How To Change Careers When You're Not Qualified

Interested in a new career... but worried that you may not have the right background?

You could be right - you may need specific skills, experience and qualifications for your desired career.

Alternatively, your lack of qualifications may be a delusion!

This is what I call having "credentialitis". It's a condition where, despite having the skills, talents and knowledge you need for a new career, job or promotion, you still think that you must study, or do some course, or get some credential, to get that new career, job or promotion.

Funny, really.

The way I look at it, credentials like certificates, diplomas, degrees and the like are just convenient communication devices - they instantly communicate that someone has a certain body of knowledge. But they're not the only means of communicating someone's knowledge, and often not the best either.

For example, consider this - you're an entrepreneurial high-school drop out who started, developed and sold a business and now wants a career change. Hmmm... maybe you want to become the marketing manager at some large corporation.

As a victim of credentialitis, you might wonder if you're qualified to perform the marketing management role.

You may even consider going to business school and investing thousands of dollars, not to mention one or two years in time, to get an MBA in marketing...

But will studying really be all that beneficial, considering you've already acquired hands-on business and marketing skills?

What if you repositioned yourself as the best possible marketing manager - someone who has acquired rare and valuable skills and experiences through building and selling your own company?

Again, I'm not questioning going to college or undertaking a formal course when you want or need to obtain certain skills or knowledge. Some career changes - like becoming a lawyer or doctor - necessitate that you do that.

But in other cases, you probably have the fundamental knowledge and skills required for the new job... and what you don't know can either be picked up relatively quickly on the job or isn't all that important.

Now, I know that while you may value real ability above a degree... many recruiters and prospective employers may not.

Yet, the only way you as an individual, or we as a society, are going to get over this credentialitis, is if we make an effort to change things.

Consequently, I urge you to first be clear on what skills, abilities, knowledge and talents you bring to the new career. Do you honestly think they're enough? If so, the next step is to get confident in communicating these qualities to a recruiter or potential employer.

And if enrolling in a formal education course or program continues to intrigue you, answer this question:

Would the course or program genuinely teach you something new... or would it give you a piece of paper to prove what you already know?

You see, overcoming credentialitis and becoming more self-confident will not only save you money, time and energy... but it will also enhance your sense of self-worth and happiness.

And here's the trick - if you're ever questioned over the absence of some credential, you just reframe or reposition your background and experiences. In other words, you explain how they have ideally prepared you for the new career.

This happened to me when I was asked why I didn't have an MBA. I pointed out that my experience working in advertising, marketing, law and my own business had given me much more valuable business skills and knowledge than what I would have acquired going to business school.

Now, not everyone will be convinced. You may need to elaborate... or if you just can't convince them... you may want to forget about trying to work with them. They obviously have credentialitis!

Also, try to look beyond credentials when it's you who is doing the hiring. An individual who has years of hands-on experience may well be just as, if not more, qualified than someone with a specific certificate, diploma or degree.