How to make a career change successful
How to make a career change successful

How to make a career change successful

Adelia worked as a clerk in a bank for a long time and appreciated the clear structure and routines. But with automation, the focus shifted to customer contact and strong negotiating skills - qualities that did not suit her. Instead of adapting, she ventured into the MEM industry and found the ideal working environment there.

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The challenge: How digitalization is changing job requirements in banks

Adelia Gonรงalves works as a clerk in a bank. Her work requires precision, organization and structured thinking - exactly what she likes. But with increasing automation, her job is changing dramatically:

  • Routine tasks are digitized and many processes now run automatically.
  • The remaining positions focus more on customer contact and negotiating skills.
  • New roles require an extroverted appearance and communication skills.

The problem: Adelia is an analytical thinker who is comfortable with structured work. She always carries out her tasks with quality and conscientiousness - but customer contact, stakeholder management and conducting negotiations are not her thing.

Between uncertainty and a fresh start: Adelia's path to a career change begins with career counseling

Adelia therefore turns to a career advisor to help her assess her current situation. They note the following:

  • "I love working hard on solutions - but constant discussions and coordination with internal customers stress me out."
  • "I've always done a good job, but now my job no longer seems to suit my personality."
  • "I want a stable future and to contribute my strengths in an industry that will challenge me in the long term."

Adelia realizes that it's not about bending herself for a role that doesn't suit her - it's about finding a job in which she can continue to use her strengths and skills. A change to a new industry is a good way to do this.

3 steps for a successful lateral entry into a new industry

Step 1: Research - What jobs do other sectors have to offer?ย 

Adelia discovers that the MEM industry (mechanical, electrical and metal industry) offers exactly what she is looking for:

  • Precise workflows, structured processes and a technical mindset.
  • Less customer contact - analytical and organizational tasks instead.
  • Long-term career prospects in a stable industry.

She decides to make a lateral entry with the help of the MEM-Passerelle 4.0 program.

๐Ÿ’กLearning effect: With a targeted requalification, she can also use her previous strengths in a new environment.

Step 2: Tackle further training and qualification in a targeted manner

Adelia knows that new specialist knowledge alone is not enough - she also needs practical experience.

  • She discusses long-term development goals with her career advisor
  • She registers for the MEM-Passerelle's compact Fit4Tech training format. In addition to theory, she also receives practical training
  • She develops further interdisciplinary skills at her own pace. Free courses can be found on the House of Skills.
  • She applies for an internship to gain her first work experience in the industry

๐Ÿ’ก Learning effect: She quickly realizes that her ability for precise process handling is also in demand in the MEM industry and that it is easier for her to acquire new interdisciplinary skills, such as presentation skills, analytical skills and thinking in options, than she thought.

Step 3: Networking to successfully switch to the MEM sector

In addition to requalification with the MEM-Passerelle 4.0, Adelia focuses on targeted networking:

  • She creates a Linkedin profile and presents her strengths there with the help of her career advisor
  • She attends specialist events in the MEM industry to make contacts.
  • She exchanges ideas at regulars' tables with other career changers who have already successfully entered the MEM industries.

๐Ÿ’ก Learning effect: The exchange with industry experts gives her confidence and helps her find her way in the new world of work.

Successful in a new job: Adelia takes off in the MEM industry

After further training, her first practical experience and targeted networking, Adelia has made the transition.

Today she works as a specialist for quality and measurement controls in a mechanical engineering company

  • โ€โ€Sheanalyzes and monitors workflows, optimizes processes and applies her newly acquired analytical skills.
  • The MEM industries offer it a stable environment with clear structures.
  • She finally feels comfortable again in her new industry - and sees clear prospects for the future.

What Adelia has learned from her career change

  • Career development doesn't mean bending over backwards for a role - it means finding an environment that suits your strengths.
  • With a passerelle, you can prepare for a change of sector in a targeted and structured way.

Get started now with a new qualification

๐Ÿ”Ž Do you recognize yourself in Adelia's story? Maybe your job is disappearing or your work role is changing so much that you no longer feel comfortable in it and you'd rather use your skills in a new industry or area?

On our platform, you will find contacts to career coaches and career advisors who will provide you with professional support when switching to another industry or retraining in your current sector.

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