first recruiter I met with actually told me to book my flight home because I simply didn’t have enough experience. Did I book that flight? Hell no! It spurred me on to prove her wrong! What I did was offer my services FOR FREE so that the ad agencies could try me out before they sponsored me. Not only did this show my passion and enthusiasm for the business, it also showed them that I was tenacious and confident in my abilities. Guess what happened? I got hired, sponsored for 4 years and even got a promotion to the next pay bracket!
5. Consider a short course
Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. While you may not want or need to go back to University, many career changes require a short course to get you qualified enough to get started. This is OK though, and often these courses can be taken part time alongside your existing role. For example one of my private clients decided to move into HR from project management. All he had to do was a short conversion course to qualify and he’s now happily working in HR. So be sure to find out if you can take a short course to help you become more qualified.
And there you have it – a few easy ways you can change careers even if you have ZERO qualifications!
Honestly, what I’ve shared with you here is just a slice of what’s required to change careers so if you want to know the whole shebang, then be sure to come along to my Free Online Masterclass: Find a New Career in 30 Days. Due to popular demand, I’m running them again and if you missed them last time, you can register >here.
This free Masterclass is an opportunity for you to take the first step towards changing careers, so why not take it (instead of ruminating some more about what to do next!).
And if you have friends or family who are miserable in their jobs then definitely invite them along too! The more the merrier ☺
I would love to know in the comments below what career you have always dreamed of doing? Share below!
LOVE
Zoe B
Not loving your day job? Get my most popular, FREE online training here: My 3 Step process To Find A More Meaningful Career.
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Thank you so much!
I always loved to think of acting. Right now, at 32, in a country with a different language, it seems like a far fetched dream…
The far fetched dreams are the best kind! If it makes your heart sing, you go for it!
How do you do launch a bussiness when you have no money at all, everything you earn (full time job) goes to paying for a home, food, cell-phone, university, subway card and a coffee a week with friends? No member of my family can help me.
What if you don’t know what you want to do or even what are your good talents. I’ve always wanted to be a mom, which I am of seven great children.
I would like to have a voice when it comes to important issues faced by people on a global scale. I am more of a peacemaker and humanitarian when it comes to the human cost of war torn countries like Syria. Also gender quality for women in terms of educating our young girls to become more resilient and independent to break the mould of the traditional ladies role of housewife. To make this happen I would like to build a public profile through acting projects but only choose projects that I am passionate about with purpose. Most importantly I would like to remain true to myself.
Thank you Zoe!!!
I am on a quest to enter a field where I have limited career experience, but the talent is natural. I was speaking with a friend about my “plan”. She started considering a career change for herself and said that she wanted to talk it over with her company’s HR Rep/Career Coach. I expressed my concern that it was better to get advice outside of the company so as not to raise any concerns about “dissatisfaction” on her part. She didn’t listen to my advice, and the HR Rep got suspicious that she would likely be leaving the company soon (even though my friend was miles from making any actionable steps). The HR Rep advised the manager and my friend received notice that, after 4 years of excellent work history and performance reports, her performance was now in question and she was placed on probation. The manager grew more and more aggressive toward her and started questioning her every move and monitoring her every minute. Thankfully, my friend was part of a union and she talked it over with them. Eventually things calmed down for her, but just yesterday, she reported to me that she would never change her career – she will stay in this dream-deferred state – because the risk of stepping out was far too difficult. They killed her dreams! As unfortunate as her story is, and I’m sure there’s many more people who experience similar situation, I am now more motivated to find my perfect role – even if I have to create it myself. I create my own destiny!
Thanks for the articles. They are always inspiring and deliver a kick to the place that needs it most!!
How do you become an administrative assistant or receptionist on your spare time. I’m wanting to get into office work or something where you work days only and have 2 set days a week off for family. Minimum where I’m at to get hired in an office is a bachelor’s degree and minimum of 5 years experience in another office role. What’s your suggestion for that ? Don’t tell me get any job til something else comes along I’ve worked in retail for the past 9 years and it didn’t get me no where.