Lateral entrants, what is that?

The question often arises: what is a career changer, and what professions can you work in? A career changer is a person who enters a profession or industry for which they have no traditional training or relevant professional experience. Career changers usually bring skills, knowledge or experience from other areas and are looking for new career prospects. They use their existing skills to contribute to a new field of activity and develop professionally.

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What is a lateral entrant - definition

The definition of a career changer is an alternative career option that focuses on individual skills and experience. Career changers often bring a breath of fresh air to the working environment and can surprise with new perspectives and ideas. They are willing to familiarize themselves with new areas of responsibility and apply their existing knowledge and skills in a new professional environment. Career changers can be seen as a valuable resource by companies, as they bring with them a wide range of experience and a wealth of knowledge that can enrich the team.

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Typical jobs as a career changer

As a career changer, there are a variety of jobs open to you in which you can apply your skills and experience from other areas. Typical jobs as a career changer include, for example

• Project management: You can use your organizational and communication skills in a project management role, regardless of your previous industry experience.
• Sales: With your negotiating skills and powers of persuasion, you can work successfully in sales, even without specific sales training.
• Human resources: Your social skills and talent in dealing with people make you a valuable support in the HR department, for example as a personnel officer or recruiter.
• Marketing: Creativity and a good feel for trends make it possible to gain a foothold in marketing as a career changer, be it in social media management, content marketing or market research.
• IT sector: If you have technical understanding and analytical skills, you can enter the IT sector as a career changer, for example as an IT consultant or web developer.

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There are numerous other opportunities for career changers, depending on individual skills and interests. The key is to recognize your strengths and incorporate them into a suitable job, even if it doesn't necessarily match your previous work experience.

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Career opportunities as a career changer

Various career opportunities are open to you as a career changer. These include further training, mentoring, internships and work shadowing as well as using your skills in other sectors. You can also take the plunge into self-employment or freelancing. Be open to new opportunities and use your existing skills for a successful career.

You can of course also work in retail, where there are also many career opportunities on offer and you can try your hand in many areas. As a career changer in retail, you have the opportunity to enter the retail sector even without specific training or previous professional experience. Many companies offer internal training and further education programs to provide career changers with the knowledge and skills they need to work successfully in retail.

The salary of a salesperson can vary depending on the industry, company size, experience and area of responsibility. As a rule, the starting salary for a retail salesperson is around 1,500 to 2,500 euros gross per month.

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FAQ

You can find all the questions about lateral entrants here:

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How does a lateral entry work?

A lateral entry refers to a change to a new profession or industry without having any specific training or experience in this area. This involves using existing knowledge, skills and experience from a previous field of activity to gain a foothold in a new area. Career changers can prepare themselves for the requirements of the new occupational field through retraining, further training, internships or induction programs.

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What needs to be considered when starting out as a career changer?

As a career changer, you should keep the following things in mind: Invest in further training and qualifications to catch up on missing skills. Use networking opportunities to make contacts in the industry and discover potential job opportunities. Gain practical experience, for example through internships or part-time jobs, to deepen your knowledge and develop your skills.

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