Summary
Despite slowdowns in some areas of the economy, there are still a number of jobs available. However, many of these jobs require specialized skills. If you are looking to switch careers, here are four ways you can get skills or experience in your new field.
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While unemployment reports indicate there’s a decent number of open jobs right now, many of those jobs require specialized skills. If you’re looking for a new job or you want to switch careers, here are some ways that you can obtain skills or experience in a new job field.
For Personal Tech Media, this is Two Minute Tech. I’m Jim Herman.
First, consider taking some online courses. While you can find free training for practically any subject on YouTube, consider a more formal site like Coursera. Coursera’s classes are taught by instructors from prominent universities. While they’re free to audit, you can also pay to participate in quizzes and projects and get a certificate of completion to add to your resume.
Second, look for industry certifications. Obtaining a certification shows you have relevant knowledge in a particular field. While it’s no guarantee to an employer, if you’re looking to change fields, getting a certificate can indicate you’re serious about a career change.
Third, volunteer to work in the industry for a charitable organization. For example, if you’re looking to get into web design, creating a new website for a local animal shelter is a great way to start a portfolio. This is an excellent way to do some good and get some references at the same time.
And fourth, find someone already in your industry and ask if they can mentor you. If you don’t already have a connection, a site like LinkedIn is a great way to reach out to people in your industry. However, don’t expect the first person you reach out to to say yes. And once you make a connection, be sure you are respectful of the other person’s time.