What the Smartest People Are Doing to Change Careers in 2025

How to pivot into any industry (even if you have zero experience)

Remember when we put “Proficient in MS Word” on our résumés—and that was enough to suggest you were a functioning member of society?

Baaahahahahahaha.

That certainly was the golden age of professional competence: we had it so good, and we didn’t even know it.

Today, if you want to prove you are proficient in something—anything, really—you’d better be prepared to:

(a) Film yourself doing it by the light of the moon; (b) Edit it into a mesmerizing video clip that will make thousands of strangers say, “Wow, I should do that,” while never actually doing that; (c) Tweak it 100 more times because you are, as it turns out, not good at this; (d) Post something that makes it seem you are a philosopher and an underwear model, all at once; (e) Become a thought leader, which means having a lot of thoughts and posting them with an air of great significance; (f) Convince thousands of people to follow you based purely on the strength of your personal brand (which is to say, the delicate illusion that your life is perpetually sunlit and effortlessly stylish); (g) Say things like ‘Just a reminder, you are enough,’ even though you, personally, are feeling about as sturdy as a damp napkin; (h) Prepare okra water each night because the internet has collectively decided this is a thing; (i) Learn what okra water is and try very hard to pretend you always knew; (j) Question your life choices, ideally in a way that can be turned into an inspirational eBook; (k) Wake up and do it all over again; (m) Accept that despite all this effort, Chad from high school—who you distinctly remember eating glue—just sold his startup for $10 million.

Yes, today’s “resume” is a bit different than its predecessors. In the past, you were what you said you were; today, you are what you demonstrate you are.

This royally sucks for introverts.

It also royally sucks for serial killers.

And, it may be ruining your chances at fulfilling your potential.

Are you even marketable if you don’t do these kinds of things?

***

In today's job market, having a strong personal brand isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a must-have.

A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that personal branding significantly boosts perceived employability.

Furthermore, an article from Vogue Business highlights that social media profiles have become the modern-day resume. Professionals feel the heat to maintain a robust online presence, with over 92% believing it impacts their careers.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.

I’ve been thinking about what a disadvantage this is to the many smart and capable people out there, who don’t also have a penchant for the spotlight.

I’ve been thinking about what a disadvantage this is to the serious, studious, quiet people who just want to focus on their craft.

I’ve been thinking about what a disadvantage this is to the introverts, the socially NO THANKS, the shy ones.

Most of us are under the impression that opportunity is more accessible than ever—but, is that really the case?

***

How many times have you unconsciously filtered a new business idea through a deeply absurd question: But, what would the videos look like?

The pressure around creating video content is real.

But, is it necessary?

Do we need to publish video in order to get ahead?

I have a hot take on this—and some interesting ideas—that I think will help you if this is something you’ve been agonizing over.

Introverts, unite: you do not need to get on video in order to be viewed as an authority in your industry.

But, you do need to do something else.

The good news: you might actually like it—even if you’re painfully shy.

First—why does video work so well when it comes to establishing professional authority?

There’s something called Media Richness Theory: the theory that communication channels vary in their ability to convey information, and video ranks high because it transmits visual cues, body language, and tone, making your message clearer and more authoritative.

Visual storytelling also packs a hell of a punch: research shows that short, engaging videos can effectively communicate complex ideas, making you appear more knowledgeable and authoritative. *spits on glasses*

But, there’s a catch: most people sound like idiots on video. :) It’s hard enough to not have a panic attack just talking to the UPS guy, let alone the whole entire world as you “transmit visual cues, body language, and tone”—terrifying! (In your living room, in front of the camera, analyzing the weird way that your mouth kinda turns down on the left-hand side???)

Therefore, if your public speaking skills on video aren’t exactly awesome, that means you’re actually reducing your credibility—not enhancing it.

(And 99% of us don’t have awesome public speaking skills on video????)

But, fear not: there’s an alternative. You don’t have to join the video bandwagon in order to be taken seriously and establish your reputation in an industry. You don’t even have to do traditional social media. In fact, in some cases I’d argue against it: when you look at someone’s social media profile, what’s the first thing you see???

Their follower count.

And, what do low follower counts signal to us in our modern digital hellscape?

That they’re insignificant. Unimportant. A nobody. (As superficial and aggravating and gross as that is.) Even if they’re the most brilliant mind in their field, a low follower count makes them look like they’re shouting into the void—and no one cares. So, why should you?

Social media is a numbers game, and unless you’re willing to play it—chasing trends, pandering to algorithms, and sacrificing depth for virality—you’ll always be at a disadvantage. Just like when you’re not good at video, if you aren’t good at social? It may be hindering your opportunities more than enhancing them.

So, okay: video is out. Social is out. How else can you make a name for yourself and establish your professional reputation?

The answer won’t surprise you—but the strategy might.

If you’ve been following my work for any length of time, you’ll know that my answer, of course, is by publishing a newsletter. YES, NEWSLETTERS ARE THE NEW RÈSUMÈ—and they are way more effective than any other method.

But, not just any newsletter. Allow me to explain.

***

Newsletters work.

Superficial authority is built on likes and shares, but real authority isn’t. 👀And, employers and clients want people with real authority—people who can actually walk their walk, and not just talk their talk (into the camera).

That’s why a newsletter is a much stronger long-term strategy. Just think:

1. Running a newsletter showcases initiative, expertise, and commitment to a particular field.

2. It provides a controlled platform to highlight your professional insights without being docked for your lack of video skills or interest in social media.

3. A well-curated newsletter can demonstrate depth of knowledge in a way that social media and video can’t: Written content allows for comprehensive exploration of complex topics. Authors can present nuanced arguments, cite credible sources, and provide detailed evidence, which can enhance their authority on a subject.

4. The act of publishing written content is often associated with expertise and professionalism. The effort and skill required to produce high-quality written work can signal dedication and mastery of a subject, thereby enhancing the author's authority.

5. And, it’s an act of dedication. That appeals to people. If you’re publishing a newsletter about a topic, it means you’re passionate about it. It means you care enough to contribute; to think through issues and ideas and newsworthy topics. It means you’re an action taker. And, it gives potential employers and clients something to judge you by that’s actually worth its merit. (And not just your hairstyle.)

If you write a newsletter, you’re 10Xing your chances without even trying.

You’re 10xing your visibility.

You’re 10xing your authority.

You’re 10xing your professional reputation.

You’re 10xing your entry into an industry.

And, you’re even 10xing your own command of the subject: writing about something requires you to understand it.

So, this is hands-down my #1 recommendation: start writing publicly.

Newsletters are the best way to do that. Gone are the days when you could just throw something up on a blog and that would be enough: you can’t just publish a blog anymore, you need to get people to sign up for your newsletter using their email address, because this is how you reach them. And, this is how you build your authority with a real product that people recognize.

Fortunately, it’s become quite de rigueur these days.

I use Kit (affiliate link) and Substack, and highly recommend. (I’ve used Kit since 2017 and their software just keeps getting more and more sick, particularly if you want to set up email automations that go out on autopilot without you constantly having to publish new content. Substack, unfortunately, cannot do this. With Kit, on the other hand, every new subscriber can be taken through the same series of emails on autopilot, according to whatever schedule you set, so every new person interested in you and your work will read your top ideas in the order you want them to—and you only have to write the series once. A great solution for newsletter writers who aren’t “writers” and don’t want to constantly be on the hook.)

But, what about strategy? What should you write about? How should you write about it? How can you write a newsletter if you aren’t yet an expert? How can you avoid imposter syndrome? How do you develop your voice and say things that actually build your authority in a way that feels genuine? How often should you write the newsletter? What are the best practices? How do you get subscribers? How do you make people want to read it? How do you sell your work from it? How do you use a newsletter to pivot into your dream career and break into a new industry? And, how do you turn your newsletter into a money-printing machine of modern career gold?

Introducing an All-New Ash Ambirge Skills Training 📖 🤓 💰

How to Use a Newsletter to Change Careers, Make a Name for Yourself, and Engineer Your Dream Job (Even if You’re New to the Industry)

I’m working on a brand-new, in-depth, comprehensive, professional skills development training series that will teach you everything you need to know about writing a modern newsletter that will help you break into a new industry, make your name known, and get hired by your dream clients and companies—even if you’ve never worked in that sector before.

Newsletters are the PERFECT way to pivot your career. 🔁

Plus, they’re low risk and high reward—and they allow you to test your ideas and your own enthusiasm about a topic before committing more fully, if you’re not fully sure of your new direction.

This type of newsletter is the new rèsumè, and in this professional skills development training series, I’m covering it all from A-Z: a step-by-step method for using the modern newsletter to break into any industry, build your name, pivot your career, and take the world by storm—even if you’ve never worked in that industry before.

This special series begins this Monday, February 24th and will be published daily Monday - Friday for two weeks, through Friday, March 7th. 💥

To gain access to this special training series, simply upgrade your account now to the ‘Founding Member’ tier, where we’ll complete one new advanced career training series every quarter—starting with, of course, 'How to Use a Newsletter to Change Careers', beginning 2/24. 🎉 (You may cancel anytime.)

Really looking forward to having some fun with you!

This is a must if you’re starting something new in 2025.

Hope to see you in the comments,

Ash