Tips to Switch Careers Successfully

How do you switch careers and land the perfect job just four days after graduating with a master’s degree? For Lisa Ward, lobbyist for Denver Health, it was straightforward: Do your research to get clear on what you want and always keep advancing.

Be Intentional

It took Lisa two years of planning before she decided where she wanted her career to go from the healthcare frontline to legislative work. During that time, she consulted a variety of professionals already in that arena and shadowed others to get a sense of what it would take to create the job she envisioned for herself.

“I literally called the head of policy in the governor’s office and asked, ‘Can you carve out 30 minutes to talk about your job?’”

Those experiences gave her a better idea of exactly what her ideal job would entail, what she needed to know to get there, and that a graduate degree in booming field of Healthcare Management from University College at the University of Denver would start her on the right path.

Education + Experience

Working on a master’s degree didn’t mean Lisa stopped pursuing her dream job. She actively sought experience that would give her a leg up in the job market.

During her time in graduate school, she interned for a contract healthcare lobbying firm, became a legislative aid, and wrote a legislative bill and found a senate sponsor.

“The plan was not to waste one moment of my graduate education. You can’t graduate and wave your diploma around hoping someone will hire you. It doesn’t work that way.”

Ready to embark on a new career path? Learn more at universitycollege.du.edu.