Communications of the ACM

Veteran IT leader Marc Hopkins, who has worked in a variety of industries, shares his advice on how IT professionals can make a seamless move between industries. With the economic recession wreaking havoc on many sectors, many IT professionals who've been laid off are considering an industry switch to open up their job searches. Career experts are urging job seekers to apply for jobs in the few industries that are growing or are poised for growth, such as green energy and technology, education, and healthcare. The problem, however, is that companies often don't want to hire executives outside of their industries because it increases the risk of not being able to hit the ground running. While switching industries can be challenging, there are a number of steps that you can take to ease the transition.

In order to make a seamless industry switch, it is essential to immerse yourself within the new industry. As an experienced IT leader, your expertise is extremely valuable to many organizations across other vertical markets. You can lay the foundation for a change by talking to people within the new industry, gathering their support and feedback before any formal steps are taken, and taking steps to increase your credibility. It is important to gather information about your new industry and identify ways to help prospective employers. In order to establish your credibility within a social network, you have to become 'one of them.' This will give people confidence in the move you are making.

From CIO.com
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