How to Navigate Education-To-Career Pathways

My secret weapon when I pivoted from to tech from a non-tech background: Emphasizing my transferable skills. Here's how to leverage them the right way to land the job of your dreams: 1/ 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 ↳ Review all your work, volunteer activities, education, and personal projects. Don't just focus on job titles - think about what you actually did day-to-day. 2/ 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 ↳ For each role or experience, identify specific tasks you performed and results you achieved. Ask yourself: What problems did I solve? How did I communicate? What did I manage or organize? 3/ 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 ↳ Group them into categories like communication, leadership, problem-solving, technical abilities, project management, or analytical thinking. These broader categories usually apply across industries. 4/ 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 ↳ Analyze relevant job postings and map them to the categories from step 3, even if you used them in different contexts. 5/ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 ↳ When you identify a transferable skill, prepare specific stories that demonstrate it. Quantify your impact when possible - numbers make your experience more compelling. ♻️ Reshare this post for an aspiring career switcher and follow Megan Lieu for more!

I frequently encounter professionals who attribute hiring challenges to degree misalignment rather than examining how they position their qualifications.   This perspective creates unnecessary limitations and overlooks a fundamental hiring reality: employers prioritize problem-solving capability over academic credentials when both factors compete for consideration.   Successful career transitions happen when professionals reframe their educational background: • Highlighting transferable competencies developed through any rigorous academic program • Demonstrating how diverse educational experiences provide unique analytical perspectives • Connecting academic projects and coursework to real business challenges • Positioning non-traditional backgrounds as competitive advantages rather than deficits   The most effective placements I've facilitated often involve candidates whose degrees don't directly align with their target roles.   What distinguishes them is their ability to articulate how their educational foundation contributes to solving employer challenges.   Rather than viewing your degree as a constraint, consider how your academic experience developed thinking patterns, research abilities, and analytical frameworks that apply across multiple industries and functions.   Your educational background equipped you with problem-solving methodologies - the application domain is often more flexible than you assume.   How have you successfully leveraged an "unrelated" educational background in your career progression?   Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights and truths here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju   #deepalivyas #eliterecruiter #recruiter #recruitment #jobsearch #corporate #transferableskills #careertransition #educationalbackground #careerstrategist

🎓 Campus to career → what I wish I knew on day 1 of college When I first stepped onto campus at Georgia Institute of Technology, I thought success was ALL about grades. But looking back, the things that set me up for my career in tech weren’t just limited to the classroom. If you’re just moving into college (or starting a new semester), here’s my advice: 1️⃣ Network early & often. That person you sit next to in your first lecture could be your future co-founder, referral, or mentor. 2️⃣ Opportunities rarely fall in your lap, go find them When I was at Georgia Tech, I cold-emailed professionals I admired and asked to grab coffee (virtually or in person). Those conversations led to mentorship, internship interviews, and even speaking invitations (things I would have missed if I’d waited for a “right moment.”) 3️⃣ Learn beyond your syllabus Tech, industries, and skills change fast. I started experimenting with personal projects outside class, which gave me stories to tell in interviews that weren’t just about coursework. 4️⃣ Find mentors ASAP Both professors & professionals can give you perspective you won’t find in a textbook (Pro tip- use your alumni network to find a mentor) 5️⃣ Start building your brand now Share your personal projects, write posts, talk about what excites you. People DO notice. Grades matter, but relationships, skills, and experiences will carry you just as far. if not further. #LinkedInTopColleges #CollegeAdvice #CareerGrowth #GeorgiaTech #WomenInTech #TechCareers