Career transitions
Career transition guides: skills that carry and skills to build
Each guide covers one transition: the skills that carry over directly, the gaps you'll need to close, and how to frame the move for the hiring managers you'll talk to. Skill overlap data comes from O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database.
- Elementary school teacherInstructional designer / learning specialistFrom teacher to instructional designerHow teachers make the move to instructional design: the skills that transfer directly, the gaps to close, and how to frame the switch for hiring managers.
- Registered nurse (RN)Health informatics / EHR analystFrom nurse to health informaticsHow nurses move into health informatics and EHR analyst roles: clinical knowledge that transfers, technical skills to build, and how to position the move.
- Military officer (any branch)General / operations managerFrom military service to operations managerHow military officers and NCOs move into operations management: skills that translate directly, vocabulary that needs updating, and how to frame the transition for civilian hiring managers.
- Journalist / news reporterMarketing manager / content strategistFrom journalist to content strategistHow journalists move into content strategy and marketing: the storytelling skills that carry over, the business and analytics skills to develop, and how to frame the transition.
- Accountant or auditorFinancial analystFrom accountant to financial analystHow accountants move into financial analysis roles: the skills that transfer, the forward-looking mindset to develop, and how to position the transition.
- Social workerHR specialist or generalistFrom social worker to HR specialistHow social workers move into human resources roles: the people skills that carry over directly, the employment law and HR process knowledge to build, and how to frame the transition.
- Software developer or engineerProduct manager / IT managerFrom software developer to product managerHow software developers move into product management: the technical credibility that carries over, the customer and strategy skills to develop, and what PM hiring looks for.
- Project manager (PMP / Agile)UX researcher / market research analystFrom project manager to UX researcherHow project managers move into UX research and market research roles: the planning and analytical skills that transfer, the research methods to develop, and how to build a portfolio.
- Sales representative or account executiveMarketing manager / content strategistFrom sales to marketing managerHow sales representatives move into marketing roles: the customer knowledge and persuasion skills that transfer, the strategy and analytics skills to develop, and how to frame the pivot.
- Administrative or executive assistantOperations coordinator or analystFrom administrative assistant to operations coordinatorHow administrative assistants move into operations roles: the organizational and coordination skills that transfer directly, the analytical skills to add, and how to reframe your experience.
- Restaurant or food service managerEvent planner or coordinatorFrom restaurant manager to event plannerHow restaurant and food service managers move into event planning: the operational and guest experience skills that transfer, the logistics and contract skills to develop, and how to frame the move.
- Paralegal or legal assistantCompliance analyst or officerFrom paralegal to compliance analystHow paralegals move into compliance roles: the legal research and documentation skills that transfer directly, the regulatory and risk management knowledge to add, and how to make the case.
Not on this list? The skills translator tool covers 24 occupations and can compare any pair — pick your current and target role to see the overlap.