So, you’re entering into a new career field. For one reason or another, you are making a life change that is of no small feat. It’s true, many experience much uncertainty, anxiety, and fear when entering into a new and possibly unfamiliar industry. But you don’t have to enter into this new stage feeling unequipped. In some ways, all of your life has provided you with the skills and experience to navigate through this new career choice.

In fact, I’m entering into a new career industry myself. And believe me, it’s not an industry I would have envisioned myself in a few years ago. And while it’s certainly a new challenge I’m excited to face, I’m not entering the industry without any relevant skills. Completely on the contrary.

You see, the trick to entering a new career is knowing how to use the skills you do have while working to acquire the new, needed wisdom.

Some people overwhelm themselves with the false notion that they must learn everything there is to know about a new career field before they enter it. But this simply isn’t the case. While educating yourself on your future industry is essential to success, it’s impossible and simply too time-consuming to attempt to learn the ins and outs of an industry you have not yet stepped into. Instead, spend some time returning to the basics of what it takes to succeed in any career field. Hard work, perseverance, and dedication are critical no matter what industry you land in. This false and unfounded idea that you bring no relevant experience to a new career because you haven’t been in that exact industry is simply not true.

In fact, many experts are urging companies to hire raw talent and hard work over experience and a perfect resume. If you can learn to harness and manifest the life lessons you’ve learned in your past career experiences, then there is no reason you cannot apply those directly to your new career.

It’s important to show patience to yourself when entering a new career field. Know that there will be a learning curve and understand you won’t get everything correct right out of the gate. Allow yourself some time to acclimate to your new surroundings, and put into practice the new skills and knowledge you are learning. Patience is key to success, and success in a new career field seldom happens overnight.

In the end, staying diligent and positive about your new career field are key factors to long-term success. Remember, you’re not entering a new career without anything to the bring to the table. If that were the case, you wouldn’t be in the position you are. And while you may be the newest kid on the block in the industry, that doesn’t mean you don’t have a much needed new set of skills to bring to the neighborhood.