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Career Change or Lateral Entrant

Definition, Explanation

Tips, Checklist

Definition, Explanation

Career Changers are persons working in a profession for which they do not have the common qualifications. The Labour Market often falls back on Career Changers if there are not enough qualified specialists available. Furthermore, in some sectors there are persons who turned their hobby into their job. It is especially freelancing which holds many possibilities for this development. Turning a hobby into a profession is relatively easy when it comes to unprotected professions such as artists (musicians, actors), photo designers or journalists.

In some sectors Career Changers are exceptionally welcome. This especially applies to consulting companies.

Tips, Checklist

• If you would like to start a new professional life than working in your „old“ profession, you should prepare yourself as good as possible. This includes:
  • What do you want to do precisely? A personality check could be helpful
  • What jobs in which companies would be a possibility?
  • Which requirements have to be met? Is it possible for you to learn all the basic knowledge?
  • What period of time could you possibly bridge in terms of money and financial issues, if you quit your old job and could not yet find a new one?
• Take your time to re-orientate yourself. Do not jump the gun and prepare your career change as thorough as possible
• Act obstinately when looking for another working field and use your chances:
  • Gather information from other career changers
  • Use networks
  • Apply initiatively to your favourite companies (possible employers)
  • Do trainings for your desired job. You will be able generate new knowledge and gather new contacts
• Make sure you do not use protected professional terms in Germany (e.g. Photographer, Engineer, Nurse, Notary)
• If you apply for a job which normally requires special qualifications, it is extremely important to
  • explain the reason for your change in career and why you would like to work in a new professional field
  • Explain in your CV and letter of application why you would be the best person fort his job. This can include honorary posts or hobbies
  • Use the knowledge you learned in your previous profession for your new one. This can include language skills, stays abroad or customer experience
  • Use your networks to gather the necessary contacts and mentors to get into the pool of applicants
  • Show special dedication and interest
• Learn about the knowledge necessary as soon as possible, by working or by taking measures of further education
• Use the support provided by the Federal Employment Office, e.g. the founder´s benefits
• Search the internet for career changers. Some companies take out ads to recruit career changers

Last update: 01/09/2010