During my time in Big Accounting, I had the opportunity to experience and enjoy (or not exactly look forward to) many different industries, from commercial to financial, not to mention the joy of performing inventories in a morgue one day (yes, an actual morgue) and a gas station another. Yet, even in Big Accounting, these opportunities to float between various industries and actually have the choice to pick one over another get slimmer as one advances in their career. Most often, by chance or by early (and often premature) choice, we find ourselves in a certain type of industry, at a certain type of company, where we remain for a while, specialize a bit, and start believing like everyone else, that that where we are to stay and develop professionally. What happens then when we want to change industries? Does it mean we must lose our professional edge, start at the very bottom, or forget the idea altogether?

Although changing industries may be considered by many to be a risky career move, it may actually help boost a previously dormant (and maybe sterile) career. It may even help you change careers altogether, and start fresh in a field that actually interests and motivates you. Moving from the retail to the banking industry after many years terrified me. Although banking and its highly-regulated, highly-detailed environment excited me, it took me a while to actually put pen to paper and actively work on switching industries. Once I did, not only was I pleasantly surprised by the outcome, but I also wished I had done it sooner. To ensure your industry change will not make you lose your professional edge, here are a few tips to ditch the fear and take (smart) action:

1. Clarify your vision: The first step in any change process is to see it clearly. Visualize your dream job, write down specific characteristics about it, and start mentally moving towards it.

2.Start taking action! Start networking within this new industry, call on to professional contacts, join industry groups on Linked In, subscribe to trade journals! Move forward with your plans, get involved with the industry of your dreams, and watch things get into place! Don’t be discouraged if this process takes a few months, it is best for you to learn as much as you can and make as many contacts as possible early on!

3. Last but not least, update your resume! Your resume must always reflect your professional persona at the moment. Prepare for upcoming interviews in this new industry by matching your resume to corresponding job descriptions. Scour job boards on networks like Linked In, or The Ladders, to identify positions that most closely match your desires, and reflect the positions’ attributes in your resume. Use similar keywords and phrases to stand out!

What other advice do you have to switch industries without losing your professional edge?

The Corporate Sis.