54: Paving your way in a new field (like AI)

Jim Fina made his career switch in the late 90s when new media was becoming more mainstream and integrating itself into our daily lives. Jim, a textbook editor at Scholastic, gradually transitioned into project management at a time when it was relatively new in tech. 

Jim's experience from 20-plus years ago mirrors where we are today with artificial intelligence. Just like the web in the 90s, AI is quickly going mainstream and reshaping how we live and work. 

In this episode, Jim shares how he paved his way in a new field and how you can do the same in AI or any other growing industry. 

Episode Highlights:

• Exploring new media after a layoff

• Telling colleagues you're interested in other areas

• Defining a role when it's still new in an industry

• How to switch into a field that's still being defined, like AI

• The skills you need to get your foot in the door

• Working through comparing yourself to others 

• Do certifications help?

• The one thing every interview question boils down to

• What a hiring manager really wants to hear from you in an interview

• How to answer a question if you don't know that answer

• Using a layoff to get out of a rut

• Making a career switch in multiple steps

Resources Mentioned: 
What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles

Want more advice? Check out these additional episodes:

Ep 38: How to transition from corporate to non-profit

Ep 16: Breaking into a new industry in your 50s

Music credit: TimMoor from Pixabay

Podcast info:
What's your career switch? What do you think about this episode and the show? Tell us at careerswitchpod.com. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.