How to Change Careers After Graduating

Wondering “is it too late to change career direction” once you’ve graduated? Don’t worry! You have transferable skills and experience, and you can put them to use in a job that excites you. It might even be a job you’ve never thought about before.

> Today’s career paths take twists and turns

You probably know people from older generations who went into a full time job that lined up with what they studied. They stayed in that job for a decade or three, and if they changed jobs, it was to another role just like the last one. That’s no longer the case.

New knowledge is out of date almost as soon as it’s in front of us – “like yogurt on a shelf”, as head of mthree academy Dennis Bonilla puts it. And this is reflected in people’s career paths.

It’s becoming more and more normal to change direction and switch careers as you follow your curiosity. What’s more, this is a source of job satisfaction because you never stop learning.

In the US, the average person now changes careers 5-7 times, and 30% of the workforce are changing jobs every 12 months.

> There are hidden entry-level opportunities waiting for you in technology, business and banking

Did you study a technical subject? Economics, finance, engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, business, or something similar? You have the kind of background that thousands of employers in technology, business and banking are looking for.

If you didn’t study a technical subject but you can still demonstrate an analytical, inquisitive mindset, you might be surprised to hear that you’re in demand too.

The obstacle is the fact that most of the jobs that could be great for you are roles you’ve never heard of. They’re specialist niches in specialist industries. Career services at universities and colleges can’t always stay up to speed with the latest developments in the industry, so how are you supposed to know what to look for? It’s a dilemma.

> Tailor made for direction-changers, mthree is the alternative to traditional graduate programs

Traditional graduate programs – where you join the company straight away – can feel overwhelming. You need to be confident that you’re on the right track before you begin, and confident about learning the ropes in front of colleagues. That’s why we do things differently at mthree.

We work with you to understand what you’re really good at. We walk you through the hidden opportunities that are open to you in technology, banking and business. We then train you at our academy in the job-specific skills you’ll need to succeed when you join one of our clients (leading global employers).

Your new career could be waiting for you in one of these areas in technology:

• Software Development

• Data Science, Data Analytics & Data Engineering

• DevOps & Site Reliability Engineering

• Production Support

• Cyber Security (Risk Management)

• Salesforce

Or one of these areas in business and banking:

• Business Analysis

• Trade Support Operations

• Risk, Regulation & Compliance

• Client Support Services

• Project Management

• Data Operations

Your work will be fundamental to helping organizations succeed. You’ll find out more about why it’s important to organizations when you speak with our talent team.

> You also get a private space to practice soft skills

With a program like mthree, you get the chance to do this with classmates and trainers before you have to put these skills in practice at the workplace.

All you’ll need is…

A real interest in the area, and the attitude and aptitude to get started. This could come through studying a degree in a related subject, or through activities you do in your spare time.

Are you a long-time listener of finance podcasts? Do you tinker around building apps and games in your spare time? It all counts.

Sometimes people join mthree from an unexpected educational background. We’ve helped graduates who studied subjects such as fashion, law and music with career transitions into technology roles. What matters most is your thinking style and your approach to digesting information and solving problems.

For instance, in our recent Aspire program at mthree, we had two women-only classes on our software engineering pathway. Some of the trainees had never done any coding before or studied a related subject. Yet they’re now working on-site with our clients, launching their careers as software developers.

Lastly, watch out for imposter syndrome!

Any new job can trigger feelings of self doubt. Even more so when you’re changing career direction. But remember, hiring people who break the mold is valuable to employers, and they can see potential in you that you can’t see yourself. (Want more tips like this? Check out more tips for overcoming imposter syndrome at work.)

Are you ready to change direction and take charge of your future? Discover your new career with WileyEdge and apply now!