Top Guide for the Best Tips for Finding & Scoring a Top-Paying Job in a Change Management Career Field
Welcome to the ultimate guide on Finding the Best Change Management Jobs!
If you’re ready to embark on a rewarding journey in the dynamic field of change management or are considering a switch to a new and exciting role, you’ve landed in the right place. Whether you’re just starting your career, have some experience under your belt, or consider yourself a seasoned change champion, this guide is your go-to resource for navigating the ever-evolving landscape of change management opportunities.
Join us as we uncover the secrets to discovering entry-level positions, explore tips for seasoned professionals looking to make a switch, and delve into the world of remote change consultant jobs. From crafting a standout resume to acing change management interviews, we’ve got you covered. So, whether you’re dreaming of a traditional office setting or envisioning a career with a virtual twist, let’s dive into the strategies that will set you on the path to a fulfilling and successful change management career. Ready to unlock doors to exciting possibilities? Let’s get started!
Eager to embark on this exciting journey ahead? We’ve put together a concise overview tailored just for you. Brace yourself for a deep dive into the most effective strategies for discovering top-notch change management jobs. Rest assured, we’re here to be your companions on this enlightening adventure. Let’s dive in!
Quick Summary
Entering the World of Change Management: A Blueprint
To enter a change management career, especially for recent graduates or those transitioning from other fields, consider the following steps:
- Study Change Management Models & Concepts:
- Learn the terminology used in organizational change management, such as understanding the purpose of a change champions network and resistance management.
- Familiarize yourself with various change management strategies and resources available, potentially on platforms like OCM Solution.
- Explore different change models and methodologies, as companies may use specific approaches for their projects (e.g., Kotter 8-step model, McKinsey 7S model).
- Get Some Change or Project Management Experience:
- Seek opportunities within your current position to gain experience relevant to business change manager roles.
- Consider becoming a change champion for initiatives within your organization or taking on project management responsibilities.
- Many change management contract jobs require prior experience in change or project management.
- Take Change Management Training:
- Enroll in certified or non-certified change management training classes to enhance your understanding of change management concepts.
- Training can provide practical experience with the responsibilities associated with change consultant jobs and improve your resume.
- Look for Change Management Positions:
- Once you are familiar with the expectations of change management roles (whether remote or onsite), update your resume.
- Start searching for open change management positions, utilizing tips provided to find the best organizational change management jobs.
This strategic approach aims to equip individuals with the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to pursue a successful career in change management.
Career Quest: Tips for Discovering Elite Change Management Roles
To find the best change management jobs, consider the following tips and resources:
- Keywords for Job Search:
- Utilize the following keywords when searching for change management positions: Change management, Change management consultant, Change manager, Change management specialist, Organizational change management, Change management analyst.
- Job Search Platforms:
- Indeed: With over 412,700 change management results, Indeed offers extensive filtering options for salary, location, company, and job type, including entry-level change management jobs and remote opportunities.
- Monster: Featuring over 32,600 organizational change management jobs, Monster provides location, company, and full or part-time filters for job searches.
- ZipRecruiter: With more than 395,900 change management career jobs, ZipRecruiter allows filtering based on location, salary level, employment type, title, and company.
- LinkedIn: With over 109,700 business change manager jobs, LinkedIn offers unique filters such as jobs that are easy to apply for, have fewer than 10 applicants, are within your LinkedIn network, or are with a Fair Chance employer.
- Within Your Organization:
- Explore potential change management opportunities within your current organization, especially if it’s a government agency or a larger company.
- Change Management Consulting Firms:
- Consider consulting firms that provide change management services as a valuable resource for both job opportunities and learning experiences. Check out OCM Solution’s article on the “Top 10 Best Change Management Consulting Firms for Consultants” for ideas and potential contacts.
Navigating Entry-Level Change Management: Requirements and Remote Opportunities
For entry-level change management jobs, common requirements include consulting experience, leadership skills, technical skills, project management skills, a bachelor’s degree, good interpersonal and communication skills, and an understanding of basic technical terminology. These requirements are often identified through searches on platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed for change consultant positions labeled as “entry-level.”
Moreover, the field of change management has adapted to remote work, and many activities related to change management can be performed remotely. The acceptance of remote work has increased, especially after the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. On Indeed, there are over 17,600 change management positions listed as remote. Other platforms like Flexjobs, Glassdoor, Dice, and SimplyHired also offer opportunities to search for change consultant jobs, particularly those related to remote organizational change management roles.
Unlocking Your Potential: Change Management Resume Strategies
To enhance your resume for change management consultant jobs, consider incorporating the following tips:
- Keyword Inclusion:
- Review business change manager job listings to identify keywords used in descriptions.
- Utilize these keywords when creating or updating your resume for better visibility to hiring directors.
- Microsoft 365 Resume Assistant Feature:
- If using Microsoft 365, leverage the Resume Assistant feature in Word.
- Type in relevant terms like “change manager” to import LinkedIn positions, descriptions, top skills, and job listings directly into your resume document.
- Keywords for a Change Management Resume:
- Ensure your resume includes key phrases that resonate with employers looking for change management professionals.
- Consider incorporating keywords such as:
- Excellent communication skills
- Leadership coaching
- Change monitoring and management
- Change management KPI analysis
- Change training
- Problem-solving
- Resistance management
- Change model familiarity
- Thought leadership
- Assess change adoption
- Stakeholder management
- Creative thinker
- Ability to work independently and with a group
By incorporating these keywords and utilizing tools like Microsoft 365’s Resume Assistant, you can increase the likelihood of your resume standing out and being considered for change management roles.
Outshine the Competition: Keys to Unparalleled Success
To stand out in the application process and interviews for change management consultant jobs, consider the following key components of change management:
- Understanding Key Components:
- Show expertise in guiding people through change.
- Demonstrate the ability to overcome resistance to change.
- Showcase experience in coordinating with multiple parties during a project.
- Highlight skills in planning and organizing different facets of change projects.
- Emphasize the development of a team of leaders and change champions.
- Recognize the importance of reinforcing change for sustained success.
- OCM Solution Change Management Strategic Playbook:
- Utilize the free OCM Solution Change Management Strategic Playbook for key concepts to integrate into your resume and interview responses.
- Change Management Interview Questions and Answers:
- Anticipate interview questions and prepare well-structured answers.
- Consider creating a change management interview questions and answers PDF as a reference.
Sample Interview Questions:
- Q1: How do you assess risk during a change?
- A1: Evaluate factors such as the percentage of people impacted, severity of impact, and resistance levels.
- Q2: How would you approach a resistant department leader?
- A2: Identify resistance factors, enlist help from trusted colleagues, and emphasize the benefits of the change for the leader.
- Q3: How do you maintain momentum in a long change project?
- A3: Establish a clear vision statement, communicate consistently, celebrate small wins, and maintain transparency about progress.
- Q4: How do you assess the success of a change project?
- A4: Use KPIs, including training test results, participation levels, milestone achievements, budget adherence, and post-change check-ins with stakeholders.
- Q5: What are popular change models?
- A5: Mention models like Prosci ADKAR, Lewin’s Unfreeze, Change, Freeze, Kotter’s 8-step model, and McKinsey 7S model.
By addressing these aspects, you enhance your chances of standing out and demonstrating your proficiency in change management during the application and interview process.
Detailed Deep Dive
If you’re looking for a stable career that pays well and is on an upward trajectory, a change management career path is a great option. According to Salary.com, the median annual salary for a change management specialist is $127,202.
Change management jobs (full-time and also consulting positions) are in high demand. On a search of Indeed, we found over 412,000 listings for change management consultant jobs.
But wanting a job in change management and finding organizational change management jobs are two different things.
Finding the Best Change Management Jobs: Entry Level, Low-Mid Experience, and Very Experienced Change Managers
How do you know where to find entry-level change management jobs? What if you are already experienced and are looking to switch jobs – what is the best process for that? What keywords should you use in your change management resume to attract an HR person? Are there any great remote change consultant jobs?
Organizational Change Management Jobs
As experts in change management, OCM Solution has put together this guide to help you find the best entry-level change management jobs and best business change manager jobs for any level: low to very experienced change managers.
We’ll let you know where to look for change management contract jobs and give you tips on creating a resume that can give you a head start on a change management career path.
We’ve also got some sample questions for those interested in change management interview questions and answers (PDF) that can help you prepare to make a great first impression.
If you’ve been interested in finding change management jobs remote or traditional, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to get started on a lucrative career in the change management field.
See Also: Change Management versus Project Management
Do you have questions on entry level change management jobs or contract change management jobs? We’d love to hear from you, click here to contact us.
First, Change Management Job Description
Let’s begin with the job description for change management positions. These will, of course, vary by organization, but many will include similar descriptions of what they’re looking for in a change consultant, change manager, or change specialist.
Two things will impact the typical job description for change management jobs:
- The level of position you’re looking for in change consultant jobs; and
- The specific needs of the organization
Some organizations will have change happening all the time within different areas of their company. In this case, they may offer more entry-level change management jobs to train people to grow within their company.
Other organizations will have a limited need during just a single change project, in which case they may be offering change management consultant jobs and need a more experienced person.
Some of the general things you’ll find being requested in job listings for organizational change management jobs are:
- Knowledge of a structured methodology to lead change (e.g., Prosci, Lewin, etc.)
- Ability to manage day-to-day activities of a change process
- Tracking and reporting on a change project
- Assess the impact of a change and readiness for a change
- Plan and execute change communications
- Support change training efforts
- Create and execute a change management strategy
- Problem-solving and risk mitigation
- Work with project managers
- Coach leaders on how to facilitate change
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Monitoring and management of change project success
What are Educational & Training Requirements for Business Change Manager Jobs?
When seeking change management positions, you’ll find that many job listings request certain experience and educational requirements. Some change management contract jobs might also ask for a change management certification.
Qualifications can differ according to each of the change management jobs you’re applying for, but here is a general idea of types of requirements listed for experience and education.
- BS degree or higher in organizational psychology, leadership, communications or similar
- 3-10 years of either change management or project management experience
- Change management certification (sometimes requested)
In a sample of change management jobs remote or onsite, we found that approximately 30% of them requested some type of change management certification, with Prosci ADKAR and CCMP™ being the ones requested most.
Don’t Miss: Tips for Finding & Scoring a Top-Paying Job in Change Management
Got questions like “What are the types of remote change management jobs?” or “What are the common change management job titles?”. Drop us a message and let us know.
How to Get Into Change Management
If you’re interested in a change management career right out of college or are thinking of changing careers to head down a change management career path, here are some ways you can start.
Study Change Management Models & Concepts
You’ll first want to “learn the lingo” that is used by those with organizational change management jobs. This includes things like knowing what a change champions network is and the purpose of resistance management.
It will help by studying change management strategies and resources. We have plenty right here on OCM Solution that are designed to introduce you to the world of change management and can get you ready for change management consultant jobs.
This includes different change models and methodologies, as some companies use a specific methodology for all their change projects. Knowing the difference between something like the Kotter 8-step model and the McKinsey 7S model can help you win over an interviewer.
Get Some Change or Project Management Experience
If you have the opportunity in your current position, try to get some experience that will prepare you for business change manager jobs.
This could be agreeing to be a change champion for a change happening in your organization or trying to get experience managing some projects.
Having some experience in change management or project management is a requirement listed in many change management contract jobs.
Take Change Management Training
If you’re light on experience in change management, taking change management training classes can help your resume look a little better and give you an entry into a change management career path.
You can take either certified or non-certified change management training, which will go a long way towards helping you learn the concepts of change management and getting some practical experience with the duties involved in change consultant jobs.
Look for Change Management Positions
Once you’ve become familiar with what’s expected of those in change management jobs remote or onsite, you’ll be ready to update your resume and look for open change management positions.
We’ve got several tips below on where to find the best organizational change management jobs and how to get your resume ready for a change management career.
Are you looking answers to questions like “What does a change manager job description look like?” or “What are examples of the change management entry level jobs?”. Send us a message with your questions or comments.
Tips for Finding the Best Change Management Jobs
Change management consultant jobs are in demand and are needed at just about every organization. The fact that all organizations go through change and the speed at which technology forces change are drivers for openings in business change manager jobs.
One important note to make when you’re searching for change management contract jobs is that IT also uses the term “change management,” but it’s more about how requested technology updates are handled. So, as you’re searching for change consulting jobs, you’ll most likely see some IT jobs come up as well for that reason.
Keywords you can use when searching change management positions are:
- Change management
- Change management consultant
- Change manager
- Change management specialist
- Organizational change management
- Change management analyst
Here are some places you can look for jobs relating to a change management career.
Indeed
Indeed.com currently shows over 412,700 results when searching on change management positions.
The site boasts 250 million unique visitors and states that 10 jobs are added to the platform every second.
Benefits of the platform are that you can search for jobs to fit a change management career path and filter on things like salary, location, company, and job type (full-time, part-time, etc.)
You’ll also be able to filter for entry-level change management jobs and change management jobs remotely.
Monster
Another popular job site is Monster.com, which has over 32,600 organizational change management jobs listed on the site.
Monster states that every second there are 29 resumes uploaded and 2,800 jobs viewed on its site.
There are not quite as many filtering capabilities as with Indeed, but you can filter change management consultant jobs based on location, company, and full or part-time.
ZipRecruiter
There are currently over 395,900 jobs for a change management career at ZipRecruiter.
The site has over 9 million active job postings, and the company states that the site is rated #1 with U.S. employers.
Options for filtering change management consultant jobs here are by location, salary level, employment type, title, and company.
Over the past few years, LinkedIn has built up its job search capabilities and currently has over 109,700 business change manager jobs.
LinkedIn is the “world’s largest professional network” and has over 690 million users worldwide.
You’ll find the ability to filter by company and look for entry-level change management jobs. They also have another unique filter that allows you to find jobs that are:
- Easy to apply for
- Under 10 applicants
- In your LinkedIn network
- Are with a Fair Chance employer
Within Your Organization
Don’t overlook potential change management contract jobs within your own organization. If you work for a government agency or larger company, there may be an opportunity for you to transition into a change management career path without changing employers.
Change Management Consulting Firms
Consulting firms that provide change management services to other organizations are another great place to find change management contract jobs, as well as get some experience learning from professionals.
Read our OCM Solution article on the “Top 10 Best Change Management Consulting Firms for Consultants” to get some ideas of consultants that you can send your resume to.
Related: HR’s Role in Change Management Success
Are you looking for more information on questions like: “What does a typical change management job description look like?” or “How do I apply for remote change management jobs?”. Send a message to our change management team.
Requirements for Entry-Level Change Management Jobs
If you don’t have much or any change management experience, then you’ll be looking for entry-level change management jobs. What types of requirements do they have?
We’ve used the filtering capabilities on LinkedIn and Indeed to see what requirements employers listed for change consultant jobs considered “entry-level.”
Here’s what we found as typical entry-level requirements:
- Consulting experience
- Leadership skills
- Technical skills
- Project management skills
- Bachelor’s degree
- Good interpersonal skills
- Good written and verbal skills
- Understanding of basic technical terminology
Change Management Jobs Remote
Change management requires coordination with multiple people, and traditionally that meant in person; however, there are plenty of activities in change management positions that can be handled completely remotely.
And in fact, many companies are using more remote workers than ever before, so the team you’d be guiding through a change may also be full-time remote.
Change Management Jobs Remote
Remote positions have taken on a whole new level of acceptance since the coronavirus pandemic changed the working environment. So, there are plenty of change management jobs remote opportunities that you can find.
On Indeed, we found over 17,600 change management positions that were listed as remote. So, if you prefer working from home, you can still do that and have a change management career too.
Here are a few more places you can search for change consultant jobs and especially for remote organizational change management jobs:
Popular Article: What are Typical Project Management Fees?
Are you looking for more information on “The best paying entry level change management jobs” or “What skills are needed for contract change management jobs?”. Send a message to our change management team.
Change Management Resume Tips
How do you make your resume stand out when you’re applying for change management consultant jobs? One way is to ensure you’re using the right keywords that employers are looking for.
If your resume hits the right notes with a hiring director, you have a much better chance of it being moved to the “interview” pile.
Look over business change manager job listings to pick up on the keywords they put in job descriptions and use those when creating or updating your resume.
Secret Tip: If you happen to use Microsoft 365, you can use the Resume Assistant feature in Word to bring LinkedIn positions right into your resume document. You just type “change manager” into the role, and you’ll get:
- Descriptions from LinkedIn Profiles with that position
- Top skills for the position
- LinkedIn change management jobs listings
Use MS Word Resume Assistant for Change Consultant Jobs
Keywords to Use for a Change Management Career Resume
Here are some of the keywords/key phrases you can use to help your resume grab the attention of those hiring for change management jobs:
- Excellent communication skills
- Leadership coaching
- Change monitoring and management
- Change management KPI analysis
- Change training
- Problem-solving
- Resistance management
- Change model familiarity
- Thought leadership
- Assess change adoption
- Stakeholder management
- Creative thinker
- Work independently and with a group
How to Make Yourself Stand Out Above Others
If you find some excellent change management consultant jobs to apply for, you want to have the best chance of standing out both on your resume and when you interview
You have a better chance at a change management career if you can show that you understand the key components of change management, which include:
- Guiding people through change
- Helping get people past resistance to change
- Coordinating with multiple parties during the project
- Planning and organizing different facets of the change project
- Developing a team of leaders and change champions
- The importance of reinforcing a change, so it’s sustained
You can study our free OCM Solution Change Management Strategic Playbook that will give you the key concepts to integrate into both your resume and interview answers. Many of the details you find there can be used when creating a change management interview questions and answers PDF as a “cheat sheet.”
Change Management Interview Questions and Answers
Anticipating what types of questions that you may be asked during an interview for change management jobs can help you be ready and stand out with well-prepared answers.
Of course, all interviewers will be unique, but here are some general questions that you can save into a change management interview questions and answers PDF to study prior to an interview.
Q: What are some of the ways to assess risk during a change?
A: Risk can be assessed by evaluating and scoring factors such as:
- The percentage of people within an organization that are being impacted
- The severity of the impact (e.g., a small adjustment in workflow or a large one)
- How resistant employees and other stakeholders are to the change
Q: How would you approach a situation where a department leader was resistant to a change project?
It’s important to understand the reasons why someone is resistant to a change so they can be addressed. Resistance can come from several emotions (as noted in the Bridges theory of change management). These can be fear of change, thinking a change won’t make things better, etc.
Once the resistance factors are identified, enlisting the help of someone they trust in the company to help address those and explain the benefits of the change can help convince them. It’s also important to tell them “what’s in it for them,” how they’ll benefit from the change.
Q: How do you keep the momentum for a long change project going?
Having a clear and powerful vision statement for how a change will benefit an organization is helpful in driving momentum. It’s also important to continually communicate about the change, how things are going, and what’s coming next.
Milestones celebrating small wins along the way also go a long way towards keeping people excited and motivated to see a change through successfully.
Q: How do you assess the success of a change project?
There are several KPI’s that can be used during and after a change management project to assess how successful it is. Some of these include:
- Training tests conducted several times and compared to see if users are getting better
- Participation level in group meetings, surveys, and trainings
- Whether project milestones are being hit according to the timeline
- Whether the project is staying on or under budget
- Productivity measurement after the change has been implemented
- Check-ins with stakeholders about 6 weeks post-change to see how the new processes are working
Q: What are some of the most popular change models used?
A: One of the most well-known is the Prosci ADKAR model of change management, which describes 5 stages that stakeholders have to go through for a successful change. (Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, Reinforcement.)
A few other popular models include:
- The Lewin model, which uses an Unfreeze, Change, Freeze methodology.
- Kotter’s 8-step model, which focuses on creating urgency and sustaining excitement and momentum.
- McKinsey 7S model, which is more of a framework for keeping 7 key areas in an organization in alignment during a change.
Read More: Guide to the Best Change Management Plan
Conclusion: How to Find the Best Business Change Manager Jobs
Options are plentiful if you’re interested in a change management career. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, you can find plenty of companies offering organizational change management jobs.
The best way to get started down a change management career path is to study the concepts and models used in change management. It’s also a good idea to try to get any project management experience you can, as this often translates to many of the same skills used in business change manager jobs.
Most listings for organizational change management jobs that we’ve seen require at least a BS degree. They also ask for some type of experience in change management. If you’re light on experience, getting a change management certification can help your job chances.
We hope this guide is a helpful resource when it comes to finding the best change management jobs to apply for and that our tips give you a leg up over other candidates. Best of luck in your change management job search!
Note: Content on OCM Solution's ocmsolution.com website is protected by copyright. Should you have any questions or comments regarding this OCM Solution page, please reach out to Ogbe Airiodion (Change Management Lead) or the OCM Solution Team today. OCM Solution was previously known as Airiodion Global Services (AGS).
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