3 min read
The reason is the prevailing skills shortage, which means there are fewer qualified staff than advertised vacancies. In recruitment, too, career changers are in particularly high demand and are often well represented.
But who are these career changers, and why are they so valuable to companies? This article takes a closer look at the phenomenon and shows why career changers will shape the future of work.
What is meant by career changers?
Career changers are people who move into a field or industry for which they did not originally follow the classic training or typical career path. However, they have experience and knowledge from other areas and can thus bring "a breath of fresh air" to their new working environment. Depending on their professional background, career changers have a broad range of skills that put them in a position to bring new perspectives and find innovative solutions. The application process for career changers, however, usually proves challenging: applicants have to be particularly good at explaining why they are the right person for the position, even though they have little or perhaps no professional experience in the advertised field.
In which areas are career changers sought?
Demand for career changers varies by industry. While career changers have always been welcome in management consulting or real estate, for example, numerous other industries are joining them today, where there is a skills shortage or where new ideas are in demand. Currently the areas most affected are IT, education and the healthcare sector. But career changers are increasingly sought in marketing and recruiting too. A career change is particularly easy in occupations whose job title is not legally protected. New entrants then pick up the necessary expertise on site once they start in their new job.
Career changers in recruiting:
The number of job postings on the platform Indeed is currently in decline, but it is falling only slowly and is still well above the pre-crisis level of the 2020 pandemic. Recruiters are therefore still in strong demand. Just as in numerous other occupations suffering from a shortage of specialists, career changers are therefore gladly hired in recruiting too. Mixed recruiting teams with different professional backgrounds are often valuable to companies, because the varied expertise of career changers helps to find qualified staff. But besides professional skills, career changers need to have mastered the following qualities in particular: a quick grasp of things, a good understanding of people, a strong willingness to perform, flexibility, outstanding communication skills and team spirit.
Why career changers will shape the future of work:
The future of work will be shaped by career changers. At a time when technologies and ways of working are changing ever faster, flexible and adaptable employees are in demand. In recruiting, career changers bring exactly these qualities. Thanks to their varied experience, they can quickly adapt to new requirements and prove themselves with clients from different industries. They are used to getting to grips with new topics and taking on new challenges. This flexibility and innovative power are becoming ever more important for staying competitive.
Career changers bring a breath of fresh air to companies, break through rigid structures and enrich teams with their diverse backgrounds of experience. Demand for career changers is growing in more and more industries. And companies increasingly recognise the added value these specialists offer.
