How to Speak Confidently in a New Role

Changing careers can be exciting, especially when you're moving into an industry you've wanted to work in for some time. But it can also make you question how to explain your experience to other people.

Perhaps you've spent years working in one profession and now find yourself applying for jobs where you don't have the same industry knowledge.

You might worry about sounding inexperienced during interviews or not knowing what to say when meeting people in your new field.

Why Does Changing Careers Affect Your Speaking Confidence?

When you've worked in an industry for several years, you're familiar with its terminology, expectations and everyday conversations. You know how to explain your responsibilities and discuss your work.

Changing careers means learning how to communicate in a different professional environment. You might have plenty of experience, but you're still learning how to talk about it in a way that's relevant to your new industry or at your new company.

Here are some practical ways to approach this.

1. Be Clear About Why You're Changing Careers

One of the first questions you'll probably hear is, "Why have you decided to change careers?"

You don't need a complicated explanation. Think about what attracted you to your new company or industry and what you'd like to achieve.

For example:

"I've enjoyed working in education, but I prefer a change of scenery and to use my skills in a different environment."

Being clear about your reasons can help you answer interview questions or any questions from colleagues without feeling the need to justify your decision.

2. Learn to Explain Your Transferable Skills

You might not have direct experience in your new industry or working at your new company, but that doesn't mean you're starting with nothing.

Perhaps you've managed projects, trained colleagues or handled difficult conversations before. These are valuable skills in many professions.

If you've previously managed a team, your experience with communication skills for leaders may be relevant to your new position.

Instead of focusing on what you haven't done, explain what you can already bring to the role and you’ll have a much easier time integrating with your new team members.

3. Get Familiar With Industry Terminology

Every profession uses words and expressions that might be unfamiliar to someone outside the industry. Even at different companies, different abbreviations or words may be used that weren’t at your old job.

Before attending an interview, networking event or even at your new job spend some time listening and learning the terminology relevant to the role.

Read job descriptions, explore company websites and listen to how professionals discuss their work. You don't need complicated language to sound knowledgeable.

4. Practise Talking About Your Career Change

You might be asked about your previous career several times during interviews, networking events and introductions. Practise explaining your background in a few sentences. Include what you previously did, why you're making the change and what you hope to contribute.

Developing your public speaking skills can also help when you need to introduce yourself or present your experience to a group. Your explanation should feel natural like a conversation so spend some time speaking out loud until your comfortable talking to your new peers.

5. Ask Questions About Your New Industry

You won't know everything about a different profession straight away.

During interviews or conversations with experienced professionals, ask about the work, expectations and opportunities available.

For example:

"What does a typical day look like in this role?"

Or:

"What skills would you recommend developing before starting?"

You should feel comfortable asking questions and representing yourself with confidence, even when you're speaking to people with more industry experience.

6. Don't Try to Become Someone Else

When moving into a new industry, you might feel pressure to sound like the people already working there.

But you don't need to change your personality or copy someone else's way of speaking. You can learn new terminology, adapt your wording and communicate professionally while remaining yourself.

How Speaking Voices Can Help You Change Careers Confidently

Understanding what voice coaching involves can also help you recognise that communicating confidently isn't about creating a different personality, but allowing you to feel like you can be you when you are in a work environment. At Speaking Voices, we help professionals build their confidence whilst they move into their new job or new career. Through our Speak With Confidence coaching programme, we work on helping you organise your thoughts, explain your skills clearly and feel comfortable speaking in your new professional environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Explain My Career Change in an Interview?

Explain why you're interested in the new industry and how your previous experience relates to the role. Keep your answer clear and focused. You don’t have to explain your personal reasonings if you don’t want to.

How Can I Sound Confident Without Industry Experience?

Focus on your transferable skills, learn relevant terminology and use examples from your previous work. This does take time, so at the beginning of your new job, listen more than you speak to pick up what people say and how the team communicates.

What Should I Say When Someone Asks About My Previous Career?

Briefly explain what you did, the skills you developed and why you've decided to pursue something different. Treat it as a normal conversation with your friends. It doesn’t have to be anything too complicated.

Is It Too Late to Change Careers?

No of course not. People change careers at different stages of life. Your age doesn't prevent you from learning new skills or exploring a different profession.