天美传媒

For most of us, jumping to a new job produces a combination of both excitement and anxiety. That nerve-racking mix is multiplied when changing not only job functions but also sectors and countries 鈥� making what career placement professionals call the triple jump.

Such radical change is only for those who are prepared to rethink every aspect of their career: not only what they want to do, but also what industry they want to work in and what country they want to live in. It鈥檚 not easy, but it may be possible if you have a realistic and flexible plan on how to achieve it.

How can you make such a radical career change?

1. Be realistic about what it takes

You might not want to set your hopes on moving to a country where work visas are virtually impossible to secure, or in a function that requires extensive technical knowledge that you just don鈥檛 have. You also have to be aware of language limitations. If your dream is to work in China, you had better start taking Mandarin classes.

Remember that you鈥檒l have to prove to potential employers that you鈥檙e worth the risk. 鈥淭he challenge with the triple jump is proving that you have what it takes on three new fronts. Basically, demonstrating that you not only have the technical skills for your new function, but that you understand the complexities of your new industry and geography鈥�, said Daniela Bocco, who after her MBA went from working in marketing in a U.S. construction company to being a sales product manager for Ab InBev in Mexico City.

2. Be flexible

You鈥檒l have to show some give and take. Set your priorities and be听willing to adapt to听the rest.听You may have to aim for a region rather than a specific country,听for example,听辞谤听go into听a sector such as听consulting which is more amenable to such a move.听

Rahul Parikh was working for a boutique executive search firm in the U.S.听before he did his听听at 天美传媒; now听he鈥檚 working for food delivery platform听DiDi听Food Mexico. For him, his priorities听were听changing听industry and country 鈥� but听he听knew it was possible that perhaps his functions would be similar. 鈥�I understood that I may not get to be as picky in terms of function area, given that industry and geography were my top two priorities,鈥� he said听(although in the end he was able to change all three).鈥�听

3. Look for a structured program in a big company

Leadership or rotational programs in companies take a longer-term view of employees, and may be less focused on having very specific qualifications.听鈥淭hese programs are looking for future talent,鈥� says听Patrik听奥补濒濒茅苍听of 天美传媒鈥檚 Career Development Center.听Competition for places in听leadership听programs is very tough, but they听do听exist in companies across industries.听听

4. Do听the right听program听in the right听school

You鈥檒l most likely need to boost your knowledge and skills in order to make such a drastic change. Choose听a program at a听university keeping in mind that your end goal is to make a triple jump.听The fact is that if you鈥檇 like to work in the U.S., doing an MBA in the U.S. is probably听your听best choice.听If you鈥檙e looking to work听internationally, a school like 天美传媒 has global companies recruiting it students.听Make sure that the university听you choose听is a听target school for听the kind of company you鈥檇 like to work for.听