It took me 20 interviews to switch from higher ed to tech. Which landed me a role near $200K as an individual contributor 🤯. But I had this realization that career change requires more than optimism. Here's the complete guide to the 15 goals you must set before making the jump: 1. Audit your past roles to identify transferable skills 2. Define your non‑negotiables: salary, remote work, culture 3. Save a transition fund covering 3–6 months of expenses 4. Update your LinkedIn headline for your target industry 5. Conduct three informational interviews in the new field 6. Identify one major skill gap and take a course to close it 7. Rewrite your resume using the new industry's language 8. Build a portfolio or sample project as proof of work 9. Find a mentor or coach who has navigated a similar pivot 10. Practice your “Why are you changing careers?” story 11. Attend one networking event or webinar in your target space 12. Create a “brag document” quantifying your past wins 13. Block out weekly calendar time dedicated to the job hunt 14. Clean up your digital footprint and professional profiles 15. Schedule tech‑free breaks to protect your mental health A career change isn’t luck. It’s preparation, intention, and systems. Repost to help someone preparing for a career shift. P.S. Are you working on any of these right now?
