Obviously many people have similar skills to a greater or lesser degree. What you must do is convince the people who interview you that you are the man or woman for the job, something that is easier said than done.
Experience. This is a special commodity in the job market. You either have it or you don't. It is not something you can buy or suddenly acquire, and it is one of your strongest selling points. You've been tested by fire. You've accomplished tasks under pressures that would have some managers biting their fingernails.
When you sit down to talk with a would-be employer, stress your experience and give specific examples of what you've done in specific situations. Relate these experiences in terms that will impress the interviewer and make this person feel that you would be an asset to the company.
Common Sense. As any manager is quick to tell you, common sense is not so common. Emphasize this trait when talking with interviewers and detail how your good judgment saved the day on more than one occasion in your career. Here you can stress how you saved your company money, prevented a bad decision, rescued a failing sales effort, or improved a new product to mention a few examples. Be prepared to back up your statements by saying, "You can check with my previous boss, Mr. Jones, about this matter." This adds credibility to your claims, and it also permits your would-be employer to verify that what you've said is true.
This is, after all, common sense.
Problem-Solving Skills. All companies seek problem-solvers - perceptive employees who can spot problems before they get out of hand, derail them, and solve them are worth their weight in gold in the corporate marketplace. This is a skill you can sell to a potential employer.
Another talent to merchandise is the fact that you can handle several assignments at the same time. Today companies are operating as lean as they've ever been to maintain their bottom lines. If you are the type of person who can efficiently juggle several assignments at once and complete them on time, sell this talent hard to your would-be employer.
Interpersonal Skills, These are sought after by employers everywhere. You can demonstrate yours during the interview by creating an image of a positive, experienced professional, confident and comfortable as you sit in the office and talk with the interviewer about your accomplishments and what you can contribute to his or her company.
Here you sell your ability to motivate people, to improve their performance, to work well in a team effort or as a team manager, to handle difficult employees. Again, use specific examples from your past experience to demonstrate the valuable talents you can bring to the interviewer's company.
Select the Right Work Environment
It's important to work for a company in which you fit in with the corporate culture and enjoy the people with whom you work. Although this is something that doesn't come with a guarantee, you should get a sense of the corporate climate during your interviews.
Some other company assets to consider: Does the company have a fair employment policy? For example, does it treat women and minority employees fairly, pay equal salaries for equal work, and promote individuals on their merits? Does the company offer additional training to help employees improve skills?
These are questions that should be answered before accepting employment with a company.
Enjoy What You Do
If you don't enjoy your work, all the time and effort you have invested in switching careers is wasted because it will adversely affect your private as well as your business life. Nicholas Lore, director of the Rockford Institute, a career consulting company in Washington, D.C., says, 'Take your innate abilities, couple them with your interests, and you obtain a natural confidence that gives you a distinct advantage over your future. You can more easily join the growing number of people who don't think of their work as work, but as pleasure." That statement neatly sums up the importance of enjoying what you do.
