A layoff can be a good time to think about switching either your occupation or your industry.

If you’ve been laid off from an auto manufacturing industry, you might find a job in a different industry that also employs your occupation. You can also look for new occupations that use similar skills as your current job. See below to explore either of these options.

What’s the difference between Occupations and Industries?

Your occupation is what you do; your industry is where you do it. For example, receptionist is an occupation that can be found in most industries, such as health care, manufacturing, or financial services.  On the other hand, an industry like auto parts manufacturing employs receptionists, but it also employs people in other occupations like team assemblers, welders, and others.

Option 1: Move to the Same Occupation in a Different Industry

For example, a receptionist can move from working for an auto manufacturing firm to a hospital. You can find other industries that employ workers in your occupation at Employment Trends by Occupation and Industry. (This section will open in a new browser window; to return to this page, simply close the new window). Type in your current occupation and find a list of the industries that employ those workers. Also consider:

·               Learn more about different industries.  While no industry is completely recession-proof, jobs in health care, education, and other human service fields are less likely to be outsourced.  And since the demand for human services doesn’t stop during a recession, these industries are less subject to economic shock.

·               Transfer your skills. If you were a clerk in the auto manufacturing industry, can you jump to being a clerk in a hospital or school?  Maybe. The key is to understand your skills in general terms and know how they might transfer easily to a new industry. See What are Your Skills? for more information.

·               Market yourself.  During times of high unemployment, employers can be choosy about who they hire. Be sure to explain how your experience in a different industry translates into real value for a prospective employer. Visit CareerOneStop's Resumes + Interview section for tips on how to tailor your resume and cover letter for each job opening (this section will open in a new browser window; to return to this page, simply close the new window).

Option 2: Move to a Different Occupation

Many occupations require similar skills, knowledge, and activities. Visit Find a New Occupation to view occupations that require skills and experience similar to many auto industry jobs. If you don’t find your occupation there, follow these tips:

·            Assess your skills. Visit What are Your Skills? to explore how you can move easily from one occupation to another.

·            Find related occupations.  If you are thinking of switching occupations, you should research which occupations can make the best use of your skills.  Visit CareerOneStop's Skills Profiler to find occupations that use skills similar to your previous job or view an Occupation Profile of your previous occupation to find related occupations (these resources will open in a new browser window; to return to this page, simply close the window).

·            Network.  Networking can be especially effective if you’re looking for a different occupation in the same industry, because your contacts may know each other and can communicate easily. Get tips on networking during a recession.

Learn about the salary range in a new occupation by checking out CareerOneStop's Salary Tool (this will open in a new browser window; to return to this page, simply close the window).

You can also find out if an occupation or industry is expected to grow or shrink in employment over the coming years at CareeerOneStop’s Employment Trends by Occupation.