Changing Jobs: Understanding Transferrable Skills

The average professional changes careers three times

I often get emails from job seekers who are interested in changing gears. They are usually Executive Assistants working in a corporate environment and they want to become a personal assistant in a private estate for family office. Actually, my advice to anyone in any profession is the same: Show the employer that you have transferable skills. 

For example, let's say that you are a shift manager at a 5-star hotel, and you want to become an estate manager. How are you going to prove to a high-net-worth individual that you can manage a domestic staff of 15 and manage a mansion that is 20,000 square feet? Well, for starters, you can start making like comparisons. Explain that you currently manage a front desk staff of 15 and that your hotel actually has more square footage than his current estate -- presto. 

The former example is a little easier to swing because the professions are similar; so what can you do if the jobs are somewhat dissimilar? Again, start making like comparisons. Let's suppose that you are a teacher, and you want a personal assistant job to a high-net-worth family or celebrity in your area. That career transition isn't so "on the money," but it's not so hard to perform well in an interview if you plan properly. 

Being a teacher takes a great deal of patience and they must have amazing organizational skills. Not to mention they work long hours, and they have to assess their students. Well, personal assistants are very similar in many respects. If you are the senior PA, then you will be "assessing" and evaluating your subordinates. You must be able to work long hours and combat high levels of stress when working for billionaires. OK, do you see where I'm going?

If you want to change careers, it can be daunting; but it's not impossible. In fact, the average person changes careers three or four times before they retire. 

---