If the economy has affected your employment prospects,
consider applying your skills in a new industry. The health-care, high-tech,
energy and life-sciences sectors of the economy continue to drive demand for
professional and management talent, according to some recruitment-industry
consultants.
But before leaping to another field or find government jobs in Pakistan, you’ll need to
first identify the right industry and re position yourself as a legitimate
candidate.
Find an area that interests you. A hobby or
personal interest may lead to your next career. For example, if you are in
financial services and are a technology buff, consider looking at in-house
finance positions at tech companies.
Learn the landscape. To assess opportunities,
research the market for your functional areas of expertise and the relative
health of any sector you might go into. Look beyond research on
compensation and industry trends by educating yourself on how a company or
industry runs and any pending legislation that may affect the employment
outlook in a field. Review analyst reports, scour RSS feeds, and set
up Google News Alerts by keyword once you've narrowed a field of
interest.
Examine your experience. Identify transferable
skills and value. It’s not uncommon for professionals to cross
industries. In those cases, you’re hired not as an industry expert but as
an innovative leader with potential. Try working with a career adviser to
identify your strengths and figure out what differentiates you and what might
put you above others with experience in your targeted field.
Develop a communications strategy. Create a core
message that shows your value and identifies your point of differentiation
while applying for jobs in Pakistan or in
any other region. Use your resume, cover letter and networking sites such
as LinkedIn to build visibility and credibility. To refine your
message, consider different but authentic websites or web programs that
will help you create a summary statement.
Consider a recruitment agency. Some agencies
will present clients with candidates who aren't industry insiders. Many
clients are willing to consider cross-over talent in industries where the
demand for talent exceeds the supply. To find firms that work with “cross-over”
talent, check out recruiter directories that can be easily searched through
internet.
Be prepared for compensation adjustments. A
change of industry may affect your bottom line; prepare your financial strategy
in private and show that you can adjust. “Demonstrate that you are willing to
put your own skin in the game,” says one recruiter.
