Rant Alert!

Please buckle up, for I’m about to go on a rant…

Every week, it seems, I speak to at least one woman who gives me a variation of the following: “I wanted to transition from [field X] into [field Y], so I had to take a pay cut when I made the switch.” Sometimes it’s *just* a pay cut, but often it seems to be that in order for someone to start anew in a different field, they have to start at the very bottom.

Why oh why?

Why do employers and (future) employees alike, think that when you go into a new industry, suddenly you let go of ALL the experience you’ve gained so far? Why would you suddenly be at an equal footing with someone who has only just started working in general?

Have you not just spent YEARS learning a variety of transferable skills? Haven’t you learnt to communicate? To collaborate? To navigate workplaces and office situations? To build relationships? To deal with whatever has come your way in your job?

And please don’t tell me “But this particular role requires very specific knowledge and expertise!”

Sure, there’s a number of jobs where you actually need in-depth knowledge on a certain topic. Brain surgery. Rocket science. I am undoubtedly missing a few more.

But the vast majority of roles – listen to me here! – DO NOT REQUIRE SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERTISE THAT ACTUALLY JUSTIFY YOU STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN. You know 90% of it already, and the rest of it you can learn quickly.

In fact, I’d argue that you coming in from a different background actually helps you kick ass in this new field. You see things with different eyes. You bring a different angle. You have experience that adds to the depth of your understanding of this new gig.

So being paid less or even starting at the bottom just because you are starting in a different field?

Don’t buy into the myth, ladies. It’s a fallacy.

If you want help to communicate your worth, whether in your current job or in a new field, my program might be able to help you (if it’s not, I’ll tell you too!). Let’s jump on a call to see if there’s a fit.

Hartelijke groet,
Wies x