As time goes on and vehicles advance, the need for experienced and dependable workers in the automotive industry becomes more apparent. However, as a woman, you may feel as though it’s intimidating or difficult to break into this traditionally male-dominated field. Luckily, that’s far from the truth, especially if you know the tactics necessary to show your worth.

Great Potential Careers In the Automotive Industry

There are countless automotive job opportunities for women to pursue. Working as a mechanic or commercial driver are common options, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg.

As cars evolve, there will be a growing need for more auto designers who can help create the next big thing. If you have an eye for detail and analysis, there are opportunities to work as a quality testing engineer. In that position, you would test software and report on the quality of various automotive components. You can also go in a completely different direction, such as working on farm equipment or detailing or restoring vehicles.

This is truly the time to consider an automotive career because there’s currently a talent shortage in this industry, especially when it comes to auto technicians and similar roles. The talent shortage also means that you may be able to find a place in a company and work your way up the ranks over time. Plus, many automotive positions pay well. Simply put, both the short- and long-term benefits of working in the automotive industry can make career opportunities worth pursuing, despite the challenges you may experience along the way.

Common Hurdles And How To Overcome Them

Although everyone’s experiences will be different, you may face hurdles as a woman entering the automotive industry. It’s crucial to be aware of what those obstacles may be so you’re prepared to overcome them.

Hiring Bias

Though there have been strides in this area, the reality is that hiring biases persist for women in many industries, and the automotive sector is no different. Gender-based hiring biases can be tricky to move past, as the individuals who are recruiting and hiring may not even realize they have them.

That said, the best line of defense is a good offense, so begin by crafting a solid resume that hiring managers can’t ignore. Place your areas of expertise near your name where they’re visible and eye-catching. Once you land an interview, prepare by thinking about your relevant experience and studying commonly asked interview questions for the role.

Workplace Stress

Some automotive jobs, like running a dealership or managing a team, can be fast-paced and naturally come with more stress than other roles. Whether it’s natural anxiety, due to the challenges of the job, or it’s related to the fact that you’re trying to make it as a woman in a male-dominated field, it’s still essential that you try to reduce stress at work.

You can manage your stress in this type of environment by maintaining open communication with your boss and coworkers. By staying on the same page, you can alert them when situations are getting out of control or you need help with a tough project. You must also take care of yourself outside of the job. Get seven to nine hours of sleep every night, maintain a daily exercise routine, and consume a healthy diet. Take care of yourself, and you’ll have the energy and concentration necessary to succeed.

Feeling You Don’t Know Enough

Imposter syndrome is all too real. You may go into an interview or start a new job and feel as though you don’t actually have the skills or knowledge necessary to succeed. Of course, this may or may not be true and it’s worth reflecting to determine whether you’re feeling something like imposter syndrome or if there’s truly a skill gap you need to fill.

If you know you have the skills, go forward and prove your worth. However, if you think you may actually fall short in some area, then find a way to gain the relevant skills you need to succeed in your desired role. You can do that by returning to school for a general degree or taking a class to improve in a particular area. This can ultimately be a very empowering way to succeed in your role.

Tips To Get Ahead

Though it’s possible to face some resistance as a woman entering the automotive industry, there are things you can do to succeed despite those difficulties.

Start by following the expert advice of others who have succeeded before you and getting the help you need. Some experts recommend keeping an eye open for opportunities. This may involve working with a recruiter to find a position that matches your talents and desired career trajectory. She also recommends coming prepared with facts and data regarding your expertise when interviewing or asking for promotions.

Further, one of the best things you can do when you start a new role is to seek out and follow a female mentor. Find a female manager or someone who has worked in a position similar to what you’re doing. Pick their brains, ask for advice, and remember them as you go through your career and encounter new challenges.

Regardless of your position, try to learn from your mistakes. You may feel the need to work harder and prove yourself to be as worthy as your male counterparts, but everyone makes mistakes at work from time to time. When mistakes happen, use that experience to inspire yourself to do better next time.

Conclusion

There’s a lot to consider as a woman entering the automotive industry, but if you know this job choice is right for you, then consider this last piece of advice: don’t be afraid to jump in and take a chance. After all, if you can’t succeed in the automotive industry if you never try. Follow the tips discussed here to increase your chances of landing your dream job.

Need more job search advice?

Join Our Discussion

For more insights and a community of like-minded professionals join our LinkedIn group Resume Help and Advice for Professionals and Executives

About the author: Miles Oliver is a freelance contributor whose writing focuses on professional development. You can reach him at moliverpages@gmail.com.

The post Navigating the Fast Lane: Expert Advice for Women Seeking Opportunities in Automotive Careers appeared first on Career Resumes.

   

by Guest Author, Marlo Lyons

Changing careers can be challenging, especially when you’ve worked in a single profession or industry. Doing so when you’re in the last decade or two of your career may be even harder because you need to maintain a certain compensation, level, or title and your competition is younger and “experienced enough” to get the job done.

I remember at 33, when I wanted to change careers from TV news reporter to entertainment lawyer, I was scared hiring managers wouldn’t value my decade of work experience. That fear multiplied exponentially when I decided to pivot careers again at 48 from entertainment lawyer to HR business partner in a new industry, tech.

If you’re considering making a move to a different type of role or industry later on in your career, here are some ways to set yourself apart from your more junior competition during the interview process.

Highlight experience that requires more years of work to master.

Being more mature in the workplace means you understand how to excel in not only the “what” of work but also the “how.” Highlight the personal, interpersonal, and soft skills that have contributed to your career achievements and progress.

Personal skills like dependability, punctuality, and commitment show your overall work ethic and energy to perform the job. Soft skills are also important, such as independence in performing work, being able to work at all levels of an organization, and an ability to understand how your work contributes to a company’s larger goals. For example, if you’ve had the opportunity to present to or work with the CEO or other executives, highlight this experience to show you have executive presence, the ability to communicate effectively, and that you’re not intimidated by more senior leaders.

Finally, interpersonal skills are critical in the corporate workplace. Knowing how to partner with cross-functional team members, problem-solve with others, align and manage stakeholders through change, and influence without authority are skills valued in every job. But your goal is to demonstrate these skills along with a higher level of business acumen — perhaps by giving an example that shows your ability to understand the wide-ranging implications of decisions or by showing an orientation toward profitability when answering a question. Providing examples of complex work situations that show your mastery of interpersonal skills will distinguish you from the more junior employee who hasn’t had as much exposure or time to gain that experience.

Show how you’ll bring value.

Even if you’ve never worked in the specific career area you’re pursuing, as a seasoned worker, you’ve likely picked up plenty of skills and experiences that are applicable to it. And during this time when many companies are cutting costs by combining roles and expecting employees to do more with less, demonstrating the versatility of your skillset will help hiring managers see you as a top candidate.

For example, say you’ve worked in finance your whole career and now want to move into business operations. Your deep understanding of the nuances of finance, balancing a P&L, amortization, etc., will likely make you a more attractive candidate than someone more junior without direct finance experience. When asked a behavioral question that starts with “Tell me about a time when…,” don’t just talk about what you did from an operational perspective — also explain how your background in finance was the main reason you were successful in solving the problem, influencing someone’s perspective, or gaining stakeholder alignment. Connect the dots so the interviewers understand how your broad set of skills makes you more valuable than someone who only has the required skills listed on the job description or has more limited work experience.

Demonstrate how you continually upskill.

Continually growing your skillset shows you have the energy to keep learning and you aren’t just coasting to retirement. To distinguish yourself from more junior candidates, explain how you’ve grown your skills and knowledge in specific ways that are relevant to the new career. Familiarize yourself with the digital tools and applications commonly used in the industry by reviewing job descriptions from its lowest- and highest-level roles. There you’ll find language such as, “Must be proficient in X” or “Must have experience leveraging multiple technologies such as Y…” Then research how those applications are used in the specific field.

Also, take the time to understand how AI and machine learning might affect the new career — even if you’re planning on retiring relatively soon. Research how AI is being used or might be used in the future in your desired field through a simple search for “AI impact on marketing” or “AI impact in finance.” Being able to discuss emerging technologies and how they’ll change the way work is performed will elevate your candidacy above more junior candidates who don’t have the analytical skills to apply this knowledge in future-focused, strategic conversations.

Prepare to answer: “But you haven’t actually done this before?”

Never admit that! In all interviews, it’s your job to connect the dots between your skills and the job you’re interviewing for using keywords from the job description.

When I transitioned from entertainment lawyer to HR business partner and executive coach, I was asked this exact question in every interview. Here’s what I said to persuade hiring managers that I had the skills and capabilities to succeed in the new career (keywords from the job description are in bold):

“HR business partners align employees’ skills and capabilities to achieve company goals. That’s what I’ve been doing on reality shows: strategically helping creative executives and producers build strong casts of people with the right skills to ensure successful shows that drive the business. I’m also in charge of coaching producers on people-related issues that don’t have a playbook and require exceptional judgment. This is exactly what HR business partners do in an office — I’m just on set.”

I work with my clients to prepare for this question when they’re transitioning careers as well. For example, English teacher Janet was asked, “So are you a teacher or a program manager?” Janet replied:

“Both. I am an English teacher but to perform that job, I need to be an exceptional program manager in preparing programs to achieve our business objectives, which in my world is to improve both student and faculty performance across the district. Since I’m more of a program manager than educator, I became program-management certified so I could gain more tools and best practices in areas such as long-term planning, reconciling interdependencies between multiple projects, and facilitating communication on programs across multiple schools and leaders within the district. I believe I can bring the most value to a company as a program manager, and that is why I am parlaying these skills and capabilities into a more corporate setting.”

Lean on and highlight your vast network.

If you’ve been in the workforce for 20 to 30 years, you’ve likely worked with people who are now executives, board members, or managers and are therefore in a position to vouch for you. Leverage those relationships to learn about jobs (some of which may not be posted publicly yet), and see if those connections can introduce you to recruiters or hiring managers.

Also, for certain jobs, a vast network, which less-experienced candidates are less likely to have, could make you a particularly attractive candidate. For example, clients or contacts from your work in sales or business development could expand your reach, influence, or access to benefit the next company — and help you be perceived as more valuable than the less-established candidate who doesn’t have a book of business or deep industry relationships.

Changing careers as an older worker can be daunting, especially amid today’s relentless uncertainty. But you already have what you need to set yourself apart as a candidate — you just need to do a little extra preparation to ensure that hiring managers and interviewers can see how your unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives will move their team and organization forward.

Need more job search advice?

Join Our Discussion

For more insights and a community of like-minded professionals join our LinkedIn group Resume Help and Advice for Professionals and Executives

About the author: Marlo Lyons is a career, executive, and team coach, as well as the award-winning author of Wanted – A New Career: The Definitive Playbook for Transitioning to a New Career or Finding Your Dream Job. You can find her on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

The post How to Make a Pivot in the Latter Half of Your Career appeared first on Career Resumes.

   

by Guest Author, Miles Oliver

The job market is changing rapidly. The recent surge in artificial intelligence has made some careers obsolete, while the booming tech industry has created thousands of jobs across the nation. This sentiment is supported by Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, which shows that fields like data science, information security, and software development are amongst the fastest-growing occupations.

Adjusting your skillset to meet tomorrow’s demands can be tricky. However, there are plenty of ways to re-skill and find new jobs in times of economic uncertainty. You may need to invest in further training but are sure to find that learning new skills will serve you well during the application process.

Investing in yourself looks great on your resume, too. Hiring managers want to interview folks who are self-motivated and will be impressed by your decision to invest in learning new skills. This can bolster your chances of landing your next role and will help you pivot toward higher- paying careers.

Renewable Energy

Data released by the BLS shows that wind turbine technician is the fastest-growing career in the USA today. Experts predict that the industry will grow by 45% from 2022 – 2032 and that the average technician will earn around $57,000 per year. There are plenty of other exciting careers in renewables, too, including:

● Solar photovoltaic installer;
● Electrical engineer;
● Data scientist;
● Green building architect.

These careers pay well, are future-proof, and teach you transferable skills. This makes renewables the ideal industry if you’re looking for a career in a fulfilling field. Roles like wind turbine technician can take you all over the country, too. You’ll also benefit from on-the-job training, meaning you don’t necessarily have to pursue additional qualifications or degrees before applying for roles.

Software Development

Software developers earn an average of $127,010 per year and are in high demand. We desperately need more people who can design the apps and programs that power modern life, and many employers will pay a premium for your services.

Upskilling to become a software developer is difficult. However, further education is a great way to future-proof yourself and increase your employability in the coming years. Developing your computer and analytic skills during a software development degree will even serve you well in “non-tech” industries like healthcare. It shows that you’re capable of learning complex systems and have an aptitude for data science, pattern recognition, and critical thinking.

Learning software development skills and coding languages can help you stay ahead of industry trends, too. As a software developer, you’ll be able to predict the way that emerging trends will influence your work life and can take advantage of cutting-edge technology. This ensures that you always have transferable skills on your resume and can point towards your technical know-how when pivoting towards a new sector or career path.

Healthcare

After a difficult few years during the pandemic, the healthcare industry is resurging. BLS data shows that nursing is the second-fastest growing career in the USA, with an average salary of $121,610 per year. You will need a degree or equivalent to qualify as a nurse but will find that the investment in education more than pays off.

Pivoting towards a career in healthcare can be particularly beneficial if you want a clear path for progression. This is explained clearly by the American Nurses Association (ANA), which suggests pursuing advanced accreditation once you’ve landed a job in healthcare. This can help you further specialize and increase your earning potential.

Healthcare can be a surprisingly flexible sector to work in, too. Travel nurses can work all over the country on short-term contracts, meaning you can see the nation while getting paid a great salary. This experience will look great on your resume, too, as it will prove that you can fit in quickly with teams and are self-motivated to find work and expand your horizons.

Content Creation

If flexibility and freedom are your main goals, consider pursuing a career in content creation. This is a broad job market, ranging from videography and graphic design to acting and copywriting. As a content creator, you get paid for your creativity and will build a strong portfolio that will serve you well when pitching to potential clients.

Careers in fields like graphic design and blog writing are amongst the most in-demand job categories today. Businesses know that skilled videographers are worth their weight in gold and will pay a premium for your services during a product launch. Just be sure to keep an up-to-date portfolio on hand, as you’ll need to show that you understand current trends to land lucrative gigs.

If you do decide to pursue a career in content creation, consider upskilling with free courses online. Businesses like Google, Hubspot, and SEMRush all offer free courses that will teach you the basics of effective content creation and give you a behind-the-scenes appreciation for search engine optimization (SEO) and web analytics. This technical knowledge will help you stand out from the crowd and will ensure that you’re able to deliver results for demanding clients.

Conclusion

Pivoting towards an emerging industry is a great way to future-proof yourself and land a new job quickly. However, you’ll need to invest in your own skills if you want to land interviews regularly. Start by bolstering your resume or portfolio with hard skills like coding, SEO management, or nursing degrees. These qualifications will serve you well in years to come and help you progress quickly.

Need more job search advice?

Join Our Discussion

For more insights and a community of like-minded professionals join our LinkedIn group Resume Help and Advice for Professionals and Executives

About the author: Miles Oliver is a freelance contributor whose writing focuses on professional development. You can reach him at moliverpages@gmail.com.

The post Top 4 Emerging Industries and the Skills You Need for Tomorrow’s Job Market appeared first on Career Resumes.