Shifting professions mid-career

Making a significant shift of professions mid-career has always been difficult. Becoming an expert in one field (eg as a doctor, engineer etc) requires a significant amount of learning, time and experience.

So what happens when you want a change?

There are two things you need to do: (1) gain experience; and (2) further education.

The first step is to start to build experience in the industry to which you want to transition. Taking the example of a doctor wanting to become an engineer, think through where the medical and engineering fields overlap (eg biomedical, design engineer, etc). Then find ways to build experiences such as through a secondment, special project, involvement in the industry association or volunteer work.

The second step is further education. The one profession which has pioneered mid-career professional transitions is Management. The origins of the MBA is from the need to equip technical experts in management skills as they move up vertical career ladders.

But, other professions have cottoned on. Today's Australian Financial Review reports on a new 2-year Master of Professional Engineering (from University of Sydney) designed to train engineers from non-traditional backgrounds or help existing engineers move into another discipline.

Shifting professions can be done. It is the road less travelled, but the road most enjoyed.

(Postscript: Don't forget Monday's AFR has a weekly liftout called "Education" with the latest trends and offerings from the education sector.)

What will motivate you: money or development?

A recent survey reported in the Financial Review again found that people are more interested in long-term career development than remuneration. In fact, with the economic woes, career development is even more important than a year ago. 45% of employees left their employer because of a lack of career development.

Interestingly, nearly half of the 3000 employees surveyed said they were seeking a new job.

This hints that people are resigned to their current situation but will move if a better opportunity comes along. I wonder though, how many people are being proactive about seeking opportunities? Are they just looking outside their organisation? Do they see the opportunities within their current workplace that are created during times of change?

Remember that 'career development' is your responsibility. Don't just rely on your organisation to come forward with opportunities - they may well be overly occupied just keeping the ship afloat. Be proactive, explore, have conversations. Something interesting might just turn up....