No connections. Just saw the CEO post on linked-in what he was looking for which matched my skill set and I applied. A few interviews, competency test, and behavioral test later and I had the job. All skills I’ve learned from banking/finance, so maybe not exactly a career change, but the industry is totally different and I’m definitely having to learn new skills on the job now as I “wear many hats” in the new position. If you’re looking to make a move to something that requires totally a different skill set, I would suggest taking an online course (doesn’t have to be an expensive one) and creating a website for yourself where you can showcase your new skill and also put your resume/experience.
Discussion
But mainly, it took time and luck. I had been unhappy for almost 2 years and I applied to well over 100 positions. I had many interviews and got deep into the process with a few companies and ended up not getting offers. My main advice would be don’t get discouraged and don’t give up. A lot of companies only post jobs because they legally have to before hiring/promoting internally.
Wow! That’s a lot of dedication and hard work. I’m going to visit my institution’s career center to get some insight on alternative careers based on current my skill set.