How to Change Careers Successfully: A Complete Guide

You’re sitting in yet another meeting that could have been an email, watching the clock, thinking: There has to be more than this. We’ve been there—that moment when you realize it’s not just a bad day. 

You need to change careers.

Or perhaps, for you, those feelings are new. In July 2025 alone, AI replaced 10,000 jobs, so if you work in a vulnerable industry and are hunting for alternative careers, you’re not alone. About half of all Americans are considering a career change, but the fear of starting over holds many back. 

Here’s what Mark Saltrelli, the Vice President of Engineering Recruiting at Kelly, wants you to know: Yes, that fear makes sense. But “starting over”? That’s mostly a myth.

He speaks from personal experience. Ten years ago, he was a recent college graduate planning a career in data analysis—until he bombed a business analyst interview. Or so he thought. The recruiter saw something unique in him, and he recalls her saying, “You understand people. You know how to talk really well. You understand nuance. You see numbers in a different way. You can tell stories with numbers. I think you’d be a good person for staffing.”

That leap of faith into a brand-new career changed everything. 

Changing careers isn’t starting from scratch

Stepping into a new career might be frightening, but it doesn’t mean throwing away everything you’ve built. Your skills are evolving just like technology does. 

“It’s okay to have that fear,” Saltrelli says. But big changes often turn out better than expected. The Pew Research Center found that 60% of job switchers actually see higher earnings after making the change. This is because successful career changers aren’t actually starting over—they’re redirecting their existing skills. 

“Sometimes we get into our careers right after school for various reasons,” Saltrelli says. “If you want to make a career change, identify what you love and what you’re good at.” 

Employers value professionals who can demonstrate how past experience and skillsets translate to new challenges. 

However, people often get stuck because they focus on what they don’t want, rather than spend time figuring out what genuinely motivates them and how that can translate to their new career. Saltrelli uses a strategic approach to help professionals map interests to viable alternative paths. 

Start with an honest assessment of what engages you. Then, expand systematically to identify practical applications. Saltrelli calls this “web building”—taking one core interest and mapping all the ways it translates to paid work.

Web building worked wonders for one of Saltrelli’s recruiting managers who felt trapped in her role. “She came to me and said, ‘Mark, I’m burnt out from recruiting, but it’s the only thing I know. What do I do?’” He asked her what she loved, and she said she loved working as a trainer to help others improve their professional skills. 

“She’s now part of our learning and development team,” Saltrelli says. 

Your next step: Spend 30 minutes this week listing three things you genuinely enjoy doing, then identify the specific skills each requires. Look for patterns to identify your transferable strengths. 

Not sure where to start? The U.S. Department of Labor’s Skills Matcher lets you rate yourself on 40 key skills and suggests career matches based on your assessment. 

How long does it take to change careers? 

If you’re struggling in a job you dislike or are actively unemployed, the career-change job search can feel endless. Career transitions take longer than typical job hunts, and that timeline depends heavily on the skills gap between your current role and your targeted position. 

“If you’re a scientist and want to be an engineer, that might take a couple months,” Saltrelli says. “If you’re a developer that wants to go into programming, that might take a couple weeks. But if you’re in packaging and logistics and you want to be a software developer, that’s going to require months of developmental learning.”

Three factors drive the timeline:

1. How much upskilling you need
2. The strength of your network in the target industry
3. Market demand for your desired role.

Saltrelli asks career changers one critical question early in the process. “If you were interviewed for this specific role today, how would you sell yourself? If you can’t sell yourself yet, you need a little bit more work,” he says. He recommends finding additional training to grow your confidence.

Establishing credibility and the appropriate skills via certifications, bootcamps, or volunteer projects often shortens your eventual job search. Investing in preparation pays off when you can confidently discuss actual relevant experience during interviews. 

Your next step: Honestly assess the skills you need for your ideal new career. Are there any trainings or certifications you can take to level-up your knowledge? Dedicate the next month to mastery.

Networking tips for career changers

Nothing is wrong with you if you find networking in a new industry intimidating. It is! But networking doesn’t require being the most outgoing person in the room. Build relationships strategically and authentically with people who provide valuable insights and opportunities. 

Saltrelli connects with hundreds of people weekly on LinkedIn. “Sometimes those interactions are the ones that give you a chance when you didn’t think you had a chance,” he says. 

Yes, networking in a new industry feels intimidating. But it isn't about being the most outgoing person in the room—it's about being strategic and authentic in building relationships that provide insights and opportunities.

Introverts who find networking uncomfortable “need to find some way to step outside of their comfort zone,” Saltrelli says. But baby steps are fine—he recommends starting small with realistic goals, like a target of five new LinkedIn connections monthly. 

Your next step: Make five new LinkedIn connections in your targeted industry. When you connect, send them a message about yourself and your interest in making a large career change.

How to research new careers

Rather than getting lost in endless online wormholes, Saltrelli recommends a focused approach he calls the “one plus one equals five” methodology.

“For everything you do, try to get five things out of that,” he says. Let’s say you’re using AI tools for researching and LinkedIn for networking. How can you get five benefits from that combo? “You can map out your resources,” he says. “You can build your brand. You can connect with networks and get referrals, and on and on and on.” 

The key to avoiding analysis paralysis is setting time limits. Rather than letting yourself research careers indefinitely, consider structured “test drives” by setting up informational interviews. This lets you understand what skill sets potential hiring managers really want. 

Your next step: Choose two target industries and reach out to your professional network to schedule one 30-minute informational interview in each. While reaching out for interviews, update your LinkedIn headline to reflect your transition.

How to position “irrelevant” experience

One of the biggest mistakes potential career changers make is downplaying their existing experience. Instead, reframe it strategically. Adaptability and change management are essential skills as technology reshapes how work gets done.

Recruiters skim resumes for just six to eight seconds on average. Lead yours with a profile that highlights relevant strengths and transferable achievements—not just job titles, which may or may not mean anything to a recruiter in a different industry. Emphasize skills like project management, client training, or data analysis, which apply across industries. 

Your next step: Review your resume. What are your universal skills? Rewrite your role descriptions to highlight those abilities.

The biggest career transition mistakes

Career transitions fail more often due to unrealistic expectations than a lack of skills or motivation. “Have a realistic but optimistic approach,” Saltrelli says. “If you’re an engineer that wants to be a football player, that might be hard. But having transparent conversations goes a long way.” 

One bridge strategy: contract assignments through a staffing agency like Kelly. “Sometimes you’ve got to get experience to put experience on the resume,” he says. With a short-term contract, “you gain experience in that industry and that work environment that you can speak to during interviews.” 

To find contract positions, connect with Kelly recruiters who specialize in your target industry and can identify opportunities you didn't know existed and advocate for you throughout the process.

Other common career-change mistakes include:

• Lack of a clear plan. Outline what you want to do and how you plan to get there.

• Relying solely on online applications. Networking is a must-do for interested career changers.

• Getting discouraged by initial setbacks. Your first interview might prove you need to improve your skills. That’s okay.
• Not financially preparing for the transition. Switching to another industry entirely can take a long time and require specific credentials. A savings cushion helps you avoid taking the first job that comes along out of desperation.

Career change doesn’t require a complete personality overhaul, a new undergraduate degree, or years of preparation. Saltrelli focuses on concrete steps: “Get out on LinkedIn, make your profile better, create some content, and build your internal brand.” 

Ready to take the first step? Connect with a Kelly recruiter who specializes in your target industry. Your transition might be closer than you think.