Career transition: which professions are recruiting?

Changing careers immediately raises one crucial question: where are the real job opportunities?This is a healthy reflex. Nobody wants to retrain for a saturated field. Yet, with an abundance of information available, it can be difficult to see clearly.

Jobs considered "in high demand" vary greatly: some require long academic paths, others none at all; some offer high salaries, others only modest pay; some involve care and social services, while others belong to the tech world...

Sectors that are truly hiring

Here are a few examples*:

Healthcare and personal care face an acute shortage: around 16,000 positions remain unfilled, an increase of more than 50% since 2019.
Information technology provides many opportunities (data scientists, developers, cybersecurity specialists), often with competitive salaries.
Engineering and technical professions are under strong pressure in high-tech industries and specialized sectors (aerospace, medical, mechanical), as well as in construction.
Finally, hospitality and food service continue to struggle with a persistent lack of staff.

Unfortunately, this diversity does not make your choice any easier, as each sector comes with its own constraints and evolving dynamics.

The context makes things more complex

Since the COVID crisis, benchmarks have shifted. On top of that, a volatile geopolitical environment continues to weaken the economy. Some professions evolve rapidly. The rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape. Jobs in demand today may disappear tomorrow. On the other hand, new professions can emerge overnight.

Should we be wary of these trends? Not necessarily. It is wiser to maintain an open, curious, and clear-sighted attitude. However, relying solely on professions in shortage isnot enough. A Successful career transition also relies on genuine introspection. Youneed to know your strengths, your limits, and your motivations. Only then can you make solidchoices and give your career a new momentum.

The first step: clarify where you stand

Before anything else, take a pause. List your experiences. What have you enjoyed doing? Which skills have you developed? Where have you performed well? Which tasks have given you energy? Also identify your blind spots: what you no longer want, what drains you, what has made you lose confidence.

Do not limit yourself to professional experience. Personal life also provides valuable clues.Are you good at organizing, analyzing, teaching, listening, or persuading? These talentsmatter and should be taken into account.

This assessment helps you clarify your professional aspirations. It also highlights yourtransferable skills, which are crucial in a career change. This stage allows you to take stockof both your strengths and your vulnerabilities.

Next: clarify your aspirations and your constraints

A solid project respects both your ambitions and your limitations. Where do you currently stand in your career path? Do you require a steady salary right away?

Can you go back to school or follow a training program? Are you geographically mobile? Do you want a manual, intellectual, autonomous, or collaborative role?

The clearer your criteria, the sharper your options become. Ask yourself pragmatic questions:

Am I willing to earn less for a while ?
Can I handle a period of uncertainty?
Do I prefer to create my own business or join an existing organization ?
Do I need a meaningful job, stability, or rapid growth ?

Clear answers to these questions will help you avoid many pitfalls.

A compass: the logical levels of change

Among the many tools available to help you clarify your path, Robert Dilts’ Logical LevelsModel offers a valuable framework. It allows you to explore your career transition through sixlevels of questioning.

The work environment: In what kind of environment do you want to work? With whom? Inwhich sectors of activity? What type of organization?
Behaviors: What tasks do you want to carry out in your daily work? Which activities would you like to focus on every day?
Skills: Which skills have you already developed in your previous professional stages? Which ones are transferable? Which ones still need to be acquired?
Values and beliefs: What is important to you? What drives your motivation at work? Which personal values should be reflected in your job (freedom, security, usefulness, creativity…)?
Identity: What new role do you want to embody? What image do you want to project?
Meaning: What do you want to contribute to? To whom or to what do you wish to dedicate your energy (clients, community, environment, innovation)?

Exploring these levels in depth helps you design a coherent project and prevents you fromsimply changing jobs without addressing what truly matters.

Cross-check your ideas with market opportunities

Once you’ve done your introspection, you can match your profile with the reality of the jobmarket. The goal: to identify sectors that are hiring AND that align with who you are.

Here are a few useful resources:

Career guides on orientation.ch
Studies from the Swiss Job Market Barometer (SECO)
Sector-specific observatories (healthcare, technology, crafts, etc.)
Testimonials from people who have already gone through a career change

Nothing replaces direct experience: talk to professionals, ask for job shadowing, attend fairs.The deeper you explore, the more clarity you gain about stepping into a new profession.

Resources for a successful career transition

Succeeding in a career transition requires energy, clarity, and a solid method. You need tomobilize several resources:

Time: plan your steps, set a realistic schedule, and accept gradual progress.
Money: anticipate a possible drop in income or training costs; explore availablesupport such as training subsidies or unemployment benefits.
Training: identify short or long programs to fill your gaps. Universities of appliedsciences, continuing education centers, and cantonal initiatives provide manyopportunities to follow a suitable training program.
Practical experience: seek internships, volunteering, or short assignments. Nothingbeats hands-on testing to validate your choice.
Inner posture: cultivate curiosity, the will to learn, and the ability to navigate uncertainty.

Changing career paths often brings doubts and fears. That’s normal. You are leaving the familiar to enter the unknown. The key is to remain open, curious, and committed.

A career change is not a solo journey

To navigate this transition, you need a strong support system. Loved ones provide valuable emotional backing. But outside guidance often proves essential.

A skills assessment with a coach provides structure and perspective. It helps you clarify your strengths and ambitions in a safe and neutral setting.

Look for peers as well. Talking with people who have already gone through a career changeopens new perspectives. Their stories reveal both the real obstacles and the possiblesuccesses.

Join professional networks. Take part in events, join communities, look for mentors. Thisaccelerates your learning and expands your opportunities.

Don’t face your doubts alone. Surround yourself, share your ideas, and dare to ask for help.You will move forward faster and with more peace of mind.

Move forward step by step—with clarity

A career change doesn’t happen overnight. But it can become a tremendous adventure: away to realign with what truly drives you.

Don’t aim to find the perfect job in one shot: move forward step by step, clarify yourambitions, and dare to explore.

The right profession is the one in which you feel useful, motivated, and recognized. With method and persistence, your career transition becomes an opportunity for growth rather than an escape. This process can offer you a new life, fully aligned with your values and your professional aspirations.