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It only took a few months for Chloe Danvers to overcome her concerns about switching careers. Now, she believes the things she was most worried about are actually advantages. Chloe was a lawyer before she started in communications as a Client Manager in our Sydney office. She’d put a lot of time and effort to get to that point in her law career, including earning her qualifications, and was initially concerned her experience would be wasted if she changed industries. |
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“I'd been working in law for four years, so I felt like I was working my way up and I was worried about starting again. But it hasn't been starting again. It's been relearning, but also using the skills I've brought from law into my new industry.”
When she started her job with us, Chloe quickly realised she had more transferable skills than she realised. As a lawyer, she had writing skills, she knew how to engage with clients, work in a team, and she had background knowledge of industries she’d supported.
“I actually think it’s a benefit to come into communications with a different background because you have a different perspective. That's something that works for you rather than against you.”
Chloe is one of our many communications consultants that started their careers in other industries. There are journalists, teacher aides and people from various other backgrounds. Chloe believes the purpose of her work helps to make it relevant and interesting, regardless of what people are trained in.
“Anyone considering communications, I would recommend doing it,” she says. “Look at what your values are and find something that aligns with your values, because I think the transferable skills become easier when you're doing work that means something to you.”
Chloe says she now has a much better work-life balance than she did as a lawyer. She has variety in her work and the ability to find new things she’s passionate about.
“In comms you could be doing anything from running a workshop to writing proposals for the government to writing social media posts. There's so much you can be doing.
“I'm so much happier in my life now. I've found it has affected every area of my life - I'm definitely happier because I'm doing something that I care about and I'm working with clients that I think are really cool. I'm also trying to make a good impact and that's awesome.”
We have communications roles available now, including for those from other industries. To find out more or to learn about what’s involved in a communications career, contact Pip Scarff on [email protected]