Instead of memorizing it, remember a couple of key points you want to address. In the years that I’ve been in marketing, I’ve found a computer science background has not only been helpful, but it’s also given me additional credibility, and the opportunity to work on projects I might not have been considered for otherwise. Whatever you’re bringing to the table, make sure to bring up some examples of how your skills are an asset for the position you’re after. Read More: Ask a Recruiter: How Can I Figure Out a Career Path When I've Had So Many Jobs? When you’re competing against dozens of other applicants, it’s a surefire way to stand out and gain an edge of the other candidates. Answer Save. Changing your career is a big decision, and it’s okay to feel nervous or intimidated. Before you walk into the interview, you should already have an answer to this question. Computer systems design and information services are expanding rapidly. ~~~ While the specifics of the job may vary in human services, one thing remains consistent across the board—all human services professionals use compassion to help others overcome their personal challenges. In fact, you don’t need any contacts at all – you can make them all on your own (see this article for a step-by-step guide) You don’t need a degree in the field you want to As cell phone companies improve their services, specialists in microelectronics will be in demand. Tough Interview Question: Why are you applying for a job in a field outside your current career or college major? Then, explain what keeps you energized about the work on a daily basis or led you to where you are today. Near the end of my college career, I took an internship in tech support at a company I really enjoyed. You were the first ones to actually call me back for an interview, so here I am…". Of course, it depends upon your field and the research you have done to determine job availability and the likelihood that you’ll be one of the candidates hired for that perfect job. I studied science in secondary school (that's after high school and before college in India). The nagging feeling that you’re not suited for what you just spent four or more years studying doesn’t often go away—it just continues to grow with time. But at a certain point, you need to stay true to how you want to spend your day, which problems you want to solve, and what you want to learn. Why would you leave behind all of your prior experience and education to do this work? That just explains why you’re interested in tech – after that, you would then go on to state all the usual reasons about why you want to do PE. Having people with different backgrounds, skills, and experience guarantees that a team will be able to approach problems from different angles and come up with unique solutions. You can’t ignore it. Regardless of your specific role in the industry, you'll play some part in helping people, or even entire communities, and positively affect their lives as a result. 10 Answers. So here is my request, I would like to record why you find working in the compliance profession meaningful. Whatever you choose, try to end your answer by showing you’re still interested in this career and the work that you do. Maybe you have a cause or charity that’s close to your heart. Having people with different backgrounds, skills, and experience guarantees that a team will be able to approach problems from different angles and come up with unique solutions. When you don’t have much (or any) background in your desired field, it can be tough to get companies to take a chance on you. You need to do your best to connect your experience and/or education to the role, even though they may not necessarily be directly related in a traditional sense. Often, you run into a paradox where you need relevant experience to get a job, but you need a job to get relevant experience. 7. 6. This position at your company is offering a decent amount of scope to portray responsibility. In other words, you're going toward something rather than running away from your current work. 3 No-Fluff Fixes. Early on in my career, I faced this exact dilemma when I graduated with a degree and background in computer science, yet no desire to enter the field. But many times, companies are happy to let you explore a new role if it means they get to retain a valued employee. While it was daunting to essentially start over after four years spent studying one very specialized field, I’ve never regretted my decision. to gauge whether the candidate is specifically interested in … After you’ve researched the company and job description as it relates to your background, condense and structure your answer. It's always a good idea to take time to explore career opportunities, regardless of whether you're just starting out or at mid-career looking for something different the next time around. You can work in clinics, homes, hospitals, labs, or even directly with the patients, such as a Patient Care Technician. My education has also helped me understand the needs of technical teams on a deeper level. Here are six different work environment types that suit different kinds of people and occupations: 1. This isn’t really what the question is about, though; they’re asking why you want to work for them, not why they should hire you. My background and training gives me special insights which will be highly beneficial for the role. To tell you the truth, responsibilities shape every individual in different ways. If you can effectively make your case, there’s a good chance you’ll be considered for a position outside the team you interned with. When it comes to working in the medical field, you have a lot of options. My field of study was Electrical Engineering with a minor in Spanish Language. The key point is that you should tie your response to something you’ve done in the past, as opposed to a simple “interest” you have. As an example of this, my recent internship had a component which involved selling existing customers on expanding the use of our services…", "Well, I found out that my degree is pretty much useless for getting a job, so I’m pretty much applying for any job that I can get. After all, it’s a big change. I hope they’ll help you on your career path, no matter what you majored in and what you’d like to do instead. "My work experience in auditing is related to the financial work required for this Financial Analyst role. If you want to make sure you’re definitely ready for the interview, check out our complete list of 35+ common interview questions and answers to help you prepare even more. “Why do you want this job” is another version of this question. You will deal with many different circumstances, situations and people, and each of these is unique. As an example, during my recent audit of __________, I was able to identify…", An example of how to best answer this question for entry level candidates: It doesn’t have to be a health-related example, either. You can prove you are different with 30 minutes of pre-interview preparation. Why the interviewer is asking this question: This question is asked by employers in specific industries such as tech, finance, insurance, retail, manufacturing, etc. For example, if you find that you like to work directly with patients, you may pursue an education in nursing. 3 No-Fluff Fixes, What Actually Happened When I Transferred to a Different Team at My Company. They make you more of a mature person. So while my background may not be traditional for the role, it has prepared me with a unique set of skills which few candidates would bring to the role. Similar interview questions: Ask a Recruiter: How Can I Figure Out a Career Path When I've Had So Many Jobs. There are different ways to respond when a hiring manager asks you, “Why do you want to work here?” The most important thing is to be authentic. As an example, during my recent audit of __________, I was able to identify…", "My degree in communications has given me a broad foundation for being successful in a Sales role with your firm. You’re always putting others before yourself. If you want to provide direct patient care, you can work in a variety of jobs, such as … There is something for everyone’s interest. You first need to say why you want to be a part of the company and then you can say why you want the specific position. Choices. Since I wasn’t sure about which field I wanted to go into yet, I just let her know that I would be interested in any position outside of the engineering department. Why do you want to work in IT field? why do people want to work in a field that fits their education? These are my reasons why I am passionate about working in the compliance field and why I find the work so meaningful. Thanks to advances in the Internet, microelectronics, and telecommunications, computers and technology continue to be a very hot career category. Instead of ditching my background and skills and pretending that I wasn’t knowledgeable in computer science, I found a way to navigate the job search based on what I knew about myself and what I wanted to do with my life. And if you’re not finding that in your current position, it’s time to make a change. Whether it’s due to culture fit, day-to-day tasks, or work-life balance, understanding what you need to be happy at work will make it much easier to figure out which positions and workplaces are best for you. Working with what you’ve already got in your arsenal is a great way to shift careers with the least chance of backward movement (i.e., landing in an entry level job), but if you really want to make forward progress, you’re going to have to learn some new tricks. Being a problem solver in the classroom and at work can lead to you being a problem solver in life as well. Your saving grace is if a company already knows what a bright, hard-working, and talented employee you are since it’ll be a lot easier to get convince it of your value. Finally connect your story and motivation to this job, the one you are interviewing for. But in the programming classes and jobs I’d taken, I never felt very comfortable. Every university will screen and evaluate every applicant to ensure that the candidate will be able to adapt, undertake and succeed in the chosen field of studies. Countless Opportunities: When you decide to enter the health care field, you can choose from a variety of different opportunities. And when I look back at the doors my background in computer science has opened, I’m able to confidently say that if given the choice, I’d do the same thing over again. Look for the aspects of your experience and/or your education that connect you to this role. You will always be on your toes because you never know what will happen. After literally spending years studying one thing, I was dismayed to realize that I didn’t want to go in that direction. How do your qualifications cross over into this field or industry? Then discuss your motivation for the role as a long-term player, not just as a stepping stone role. So while my background may not be traditional for the role, it has prepared me with a unique set of skills which few candidates would bring to the role. Relevance. The farmer works on the field. You can care for patients as they recover, assist families through some of the most difficult times in their lives, or work behind the scenes to keep a medical facility running smoothly. As an example of this, my recent internship had a component which involved selling existing customers on expanding the use of our services…", An example of how you should not answer this question: The career field you choose will determine how easy or difficult it is to transition into your new job. Although the department wasn’t ideal, I loved the people, culture, and product. It’s critical to identify why you’re unhappy with your current career path to figure out next steps. I hope that you feel this way as well. While you can certainly write down your answer for practice, you should be prepared to respond without information in front of you. What is it about this job that interests you? When you want a significantly different experience at work, you might think you need to seek out a new company. Sales success is about the ability to communicate with the customer and close the sale. If you can identify what you want, leverage established relationships, and sell others on your past experience, you’ll be that much closer to discovering where you’re truly meant to be and what you’re truly meant to be doing. "My work experience in auditing is related to the financial work required for this Financial Analyst role. The interviewer wants to know how your previous background in non-related roles and/or education may tie in with the role as well as your motivations for pursuing such a role. Any personal story for why you care about a topic or are fascinated by a topic will make a good answer for why you chose this job you’re interviewing for. Here’s a real example from a past customer, who was asked, “Why do you want to be a mental health nurse?” Mental health is an important issue for me. The experiences, satisfactions and lifestyle connected with this new kind of work suit your goals. Sales success is about the ability to communicate with the customer and close the sale. After the internship ended, I sent personal thank you notes to all of the executives I had met and reached out the recruiter to let her know I was interested in working there full-time, albeit in a different position. Why did you choose this field to work in? This means that the farmer does his work on the surface of the field. Read More: Are You Secretly Unhappy at Work? You might discover that you love a job, or you might find that it's something you'd never want to do. What is your motivation for switching careers? So when you’re looking for a position in a new field, make sure to use your work history as a selling point. Responsibilities in the workplace teach you to tackle even the harshest of situations, with patience. "Well, I found out that my degree is pretty much useless for getting a job, so I’m pretty much applying for any job that I can get. It can refer to the farmer himself being on the field while he works, or it can refer to the crops or livestock that are on the field. I selected this major as soon as I entered Penn State University in 1996. If you find yourself wondering why you majored in psychology, philosophy, or biology, when the truth is, none of those are fields you care to pursue, you’re in good company. An example of how to best answer this question for experienced candidates: While I definitely know programmers who are team players and development environments that are dynamic and exciting, there’s still a pattern of individualism and relative quiet that doesn’t mesh with my work style. You’ve seen their product, believe in their mission, and like their approach, but aren’t sure you want to take on the risk of working at a startup. You've dug deep enough to know the pros and cons of this field, and you still want to take the plunge. He told me that I’d be working in a quiet lab and probably wouldn’t have a lot of fun when I come into the office, but the job was mine if I wanted it. As hard as it was to resist a ringing endorsement like that, I passed. This means that the farmer works in the place referred to as the field. Consider some of the awesome things about working in the medical field listed below. 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