Switch Careers Without Giving Up Your Seniority

Many experienced professionals would like to change careers, but the thought of starting over at the bottom is simply too demoralizing — so they stay, sometimes unhappily, in place. But there are ways you can shift jobs or even careers without giving up your hard-earned seniority. Here are three ways to capitalize on your past experience:

• Leverage the halo effect. Recognize that if you’ve been successful in one field, others are likely to view you as being excellent all around and therefore a great candidate in another field.
• Make use of your advantages. Take stock of advantages you’ve built up over the years, such as connections that could help you get a foot in the door with a glowing reference.
• Find opportunities where inexperience is a virtue. Some companies — like those in need of a major turnaround — often are unusually receptive to hiring an unconventional candidate as a leader.