When people think about changing jobs, they often start with the wrong question.
They ask: What have I done before?
Instead, they should ask: What am I naturally great at?
Too many careers are built on momentum rather than intention as we progress from school to university, then land an entry-level role often within the field or subject area we studied. After a promotion or two and a couple of job moves, we can find ourselves 10 or 15 years into a career we never consciously chose because we simply followed a path that was already laid out.
The challenge is that industries change, technology changes and most importantly, we, as people change.
Research from SEEK found that 52% of Australian workers would choose a different career if they had the chance to start again. Yet despite this, only a small percentage are actively pursuing a change because many believe it's too late or feel trapped by their previous experience.
The reality is that career change has become increasingly common, with Government research showing that almost seven in ten mid-career Australians are open to making some type of job change in the future, while 43% have already made a significant career move in recent years.
What's more interesting, is that successful career changers rarely start their new career direction from scratch.
For example, a designer who excels at understanding customer needs, presenting ideas and influencing stakeholders may discover their real strength is strategic thinking, leading them into brand management or marketing. Likewise, a nurse has strengths in empathy, communication and problem-solving, which may open doors to roles in healthcare consulting, education or people leadership.
The job titles may change, but the underlying strengths remain valuable and transferable. If we focus on reiterating our experience instead of highlighting how our capabilities helped us succeed in a job, we could be missing out on opportunities.
Experience is evidence of what you've done, but your strengths are often a better predictor of what you're capable of doing next, so if you're considering a career move, try asking friends, colleagues and former managers three questions:
What do I do better than most people?
What do people consistently come to me for help with?
What skills seem easy to me but difficult for others?
The answers often reveal patterns you've overlooked.
Perhaps you're exceptional at building relationships, simplifying complex ideas, solving problems, influencing stakeholders or creating order from chaos. These strengths can be transferred across industries, functions and even entirely different careers.
Career research consistently shows that people are more likely to remain engaged and successful when their work aligns with their natural strengths and interests rather than simply following a traditional career ladder.
The most successful careers are rarely linear, they are built around what you do best, not what you’ve always done. Rather than relying on a career history that tells employers where you have been, talking to your strengths will help convince employers of your true potential to bring success to a role.