How to Sell Yourself in a New Industry with Confidence

Start with What You Already Bring to the Table

Honestly, switching industries is intimidating. Like, major imposter syndrome vibes. I’ve been there. A couple years ago, I tried moving from web dev into UX strategy — and I swear, I almost talked myself out of even applying.

But here's the truth: you already have way more value than you think.

Transferable skills are your secret weapon

People underrate the hell out of soft skills. Communication, problem-solving, leadership, curiosity — all that stuff transfers. In my case, I thought my dev background wouldn’t count for much in UX. But when I explained how I broke down user problems in code, or how I collaborated with designers to ship clean UI… suddenly hiring managers got it.

So yeah — take a pen (or your Notes app) and list out what you’re actually good at. Not just technical stuff. Think broader.

And if you're sitting there thinking "Well, I don't really have anything special" — stop. Talk to a friend. I did that with my buddy Jamie last year and she pointed out three strengths I’d never even thought of.

Learn the New Lingo (But Don’t Fake It)

This one's tricky. You need to show you “get” the industry… without sounding like you read the Wikipedia page five minutes ago.

Absorb, don't imitate

I remember during an early UX interview, I dropped a buzzword I barely understood — “affordance” — and immediately got a follow-up question I couldn’t answer. Cringe.

After that, I took a different approach: I started following a few people in the industry on LinkedIn and Twitter. Not just the big names, but people who actually work in the trenches. I learned more from reading their hot takes than from any formal course.

You don’t need to master every term. Just understand the main concepts, and speak about them in your own words. That authenticity? Way more impressive than jargon.

Build a Story That Makes Sense

Well, here’s where a lot of people overthink. You don’t need a perfect linear narrative. You need a coherent one. There’s a big difference.

Bridge your past to your future

Think of your career like a puzzle. Your past experiences are pieces. Your job is to show how they connect to this new picture.

When I pitched myself for that first UX role, I didn’t pretend to be an expert. Instead, I said: “Look, I’ve spent years building interfaces. I’ve seen what frustrates users and what makes them stay. I want to shift from building for users to building with them.”

It clicked. Because it was true.

So instead of just listing your past jobs, tell a story. A why. Why now? Why this industry? Why you?

Network Like a Human Being (Not a Robot)

Pfff… networking. The word alone makes me wanna nap. But you need people in your corner — especially when you’re the new kid.

Conversations > applications

Honestly, most of the traction I got came from chatting with people, not spamming my résumé. I once grabbed a (virtual) coffee with someone who later introduced me to their manager — who ended up hiring me two months later. Wild, right?

Reach out to people on LinkedIn, sure — but be real. No weird salesy DMs. Just “Hey, I’m exploring your field and would love to hear about your path.” You’d be surprised how generous people can be.

And yeah, you’ll get ignored sometimes. So what? Keep going.

Practice Pitching Yourself (It’s Awkward, I Know)

Okay, real talk: the first few times you “sell” yourself, it’s gonna feel weird. You’ll stumble. You might overshare. You might undersell.

But you have to practice. I once completely blanked in a meeting with a recruiter. Like… full-on “uhhh what was I saying again?” moment. Not ideal. After that, I literally rehearsed out loud in front of my bathroom mirror (yes, I felt ridiculous).

Nail your 30-second intro

Who are you? What are you good at? Why this industry?

Try to answer those three things in a way that feels like you. Record yourself. Edit. Try again. Doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to land.

And trust me: after 3-4 runs, it starts to feel natural. Like telling a good story at dinner.

Final Thoughts (That Might Surprise You)

You don’t need to be “ready.” You just need to be willing.

People switch careers every day without having 100% of the puzzle figured out. What matters most? Your energy, your curiosity, your ability to learn on the fly.

And hey — if you screw up along the way? Join the club. We’ve all sent awkward emails or bombed interviews. It’s part of the ride.

So if you're standing at the edge of a new industry wondering, “Can I really do this?” — the answer is: yeah, you can. You just need to sell the most important product of your life.

You.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.