Changing careers and upskilling: certifications, courses, and government training
Want to move from admin to data, from retail to logistics, or from any field into one you care about more? Changing careers is very possible if you plan it. The key isn't collecting as many certificates as you can, but building proof that you can do the new job.
Resmi.ID Team · 4 min read ·
Photo: Kyle Gregory Devaras / Unsplash
Start with a skills map
Write down your current job as tasks, not a title. A cashier, for example, handles transactions, serves upset customers, and reconciles cash with reports. Some of those skills transfer directly to other fields, such as customer service or finance admin.
- 1Choose a targetPick one or two realistic roles for the next 6–12 months.
- 2Collect job adsSave 10 ads for your target role and note recurring requirements.
- 3Mark the gapsSeparate requirements you already meet from those you don't.
- 4Choose how to learnA course, training, or project that closes the biggest gap.
- 5Build proofPut together a small portfolio or real project from what you learn.
- 6Start applyingApply while you keep learning; don't wait until you're "100% ready".
On KarirResmi, you can save jobs and create saved searches with updates via WhatsApp or email. This makes it easy to track the requirements that come up most often in your target field.
Certifications: when do they help?
A certificate is most useful when job ads ask for it or the industry recognises it. In Indonesia, competency certificates from BNSP (the National Professional Certification Agency) are widely used in technical and vocational fields. In tech, certifications from specific platform providers are often listed in job ads.
Before paying for a certification, ask three things: do your target job ads mention it, what is the total cost including the exam, and is there a free or subsidised route? Avoid providers that promise you'll "definitely get hired" after paying.
Free vocational training from Kemnaker
The Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) runs the National Vocational Training programme (Pelatihan Vokasi Nasional), opened in stages throughout 2026. You register through a SIAPkerja account and Kemnaker's Skillhub (skillhub.kemnaker.go.id), completing assessments before selection.
According to Kemnaker, selected participants receive free training, lunch, transport assistance, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan coverage (work accident and death insurance), a training certificate, and a BNSP competency certificate. Schedules and quotas vary by stage, so follow Kemnaker's official channels.
What about Kartu Prakerja?
Kartu Prakerja was once a popular option for subsidised training. However, at the time of writing (October 2026), we have not found any official announcement of a new 2026 intake, and the prakerja.go.id site shows no registration information.
Focused self-study
- Pick one learning path and finish it, rather than starting five courses at once.
- Set a fixed time, for example 45 minutes every weeknight.
- Apply it right away: build a small project similar to tasks in your target job ads.
- Ask for feedback from people already working in that field.
- Record what you learn and the results, for your CV and interviews.
Use your current workplace
The cheapest way to change careers often starts at your own office. Offer to help another team close to your target field, for example helping marketing analyse sales data. Internal experience like this can go on your CV as a real project.
Also ask HR whether there's a training budget or rotation programme. If the company pays for training, read the service bond terms first so you know the consequences of leaving soon after.
Manage your finances during the transition
Switching fields sometimes means starting in a more junior role on lower pay. Work out your monthly needs and build a reserve of a few months before taking a big step, so your decisions aren't driven by panic.
Writing a career-change CV
Put a summary at the top explaining your new direction, then highlight relevant skills and projects from your learning. Keep your past experience, but describe transferable achievements, for example "served 120 customers a day with a low complaint rate".
You can store up to 5 PDF CVs on KarirResmi, so it's easy to keep separate versions for your old and new fields. Once your profile is at least 70% complete, the AI CV review feature can give you feedback.
Prepare your answer to "why the change?"
Interviewers will almost certainly ask. Answer with a forward focus rather than complaining about your old job. Example: "In three years in retail, the part I enjoyed most was compiling weekly sales data. I then took data analysis training and built a sales dashboard as a project. I want to do that full-time."
References
- Antara — Kemnaker bagikan cara daftar Pelatihan Vokasi Nasional
- ITERA — Status Kartu Prakerja 2026 dan peringatan penipuan
- Maganghub Kemnaker — Info sertifikasi BNSP & SIAPkerja
This information is general. For important decisions, check the latest rules at official sources or consult the relevant authorities.
