Looking to transition from food industry to digital-first technology roles and companies

Jorge, one thing I would advise you to do is focus on the strength in your soft/interpersonal skills as those skills are transferrable and in any role you take, 75% of what we do is practically related to our soft skills regardless of the industry and the rest 25% is industry dependent which an average person can get a handle of in three to six month on average.

I have never worked PM in the food industry, but Quality is very transferable across many industries.

I would research the companies you apply to and tailor your resume to emphasize how your experience is directly applicable to their individual needs. Show that you understand their needs, and how your skills are a good fit. Resumes that appear generic can send the message that you don't know their business.

Bringing experience from other industries can be an asset since you can bring in different perspectives and new methods but show them how it applies rather than expecting them to guess. Coming from an industry where public safety is essential, it can even show them that you know more about what their quality needs than they do.

Jorge -

Here's an article I'd written about this subject a few years back:

"There are some variables outside your control which will influence how successful you can be. If there are many project managers looking for work who already have years of experience within the industry you wish to move to, it is effectively a buyers’ market and it might be extremely difficult to get your foot in the door. Also, in some domains, a project manager is not expected to do more than project manage, whereas in others, there is an expectation that they will be wearing more than just that one hat. If you happen to want to move to the latter, it could be challenging without some hands on experience within that industry.

However, there are also some actions which you can take to increase your odds of success.

Whether it’s taking a formal course, following discussion threads within a domain-specific online forum, or attending a conference, there are many ways to gain the knowledge you’ll need to effectively talk the talk. Look for information online about the common sources of risks & constraints within the industry, learn about the extent and nature of regulatory influences, and check back issues of PM Network or PM Journal to find case studies or domain spotlights.

Even though the majority of your network may work within the same domain as you do, you might either have a direct or secondary connection into the industry you are pursuing. If so, ask for an informational interview – buy the contact a coffee or lunch and take lots of notes. Ask questions which will demonstrate your own understanding gained from your research.

Based on your research, you should be able to create a list of the critical skills and knowledge required to succeed within the domain. Review your past experiences and highlight those which are directly applicable to the types of projects you will want to manage.

If you’ve been managing mega projects within your current industry, you may not wish to start from the bottom when moving to a different domain. At the same time, clients are unlikely to take that leap of faith unless you have sponsorship from a highly influential stakeholder. In such cases, your best bet might be to target a project which spans the two domains. For example, an IT project manager wishing to move into the EPC space may want to look at managing the technology systems related scope within a construction project. At the same time, be willing to take a step back (or down) if it is going to position you well for growth within the new industry."

I'd also add that if you are targeting digital-first organizations, you might find a greater emphasis on product (rather than traditional project management). In such companies, the structures will be product centric with long-lived product focused teams and use of adaptive rather than predictive approaches.

Kiron