By Emily Boaler

There can come a time as a linguist, when we start to feel a bit stuck in our work, especially when we find ourselves in a role or sector that no longer fulfils our purpose or needs. However, renewed purpose may lie within a sector where we have little or no experience – a leap into the unknown for sure, but with languages as our super-power it can be done!

Those who studied for a degree in languages may find themselves working in various sectors during their career path, as language skills are quite versatile and can be applied to almost any sector.

This can make career choices challenging though, as we may need to change roles several times until we find something we truly enjoy doing.

Changing sector can be tricky as you've got to prove to an employer that you can be a success in a role that you've not necessarily done before. 

I've very recently changed sector after twelve years in IT, and I'm now working in the Educational Tourism sector.

Changing sector wasn't easy as I was often approached for work in other technical support roles, but I wanted to try something completely different. It took me a while to know what sector to go into. I then narrowed it down to Tourism or Sport, two of my passions.

If you're looking to change sector, here are my top tips to help you do so...

When I felt that I was stuck in IT, I was constantly trying to prove that I was capable of other things.

Sometimes, our experience defines us, and others assume that we're only capable of working in one sector. On LinkedIn, I wrote about football, languages in general, travelling, and mentoring.

By doing this, I was showing interest - and capability - in other sectors.

I found that it was actually my very early work experience that helped me land my new role.

Very soon after I completed my degree in 2013, I spent two weeks working as a Group Leader in Salamanca and Bordeaux with a company called Halsbury Travel. During those weeks, I ensured travel plans ran smoothly, checked students' work placements, organised activities, and found new work placements for future trips.

Despite me doing this work over a decade ago, this work experience has proven vital in getting, and doing my new role. I've just come back from a trip to Valencia and have been doing exactly the same tasks I did back in 2013, which helped me enormously.

City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia

As well as your work experience, your personal experience is invaluable. Whether that's studying abroad, growing up with languages, having international connections, or hosting foreign students.

These experiences as a whole shape your personality and have an impact on how you adapt and react to new situations, so it’s well worth showcasing them as employers will value them too!

At the beginning of my job search I had no idea what sector I wanted to work in. This resulted in half-heartedly applying for new roles resulting in failed applications.

As time went on, thanks to getting involved in things outside of work, I realised that I enjoyed working in sport, loved travelling and exploring cultures, and enjoyed creating content and writing articles.

I then applied for roles in Sport, Tourism and Marketing. Rather than applying for roles for the sake of it, I was genuinely applying for roles that interested me.

Studying, courses or getting involved in something new is always going to benefit you. It shows that you're eager to make the change in sector happen.

If you don't have work experience matching a role you're applying for, courses, studying and voluntary work can give you something to talk about in applications and during interviews in your new target sector.

On paper we may not appear to fit the job description, so there is nothing wrong with being upfront explaining to a recruiter/employer that you're looking to change sector and have experience in X, Y and Z.

This shows initiative, and that you're going above and beyond to aid your next career move.

Self-branding is key when it comes to changing sector. Writing posts, or commenting on other connections’ posts, is going to encourage more people to view your profile.

Gently reminding others of your presence, may result in others contacting you first when a new role comes up. For my new role I was alerted by a fellow connection that the company I'm now working for may be looking for new employees.

This was thanks to having a strong presence, and connections that I value highly on LinkedIn. You can also talk to your connections to see what they've done to change sector.

This is absolutely vital when changing sector.

You'll often find that skills are transferable. For example, resolving technical issues in IT and owning a case until its resolution is the same as keeping customers happy in tourism.

The skill of being persistent, keeping the customer happy, and not giving up remains the same. We just need to know how to convince an employer that we master these skills already.

After a while you can actually convince yourself that you're not capable of changing sector.

You may attract work in the sector you're in or don't hear much back from roles you've applied for in other sectors.

This is where self-belief comes in. You have to truly believe that you can change sector and then manifest it. If you don't believe it, then it won't happen. And very often the opportunity comes just when you are thinking it never will.

It certainly did for me.

A combination of these steps landed me my new role despite times when I thought that I'd never be able to change sector.

If someone were to ask me my advice in a nutshell I’d say: remember to value all of your experience on both a personal and professional level, narrow down potential sectors you'd really like to get into, reach out to connections, self-brand, believe in yourself and don’t give up!

Languages combined with a determined and adaptable mindset can facilitate a move into a new sector – it worked for me, and I wish anyone else who wants a change all the success in the world.
 

 

Emily Boaler is a Travel Consultant at Blue Stamp Travel who graduated with a BA Hons in French, Spanish and Italian from Nottingham Trent University.

Views expressed on CIOL Voices are those of the writer and may not represent those of the wider membership or CIOL.